Thompson Investment Management Inc. decreased its holdings in Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD – Free Report) by 85.3% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 85,887 shares of the company’s stock after selling 497,033 shares during the quarter. Thompson Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in Warner Bros. Discovery were worth $2,290,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.
Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of WBD. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC increased its holdings in shares of Warner Bros. Discovery by 111.2% in the second quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 942 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 496 shares in the last quarter. Swiss RE Ltd. acquired a new stake in Warner Bros. Discovery during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Warner Bros. Discovery by 64.3% in the second quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,009 shares of the company’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 395 shares in the last quarter. Fideuram Asset Management Ireland dac acquired a new stake in shares of Warner Bros. Discovery during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, MV Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Warner Bros. Discovery in the fourth quarter valued at $30,000. Institutional investors own 59.95% of the company’s stock.
Analyst Ratings Changes
WBD has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Zacks Research downgraded Warner Bros. Discovery from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Monday, July 27th. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Warner Bros. Discovery from $30.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 7th. Freedom Capital upgraded shares of Warner Bros. Discovery from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday. Huber Research raised Warner Bros. Discovery from an “underweight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, June 1st. Finally, KeyCorp reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of Warner Bros. Discovery in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $27.69.
Warner Bros. Discovery News Roundup
Here are the key news stories impacting Warner Bros. Discovery this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Freedom Capital upgraded WBD from “hold” to “strong buy,” adding to the stock’s bullish sentiment. Zacks.com
- Positive Sentiment: Paramount Skydance reportedly said a sale of CNN could be considered to help resolve California’s antitrust lawsuit challenging its proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. Such a concession could improve the transaction’s chances of closing, although it would also reshape the deal’s strategic benefits. Paramount says CNN sale is on the table
- Neutral Sentiment: Paramount CEO David Ellison reportedly threatened to begin moving the company out of California if the state attorney general does not negotiate a settlement. The escalation increases pressure for a resolution but could prolong uncertainty around the WBD merger. Paramount California exit threat
- Neutral Sentiment: Coverage continues to describe the Paramount–WBD transaction as being in legal limbo, with an antitrust trial reportedly scheduled for March 2027. The prolonged timetable makes the stock particularly sensitive to regulatory and courtroom developments. Paramount Skydance versus WBD deal analysis
- Negative Sentiment: Director Kenneth W. Lowe sold 120,000 shares for approximately $3.24 million, while insider Gerhard Zeiler sold 591,038 shares worth about $15.99 million. The sizable insider selling may weigh on sentiment, though the filings do not establish the sellers’ motivations. WBD insider sale filing
- Negative Sentiment: The merger’s antitrust challenges remain a material downside risk: failure or substantial modification of the deal could remove a major source of potential value for WBD shareholders. Democratic scrutiny of the Paramount-WBD deal
Insiders Place Their Bets
In other news, insider Gerhard Zeiler sold 591,038 shares of Warner Bros. Discovery stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.05, for a total value of $15,987,577.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 537,436 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,537,643.80. This trade represents a 52.37% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Kenneth W. Lowe sold 120,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.97, for a total value of $3,236,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 990,108 shares in the company, valued at $26,703,212.76. This represents a 10.81% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.70% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.
Warner Bros. Discovery Price Performance
Shares of WBD opened at $27.65 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $69.32 billion, a PE ratio of -21.77 and a beta of 1.55. Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. has a 52-week low of $11.25 and a 52-week high of $30.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.78. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $26.49 and a 200 day simple moving average of $27.17.
Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 6th. The company reported $0.06 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.14) by $0.20. The company had revenue of $8.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $9.25 billion. Warner Bros. Discovery had a negative return on equity of 8.91% and a negative net margin of 8.77%.Warner Bros. Discovery’s revenue for the quarter was down 11.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.63 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. will post -1.13 EPS for the current fiscal year.
About Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a global media and entertainment company formed when WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc combined their businesses in 2022. Headquartered in New York City, the company assembles a broad portfolio of film and television production, linear and cable networks, streaming services and consumer distribution operations. Its assets span well-known studio brands, premium scripted and unscripted programming, news and factual entertainment, and licensed franchise properties.
The company’s core activities include film and television production and distribution through units such as Warner Bros.
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