Back to top

Image: Shutterstock

Here's Why Investors Should Hold OMC Stock in Their Portfolios for Now

Read MoreHide Full Article

Key Takeaways

  • Omnicom expects 2026 earnings to rise 21.4% and revenues to grow 49.6%.
  • OMC is expanding client work through cross-selling, new business wins and AI-enabled marketing.
  • Omnicom faces weak advertising trends, $10.2B in long-term debt and elevated integration costs.

Omnicom’s (OMC - Free Report) growth is supported by post-Interpublic cross-selling opportunities, new business wins, expanding artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled capabilities and substantial shareholder returns. The combination is also creating a multi-year path to cost efficiencies and a more integrated operating model.

The company’s third-quarter 2026 earnings are expected to increase 19.6% year over year. Its 2026 earnings are projected to rise 21.4%, while revenues are anticipated to grow 49.6% during that period.

Factors That Bode Well for OMC’s Success

Post-Acquisitions Benefits & New Business Wins: Omnicom is leveraging its broader capabilities following the post-Interpublic acquisition capabilities to deepen existing client relationships and pursue larger, integrated mandates. In the second quarter of 2026, the company expanded services across sports, media, production, commerce, social and influencer marketing for clients including American Express, General Mills and Uber. It secured integrated media wins with Adidas, IBM and Subway. Management noted that expansion within existing accounts was a major contributor to organic growth during the quarter. Beyond revenue opportunities, the Interpublic combination also creates a multi-year path to cost efficiencies and earnings improvement through integration synergies and a more streamlined operating model.

Data, AI & Connected Marketing Should Expand Capabilities: OMC is integrating Acxiom’s data and identity capabilities with its AI-driven Omni platform across media, commerce and marketing workflows. Management sees agentic marketing, connected commerce, sports and entertainment, social and creator marketing, and AI-driven discovery as key avenues for expanding client relationships. AI-enabled workflows are also improving efficiency, measurement and outcomes, while client savings are being reinvested into marketing activity.

Shareholder Returns Remain Strong: Omnicom repurchased about $3 billion of shares in the first half of 2026 and declared an 80-cent quarterly dividend in July. Shares outstanding fell to 274.3 million as of July 22. Management plans roughly $500 million of additional buybacks in 2026 and expects to complete the $5 billion authorization by the end of the first quarter of 2027.

Watch Out for These Risks to OMC Stock

Advertising Remains a Weak Spot: Omnicom’s Advertising organic revenues declined by high single digits in the second quarter of 2026 and accounted for 15.7% of Core Operations revenues, while Integrated Media and Experiential & Other each grew more than 10%. Management attributed the weakness mainly to post-Interpublic brand realignments, brand eliminations, internal restructuring and disposals of slower-growing businesses. Although the reorganization has progressed, management did not provide a timeline for a return to growth, making a recovery in Advertising important for broader, more balanced organic growth.

Debt & Integration Costs Remain Elevated: The Interpublic acquisition materially increased Omnicom’s cost base, debt and financing expense. In the second quarter of 2026, the company recorded $40.1 million of integration costs and $47 million of severance and repositioning expenses. Gross long-term debt stood at $10.2 billion at quarter-end, while net interest expense rose to $93 million from $41 million a year earlier. Management expects 2026 net interest expense to increase by about $200 million from the $167 million reported in 2025, mainly due to assumed Interpublic debt and refinancing activity.

OMC’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Omnicom currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

A couple of better-ranked stocks in the broader Business Services sector are Coherent Corp. (COHR - Free Report) and CBIZ, Inc. (CBZ - Free Report)

Coherent Corp. carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 52.5%.

COHR beat earnings estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and matched once, delivering an earnings surprise of 6.2%, on average.

CBIZ currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 10%.

CBZ beat earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters and missed once, with an average earnings surprise of 8.9%.

Published in