Publicis raised its organic growth target for 2024 on Thursday, following a better-than-expected first half.

The advertising group's net income came to 3.46 billion euros in the second quarter, representing organic growth of 5.6%, ahead of expectations.

The group is now targeting organic growth of between 5% and 6% for the year, compared with the 4% to 5% previously expected.

Despite "persistent macroeconomic uncertainties", the group is confident in its ability to accelerate in the second half of the year, Publicis said in a press release.

Publicis expects to reach the top end of its forecast range if its clients put an end to their "wait-and-see" attitude and increase their spending on digital transformation.

Its data subsidiary Epsilon continued to underpin the group's performance with individualized consumer profiling, CEO Arthur Sadoun said in a press conference call.

The group also confirmed its operating margin and free-cash flow targets for 2024.

(Leo Marchandon and Dagmarah Mackos; Camille Raynaud)