Stock fact sheet · data as of
WPP plc (WPP): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Communication Services · Advertising Agencies · United Kingdom · ADR · Speculative / Distressed
Is WPP undervalued?
At 25.57 (close of 16 Oct 2026), WPP trades 69% below the GLS average fair value of 83.12. That average comes from 3 models run on the latest filings, and 2 of them land above the current price. Margins of safety over 30% are the exception rather than the rule across the ~7,400 stocks we value each night, so the number earns WPP plc the full Value points in the Wheel Score - and a closer look at what the market is pricing in.
The average is built from just 3 models (DCF, 10 Cap, DDM) - the rest returned nothing because an input they need (dividends, free cash flow, book value) is zero or negative - so treat it with more caution than usual.
The nightly engine files WPP under Speculative / Distressed - negative earnings or a Piotroski score of 3 or less - which caps its Wheel Score at 45 and keeps it out of the Sunday Scan.
Nine valuation models for WPP
Each model turns the latest filed numbers into a value per share; the GLS fair value is the simple average of the ones that produce a positive number. The last two rows are shown for reference and never enter the average. The Quote page lets you switch any model off and add your own margin of safety.
| Model | Value | vs price | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCF | 113.51 | +344% | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital |
| Graham Number | - | - | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share; no value tonight |
| Graham Growth | - | - | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields; no value tonight |
| Lynch | - | - | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25%; no value tonight |
| GLS Growth | - | - | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year; no value tonight |
| 10 Cap | 124.83 | +388% | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10% |
| Payback Time | - | - | Eight years of compounded free cash flow: the price at which the business pays for itself; no value tonight |
| DDM | 11.04 | -57% | Dividend discount model: next year's dividend ÷ (10% − 3% growth); needs a dividend |
| EPV | - | - | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth; no value tonight |
| Zombie (liquidation) | -37.70 | -247% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 0.0000 | -100% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
WPP plc scores 6 of 9 on the Piotroski F-score: a middling result that passes the Sunday Scan's "6 or more" rule. Some of the nine tests on profitability, leverage and efficiency are failed, so the accounts are worth a look before selling a put on the name. A GLS Moat score of 1.8/10 is a weak reading: the ten-year history the score grades (revenue, EPS, book value, margins, cash flow, share count, ROIC) has not been steady, so the Moat part of the Wheel Score contributes little.
Returns on capital are thin or negative - ROIC -2.3%, ROE -8.5%, ROA -0.9% - with debt at 2.69 times equity and a free-cash-flow yield of 24.1%. Debt of 2.69 times equity is on the high side for the sector and is worth checking against the cash flow before treating the stock as a long-term hold.
The dividend yield is 3.84% at a payout ratio of -143%; for a wheel trader holding assigned shares the dividend adds to the covered-call premium, and the ex-dividend date is worth knowing before a call is sold.
Institutional ownership scores 1/10, insider activity 5/10 and Congressional trading 5/10 on the GLS smart-money scales.
| Piotroski F-score | 6 / 9 | ROIC | -2.3% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 1.8 / 10 | ROE | -8.5% |
| Debt / equity | 2.69 | ROA | -0.9% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 24.1% | Payout ratio | -143% |
| Institutions | 1 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 5 · 5 / 10 |
Wheel Score 45: Weak
With a Wheel Score of 45 WPP plc sits in the Weak band, capped at 45 because the engine files it as Speculative / Distressed. The parts - Value 25/25, Health 13/20, Moat 3/15, Premium 20/20, Stability 13/20 - show where: Moat (3/15) scores lowest.
Implied volatility is 57% on the near-the-money contracts 20-60 days out - inside the 35-60% range the Wheel Score pays full marks for: enough premium to be worth selling, not so much that the risk is unpaid. Chain open interest is 9,227 contracts across all expiries - enough for the wheel at normal size.
