Publicis Groupe records strong Q4 growth and record year on all KPIs

In 2021, Publicis Groupe published record numbers and exceeded 2019 levels across all of its KPIs. The group delivered +10% full year organic growth, with Q4 at +9.3%, above expectations, and a strong performance across all of its regions. Both Epsilon and Publicis Sapient were accretive to the group’s full year growth, at +12.8% and +13.8%, respectively.

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Publicis Groupe also continued to post industry-leading financial ratios in 2021, with its operating margin rate at 17.5% and a free cash flow at €1.4 billion. With this, the groups is in a position to propose a dividend of €2.40, corresponding to a payout of 47.8%.

Commenting on the performance, Arthur Sadoun, Chairman and CEO, Publicis Groupe, said, “We were in a position to capture the structural shifts in the industry towards first-party data management, digital media, commerce, and business transformation. Looking at our performance on a two-year basis, we exceeded 2019 levels faster and more strongly than expected, at 3% growth for the full year that accelerated to 5% in the second half. The U.S., where our model is the most advanced, was a strong contributor to this performance, growing +8% versus 2019.”

Continuing further Sadoun said, “2021 was a record year not just financially, but also commercially. For the third time in the past four years, we topped the New Business rankings as league tables placed us well-ahead of the pack, with landmark wins, including Stellantis, Walmart, and Meta, to name just a few. We also started 2022 on a high note, with the win of McDonald’s US.”

“We are emerging from the pandemic as a stronger company, and a better one. When it comes to 2022, we have three clear priorities: leveraging our unique assets in data and technology for all of our clients; giving our people more opportunity to progress, with unprecedented experiences like Work Your World; and delivering growth that is both profitable and responsible. Our overall dynamic, driven by the strength of our model and new business wins means that we aim to deliver organic growth between 4% and 5% in 2022, with an operating margin and free cash flow at the same record levels as in 2021, circa 17.5% and €1.4 billion, respectively,” Sadoun added.