This week, Dentsu was the biggest gainer on the back of a series of account wins, while Omnicom came under pressure and Publicis declined despite raising its full-year outlook.

Company	Jul. 14	Jul. 21	Change
WPP (WPP.L, GBp)	274.40	274.60	+0.1%
Publicis Groupe (PUB.PA, EUR)	86.94	86.12	−0.9%
S4 Capital (SFOR.L, GBp)	35.35	35.90	+1.6%
Dentsu Group (4324.T, JPY)	3,358	3,465	+3.2%
Omnicom Group (OMC, USD)	80.75	79.21	−1.9%
Havas (HAV.AS, EUR)	18.45	18.45	0.0%

WPP

WPP's share price remained largely unchanged at 274.60 pence. The company announced a £500 million cost-saving programme, which will result in the elimination of several hundred jobs worldwide by the end of 2026. At the same time, there was positive news on the client front: EssenceMediacom retained Uber's media account across the Asia-Pacific region, while WPP Media entered into a partnership with research company Cint in Latin America. WPP Media also launched a major marketing campaign for the Legally Blonde Prime Video series.

Publicis Groupe

Publicis slipped slightly to €86.12 despite predominantly positive news. The company raised its full-year guidance following a strong first half, driven by new business wins, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, among others. The modest share price decline reflects a classic "sell the news" pattern, with investors taking profits after the positive results had already been priced into the stock.

S4 Capital

S4 Capital was the week's second-best performer, rising 1.6% to 35.90 pence. The company announced that it will publish its half-year results on August 11, alongside a third-quarter trading update. S4 Capital also announced changes to the composition of its board of directors.

Dentsu Group

Dentsu was the week's top performer, gaining 3.2% to 3,465 yen, supported by a series of account wins. In the Netherlands, the company secured the Dutch government's media services contract, while Carat won the media brief for Malaysia Aviation Group. Dentsu Aotearoa also announced investments in technology and artificial intelligence, and the group unveiled Dentsu Connect 4.0, an initiative aimed at bridging the gap between AI pilot projects and practical business workflows.

Omnicom Group

Omnicom was the week's biggest decliner, falling 1.9% to $79.21. The company announced the merger of media agencies Mediahub and Hearts & Science into a new global agency and declared a quarterly dividend. At the same time, trade media intensified discussions about the long-term sustainability of the traditional agency model as AI continues to automate media-related work—a theme that may have weighed on the company's share price.

Havas

Havas shares were unchanged at €18.45. The company reported progress on its ongoing share buyback programme, which continues to support the stock price. Operationally, the company recorded growth, with Havas Red being appointed by Ecovacs in Australia and Havas supporting the launch of Arco's new communications division.

Trend of the Week

This week, the market primarily rewarded tangible new business, with Dentsu standing out through multiple account wins. At the same time, Omnicom and Publicis demonstrated that positive corporate news does not automatically translate into share price gains. For both companies, the broader debate over AI's impact on the traditional agency model appeared to outweigh their own announcements. As a result, the sector remains divided between agencies being rewarded for new business and AI positioning, and those facing investor concerns over longer-term structural challenges.

This overview is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation.

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