WPP plc filed a Form 6-K with the SEC on 29 October 2026, furnishing its Third Quarter 2026 Trading Update, which reported Q3 revenue of £3,274 million and reiterated full-year headline operating margin guidance of 12% to 13%.

Key Highlights

  • Q3 revenue: £3,274 million, up 0.5% on both a reported basis and like-for-like (LFL).
  • Q3 revenue less pass-through costs: £2,411 million, down 2.0% reported and 2.1% LFL.
  • Year-to-date revenue: £9,647 million, down 2.8% reported and 1.9% LFL.
  • Year-to-date revenue less pass-through costs: £7,156 million, down 4.4% reported and 3.9% LFL.
  • FY guidance reiterated: LFL revenue less pass-through costs expected down low to mid-single digits in H2, with Q4 towards the better end of that range, and headline operating margin of 12% to 13%.
  • Segment detail: WPP Media returned to growth at 0.3% LFL and WPP Production grew 2.5% LFL, while WPP Creative declined 5.1% LFL in Q3.
  • Regional performance: All regions declined LFL in Q3, with North America down 1.8%, EMEA down 1.7%, APAC down 4.3%, and LATAM down 1.2%.

WPP Q3 2026 Trading Results: Segment and Regional Breakdown

According to the filing, WPP plc (NYSE:WPP) reported Q3 2026 revenue of £3,274 million, a 0.5% increase on both a reported and like-for-like basis compared to the prior year. Revenue less pass-through costs, which the company uses as a key operating measure, came in at £2,411 million for the quarter, down 2.0% reported and 2.1% on a like-for-like basis. The company stated that "performance in the quarter is in line with our expectations."

On a year-to-date basis, the filing disclosed that revenue reached £9,647 million, a reported decline of 2.8% and a LFL decline of 1.9%. Year-to-date revenue less pass-through costs of £7,156 million was down 4.4% reported and 3.9% LFL. Within the Global Integrated Agencies segment, Q3 LFL revenue less pass-through costs fell 2.1% overall. WPP Media returned to LFL growth at 0.3% and WPP Production grew 2.5% LFL, while WPP Creative declined 5.1% LFL, according to the filing. All four reported geographic regions posted LFL declines in Q3: North America fell 1.8%, EMEA fell 1.7%, APAC fell 4.3%, and LATAM fell 1.2%.

CEO Cindy Rose OBE stated in the filing that the company is "on track to deliver phase one of Elevate28: stabilising our business performance and laying the foundations for a simpler, more unified WPP," and described the Q3 results as showing "further sequential improvement in LFL growth." The filing noted renewed partnerships with The Coca-Cola Company and DoorDash as evidence of "commercial momentum." Forward-looking statements in the filing are the company's own and are subject to its cautionary language regarding risks including macroeconomic conditions, client budget changes, geopolitical factors, and other uncertainties described therein.

What Was Disclosed

WPP plc submitted a Form 6-K dated 29 October 2026 containing its Third Quarter 2026 Trading Update, disclosing Q3 and year-to-date revenue figures, segment and regional performance, and a reiteration of full-year headline operating margin guidance of 12% to 13%.