Latest news with #CEOtransition
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
WPP plc (WPP): A Bull Case Theory
We came across a bullish thesis on WPP plc on Waterboy's Substack by Waterboy. In this article, we will summarize the bulls' thesis on WPP. WPP plc's share was trading at $27.60 as of July 29th. WPP's trailing and forward P/E were 8.32 and 5.51 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. A media buying executive looking out a window at a brand advertiser's billboard. WPP plc (WPP), once a dominant force in global advertising, has fallen from its blue-chip pedestal, now trading near decade-lows at $29.27, a far cry from its historical highs above $120. Founded through Martin Sorrell's 1985 acquisition and gradual empire-building, WPP became a sprawling advertising conglomerate with over 108,000 employees and $18.4 billion in annual revenue. Yet that topline figure has stagnated for years, and the company now faces structural headwinds, including AI disruption and a recent string of setbacks—most notably, dismal forward guidance and a CEO transition. These challenges have fueled a sharp market re-rating, cutting its market cap to $6.28 billion and leaving investor sentiment in tatters. However, the market's dismissal may overlook WPP's enduring fundamentals. The company continues to generate robust free cash flow—projected at $1.35 billion for 2025—implying a 21.5% free cash flow yield on equity and 11.6% on enterprise value, despite $4.0 billion in net debt. WPP's long-standing dividend discipline remains intact, with uninterrupted payouts since the 1990s averaging $2.19 over the past four years, translating to a 7.48% yield at current prices. While growth appears moribund and uncertainty clouds the path forward, especially with digital and AI transformation reshaping the advertising landscape, WPP still offers meaningful cash returns and operational scale. If new leadership stabilizes the business or if sentiment shifts back toward value and income-generating assets, the current valuation may prove overly pessimistic. For contrarian investors, WPP might offer a compelling, if bruised, opportunity hiding beneath layers of market fatigue and disruption fears. Previously, we covered a on Townsquare Media, Inc. (TSQ) by Investing 501 in April 2025, which highlighted the company's digital transition, stable radio cash flows, and strong capital allocation. The company's stock price has depreciated by approximately 10.4% since our coverage. This is because the thesis hasn't yet played out. Waterboy shares a similar view but emphasizes WPP's undervalued cash flow and dividend appeal. WPP plc is not on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 9 hedge fund portfolios held WPP at the end of the first quarter which was 5 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of WPP as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock. Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Bloomberg
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Tata Motors CFO to Take Charge of Jaguar Land Rover After CEO's Exit
Tata Motors Ltd. 's Chief Financial Officer will take the helm of Jaguar Land Rover, giving the Indian automaker more operational control over its British subsidiary after the departure of its chief executive officer. PB Balaji will take over as CEO of JLR in November from Adrian Mardell, the company said Monday. The move follows news last week that the carmaker's CEO was leaving after three years in charge and 35 years with the company.
Reuters
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
Harley-Davidson names Topgolf's Arthur Starrs as CEO
Aug 4 (Reuters) - Harley-Davidson (HOG.N), opens new tab said on Monday that Arthur Starrs would succeed Jochen Zeitz as chief executive officer, a transition aimed at helping the motorcycle maker cope with numerous challenges from slowing sales to bearing the impact of tariffs. He will have the mandate to steer the company through persistent issues owing to the Trump administration's broad tariffs that led Harley-Davidson to withhold its full-year forecast last week. The current CEO Zeitz will continue as a senior adviser to the company through February 2026. Harley in April said Zeitz planned to step down from his role this year. Earlier this year, H Partners had proposed the removal of three Harley directors, including CEO Zeitz, criticizing the company for declining sales and a falling stock price. The company, however, beat back the proposal through a shareholder vote. The company last week announced the sale of loans worth over $5 billion to KKR & Co and PIMCO, as it looks to reduce its debt pile while retaining majority ownership of its financial arm. The deal is expected to generate $1.25 billion in cash, according to the company. Shares of the company rose 1.5% in premarket trading.
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dan Gilbert's real estate firm Bedrock names Jared Fleisher new CEO
Dan Gilbert's real estate firm will be getting a new top executive at the end of the year. Bedrock announced on Friday, Aug. 1, that CEO Kofi Bonner plans to retire and will be replaced by Jared Fleisher, a longtime lobbyist for Gilbert's family of companies and an adviser on commercial real estate and economic development matters. Bonner, who arrived in Detroit from California, has been Bedrock's chief executive since September 2020. Fleisher will join Bedrock immediately as president and transition to CEO once Bonner leaves. Fleisher, a Harvard graduate, began working for Gilbert's family of companies in 2014, according to his LinkedIn profile. The C-suite transition at Bedrock comes at a time when the firm is basking in the glow of recently finished high-profile projects in Detroit, including the Book Tower restoration and the upscale City Modern housing development in Brush Park, and the near completion of its $1.4 billion Hudson's Detroit trophy development in downtown, comprised of a 12-story office building and events center and a 49-story skyscraper with luxury condos and an Edition-branded hotel. Bedrock also is active in Cleveland, where it is building an ambitious $3.5 billion project called The Riverfront Cleveland that is to span 35 acres along the Cuyahoga River and feature commercial, entertainment and residential development. 'When Kofi arrived, we were in the midst of the COVID pandemic," Gilbert, founder and chairman of Bedrock, said in a news release. "Residents were staying home, the streets were empty and the future was anything but certain. 'Today, Detroit and Cleveland's urban cores are models of revitalization. Detroit is consistently being ranked a top place to visit. Book Tower has been named one of the world's most beautiful repurposed buildings. Hudson's Detroit has redefined the skyline. Cleveland's riverfront is actively being transformed. The list goes on. I will always be grateful to Kofi for what he has accomplished during his time at Bedrock.' Bonner was hired back in 2020 as the permanent replacement for Matt Cullen, an early Bedrock top executive. He previously worked at several development firms in California and had been a chief administrative officer for the Cleveland Browns. 'It has been an honor to lead Bedrock through such an important time in its history,' Bonner said in a statement. 'Bedrock is no ordinary real estate company. Rather, it is the embodiment of Dan Gilbert's extraordinary commitment to uplift two great American cities." Contact JC Reindl: 313-378-5460 or jcreindl@ Follow him on X @jcreindl This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dan Gilbert's real estate firm Bedrock names Jared Fleisher new CEO Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Wall Street Journal
01-08-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Boston Beer Founder Jim Koch to Return as CEO
Boston Beer SAM 1.17%increase; green up pointing triangle founder Jim Koch is returning to the C-suite after the brewer's chief executive plans to step down roughly 16 months into his tenure. Koch, the company's chairman, previously held the CEO role from the company's founding in 1984 until 2001. While he hasn't occupied the CEO role in years, he still speaks on quarterly earnings calls and is often tapped for his expertise on craft beer, a category he helped create when brewing Samuel Adams Boston Lager in his kitchen.
