Omnicom lowers the bottom end of its 2025 forecast amidst broad economic uncertainty

Omnicom Group Chairman and CEO John Wren downplayed concerns about ongoing economic turmoil Tuesday, even as the agency group lowered the bottom end of its 2025 revenue growth forecast “given the uncertainty of the current environment.” The ad giant now expects organic growth between 2.5% and 4.5% this year, Wren said during its first-quarter earnings call; in February, the company forecasted 3.5% to 4.5% full-year growth. That implies the final nine months of the year could come in a bit better or a bit worse than the 3.4% organic growth registered in the first quarter. “Nothing about the current environment impacts our confidence in our business and strategy or our ability to create new services and win new business,” Wren said on the call. Asked about lowering the bottom end of the guidance, Wren and Chief Financial Officer Philip Angelastro said the adjustment was a conservative move based on broader macroeconomic caution, not specific client cutbacks. They emphasized ongoing market uncertainty—particularly over tariffs—and said the guidance change was meant to avoid surprises later in the year. The earnings report comes as Omnicom pushes forward with its acquisition of Interpublic Group of Cos., a deal that would rewrite the industry and create the world’s largest agency group. Last month, shareholders of both companies overwhelmingly approved the deal. The acquisition still needs regulatory approval in the U.S. and abroad, and the Federal Trade Commission has been closely reviewing the deal, issuing a second request for information in early March. A second request for information could ultimately delay the approval process for months or ultimately lead to a lawsuit seeking to block it, Ad Age previously reported. Wren said Tuesday that Omnicom and IPG have “made progress on the regulatory approval” process. “In the last five weeks, we have received approval from five of the 18 jurisdictions under review. In the months ahead, we will continue to work on obtaining all necessary regulatory approvals,” he said on the call, adding that “we remain on track to close in the second half of 2025.” Angelastro said the deal has gotten approval in China, Colombia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Also: Omnicom-IPG—everything agencies and marketers need to know More news: Publicis Groupe reported its first-quarter results Tuesday The FTC hasn’t disclosed what issues it’s seeking more information on. But, according to people familiar with the matter, the commission’s lawyers have inquired about principal media buying and incentives media companies offer agencies, along with how increased consolidation could impact media firms and brand marketers in those areas. In a March statement, Omnicom and IPG called a second request “a standard part of the regulatory process.” Omnicom announced its results after the market closed today. Its shares were down 3% to $74.51 in after-hours trading. Shares in recent days had rebounded from $69.13 hit on April 9—their lowest level since 2023—and remain far below the all-time high of $107 reached last November. Contributing: Bradley Johnson and Brian Bonilla Sign up for Ad Age newsletters

Omnicom lowers the bottom end of its 2025 forecast amidst broad economic uncertainty

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