WPP’s American Depositary Receipts surged nearly 4% in morning trading on Thursday, lifting the ADR to $27.39 and bringing it within 1.4% of its 52-week high of $27.78. The gain followed the release of the company’s first-half 2026 results and a round of analyst upgrades.
The group reported a 4.7% year-over-year decline in like-for-like net sales for the six months to June 30, 2026, an improvement that exceeded its own guidance. Headline operating margin rose to 8.4%, up 20 basis points from the prior year. WPP reiterated its Elevate28 transformation program and WPP Enterprise Solutions initiatives, which it said were supporting operational efficiency.
Citi and JPMorgan both raised their price targets on the stock in the days following the results, citing margin expansion and progress under the transformation agenda. The upgrades contributed to a supportive sector backdrop, with advertising peers trading higher during the session. The broader U.S. equity market showed a mixed tone, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite faced modest pressure.
WPP’s ADR had earlier this year touched a 52-week low of $14.81, reflecting a recovery of roughly 85% from that trough as investor sentiment improved alongside operational improvements.
