(AOF) – Ipsos announces net profit, group share, down 25.8% in 2023 to 159.7 million euros, for turnover down 0.6% to 2.38 billion euros. The market research company underlines that its operating margin remains stable at 13.1% of turnover or 312.4 million euros (-0.07%). The group cites “the headwinds linked to the end of major Covid contracts, the drop in demand from major Tech clients and more generally a difficult macroeconomic and geopolitical environment”.
The gross margin increased by 120 basis points to 67.5% compared to 66.3% in 2022.
“We anticipate organic growth of more than 4% for this year compared to 3% in 2023 and an operating margin of around 13%,” announces Ipsos.
“This year will be, like 2023, marked by macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties and the pursuit of profound technological, societal and climatic changes” adds the group, judging that “in such a context, companies and governments need more than ever to quality data and analyzes to understand the dynamics of consumption and public opinion and inform them in their decision-making”, and that “all these factors will represent growth levers in 2024” for its activity.
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Key points
– Second in the world for market studies and public studies created in 1975;
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revenue of €2.4 billion achieved 43% in Europe-Middle East-Africa, 40% in the Americas and 17% in Asia-Pacific;
– Activity divided between 4 major audiences: consumers for 74%, customers and employees (20.5%), citizens (16%) and doctors and patients (16.5%);
– “Total understanding project” economic model: aiming to generate annual growth higher than that of the market (3%), extension of the network in the United States, China, the United Kingdom and France, by broadening the base of customers and by improving the competitiveness of services;
– Split capital (10.52% of shares and 18.93% of voting rights for the founder and managers), founder Didier Truchot chairing the board of directors of 12 members and Ben Page providing general management;
– Very healthy balance sheet with €1.4 billion in equity compared to €129 million in debt at the end of June and €801 million in cash at the end of June.
Challenges
– 2025 Plan “Best people and best technologies”:
– recruitment of the best experts, those in data, increasing from 1,500 to 2,000,
– organic (5 to 7% per year) and external growth and doubling of investments in data analysis,
– operating margin greater than 13%;
– Global Innovation Strategy Program to combat competition from IT and communications service companies in data collection:
– via neuroscience and information sources, offering 4 services: Measuring differently, Having the data in real time, Analyzing Big data, Offering support-based services,
– via the Ipsos Knowledge Center (analytical R&D, value-added analysis, etc.),
– via the major platforms Ipsos Digital, Simstore, Communities, Askia, Infotools and Synthesio;
– Environmental strategy defined in the annual “Taking Responsibility” programs covering almost all of the group’s subsidiaries and aiming for carbon neutrality by 2035, with 2023 as a milestone: 15% reduction, compared to 2019, in CO2 emissions per employee ;
– Dynamic international external growth: Omedia in Africa, Xperiti or New Vehicle Customer in the United States, Focux-RX in China;
– Good visibility with an order book for 2023 up 2.6% at the end of June
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Challenges
– Limited visibility and seasonality of the activity (higher revenue, margin and cash generation on the 2
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Lack of dynamism of activity in China and the United States;
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After a 3.1% decline in revenues in the first half, reflecting the end of “Covid” contracts, the 2023 target revised downwards for turnover (increase of 3 to 4%) but confirmed for the operating margin at 13%;
– Share buyback program.
Learn more about the Communication and Advertising sector
A global market that is doing well
According to Magna (Interpublic Group), growth in the global advertising market was limited to 1% year-on-year during the first quarter compared to a dynamic start to the year in 2022. However, for the full year, the company expects growth much superior, driven by digital. This performance is the result of China’s economic rebound since the end of the “zero Covid” policy. In the first quarter, advertising spending jumped 6% year-on-year in this country. Elsewhere, expected performances are lower for 2023: 4.2% growth in Europe (including 2.8% in France) and 2.5% in North America (4.2% if we exclude political advertisements falling without an election). The good results of the three world leaders (the French Publicis, the British WPP and the American Omnicom group) in the first quarter reflect this market development.