WPP increases its 2014 interim dividend by 10%

DividendMax Ltd.

WPP increases its 2014 interim dividend by 10%

Reported revenues up 2.7% at £5.469 billion in sterling, up 11.3% at $9.135 billion in dollars and up 6.5% at €6.663 billion in euros

Constant currency revenues up 11.3%, like-for-like revenues up 8.7%

Constant currency net sales up 6.4%, like-for-like net sales up 4.1%

Reported billings down 3.0% at £22.060 billion ravaged by sterling strength, but up 5.7% in constant currency

Reported net sales margin of 13.0%, flat with last year, up 0.3 margin points on a constant currency basis and up 0.3 margin points like-for-like in line with the full year margin target

Headline reported profit before interest and tax £622 million, down 2.4%, but up 9.0% in constant currency

Headline profit before tax £532 million up 1.5%, up 15.6% in constant currency

Profit before tax £491 million up 15.0%, up 33.7% in constant currency

Reported profit after tax £396 million up 25.6%, up 47.9% in constant currency

Headline diluted earnings per share 29.2p up 2.8%, up 17.1% in constant currency

Reported diluted earnings per share 27.0p up 25.6%, up 47.7% in constant currency

Dividends per share 11.62p up 10%, a pay-out ratio of 40% versus 37% last year

Share buy-backs upped significantly in line with target to £390 million in the first half, up from £133 million last year, equivalent to 2.3% of the issued share capital against 1.0% last year

Targeted dividend pay-out ratio of 45% likely to be achieved this year well ahead of schedule

Including all associates and investments, revenues total over $24 billion annually and people average over 179,000

Companies mentioned