This is a 5.2% rise on a constant currency basis. It has led to the board of directors approving an increase in the company’s quarterly cash dividend of 11% to $0.31 per share.

“As we look to the year ahead, our business will be driven by three key factors," said Mitch Barns, Nielsen’s CEO. "One, we are leading industry discussions on the adoption of a new currency metric fuelled by our Total Audience Measurement framework. Two, the value of audience segmentation and precision marketing is increasing and our unique set of analytic capabilities, bolstered by our recent launch of the Nielsen Marketing Cloud, position us well to provide clients with metrics to help improve performance.

"And three, we continue to make progress on our plans for a platform-based system that aligns and connects our wide array of measurement and analytics data for our fast-moving consumer goods clients.”