Volume runs at 219k shares a day on a market cap of $5.5B, with a beta of 0.74 - a low beta, so day-to-day moves are smaller than the market's; the Stability part of the Wheel Score gives that 13 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 25 / 25 | 69% margin of safety | |
| Health | 13 / 20 | Piotroski 6/9 | |
| Moat | 3 / 15 | moat 1.8/10 | |
| Premium | 20 / 20 | implied volatility 57% | |
| Stability | 13 / 20 | 219k shares/day, $5.5B cap, beta 0.74 |
The Wheel Score ranks ~7,400 US stocks for selling cash-secured puts and covered calls; it is updated nightly and is not a recommendation. The walkthrough lesson shows how the score fits into a trade, start to finish.
Upcoming events
No upcoming earnings date is recorded for WPP in the nightly calendar.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
Similar stocks in Advertising Agencies
The 12 companies below are the closest to WPP plc by market cap within the Advertising Agencies industry, each with its own fact sheet; the Compare page puts up to eight of them side by side.
| Stock | Close | Fair value | MoS | Wheel | Mkt cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TTD The Trade Desk, Inc. | 12.18 | 34.30 | +64% | 87Prime | $5.8B |
| MGNI Magnite, Inc. | 24.48 | 21.95 | -12% | 63Fair | $3.5B |
| LFTO Liftoff Mobile, Inc. Common Stock | 16.94 | 11.66 | -45% | 32Weak | $2.9B |
| PTRN Pattern Group Inc. Series A Common Stock | 17.31 | 10.83 | -60% | 45Weak | $2.7B |
| STGW Stagwell Inc. | 8.78 | 5.74 | -53% | 51Fair | $2.1B |
| ZD Ziff Davis, Inc. | 57.42 | 280.31 | +80% | 78Good | $2.0B |
| OMC Omnicom Group Inc. | 80.72 | 77.99 | -3% | 72Good | $22.1B |
| CCO Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. | 2.42 | 13.81 | +82% | 45Weak | $1.2B |
| QNST QuinStreet, Inc. | 15.64 | 41.55 | +62% | 75Good | $895M |
| CRTO Criteo S.A. | 15.76 | 99.76 | +84% | 78Good | $772M |
| NEXN Nexxen International Ltd. | 9.03 | 11.13 | +19% | 65Good | $514M |
| ADV Advantage Solutions Inc. | 29.36 | 65.07 | +55% | 42Weak | $390M |
⚖ Compare WPP with 7 of them All Communication Services stocks →
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about WPP
Is WPP undervalued right now?
By the GLS models, yes: at 25.57 the stock is 69% below the average fair value of 83.12 (data as of 16 Oct 2026). Whether the discount is deserved is the question to research next.
What is the Wheel Score of WPP and what does it mean?
WPP scores 45 out of 100 (Weak). The Wheel Score blends the margin of safety (25 points), Piotroski health (20), the GLS moat (15), the option premium on offer (20) and trading stability (20) into one number that ranks stocks for the wheel strategy - selling cash-secured puts, then covered calls if assigned. 80 and above is Prime, 65-79 Good, 50-64 Fair, under 50 Weak.
What is the GLS fair value for WPP?
83.12 per share as of 16 Oct 2026 - the simple average of the 3 valuation models (out of nine: DCF, Graham Number, Graham Growth, Lynch, GLS Growth, 10 Cap, Payback Time, DDM and EPV) that produced a positive value. The models run every night on the latest filings; the Quote page lets you switch any of them off and add a margin of safety of your own.
When does WPP plc report earnings next?
No upcoming earnings date is recorded for WPP in our calendar as of 16 Oct 2026; the Calendars page is refreshed every morning.
Does WPP have listed options, and how liquid are they?
Yes. The nightly snapshot found 102 listed contracts with 9,227 open interest across all expiries and implied volatility of 57% on the near-the-money contracts. The Options scanner lists the cash-secured put and covered call set-ups with premium and annualised yield worked out.