Dec 31, 2023

Interpublic Group Q4 2023 Earnings Report

Interpublic Group's Q4 results were driven by strong performance in media and healthcare, but were partially offset by challenges in the tech & telecom sector and digital specialist agencies.

Key Takeaways

Interpublic Group reported Q4 revenue of $2.59 billion, representing a 1.4% increase year-over-year. Organic growth for the quarter was 1.7%. The adjusted EBITA margin was 24.3%, and the diluted earnings per share was $1.18.

Organic growth in the quarter was 1.7%, on top of 3.8% a year ago.

Adjusted EBITA margin on net revenue was 24.3% in the quarter, an increase of 200 basis points from a year ago.

Fourth-quarter net income as reported was $463.2 million.

Fourth-quarter diluted earnings per share was $1.21 as reported, and $1.18 as adjusted.

Total Revenue
$3.02B
Previous year: $2.55B
+18.5%
EPS
$1.18
Previous year: $1.02
+15.7%
Adjusted EBITA Margin
24.3%
Previous year: 22.3%
+9.0%
Gross Profit
$631M
Previous year: $648M
-2.7%
Cash and Equivalents
$2.39B
Previous year: $2.55B
-6.1%
Free Cash Flow
$843M
Previous year: $1.21B
-30.2%
Total Assets
$19.3B
Previous year: $18.8B
+2.4%

Interpublic Group

Interpublic Group

Forward Guidance

IPG expects organic net revenue growth for 2024 in a range of 1% to 2%. The company anticipates a full-year adjusted EBITA margin of 16.6%.

Positive Outlook

  • Building on significant new business success in the past year.
  • Strongest and most consistent growth areas of our business, such as our data and tech-driven media offerings, healthcare marketing expertise, PR and experiential marketing capabilities, will continue to perform well in the year ahead.
  • Proven operational discipline will stay in effect.
  • Investment in further development of our contemporary addressable capabilities.
  • Streamlining operations and processes across the Group.

Challenges Ahead

  • Continued economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
  • Some client conservatism.
  • Quarter-to-quarter stability in the tech & telco sector, however, a return to growth for us in this sector has not been factored into our plan for 2024.
  • Addressing challenges in some of our legacy and digital specialists.
  • Investments in addressable capabilities, retail media, artificial intelligence, as well as building new buying models within Mediabrands.