Mackay Shields LLC Takes Position in Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. $WBD

Mackay Shields LLC bought a new position in shares of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD) in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund bought 400,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,812,000.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. acquired a new stake in Warner Bros. Discovery during the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. Grove Bank & Trust lifted its holdings in Warner Bros. Discovery by 66.5% during the 3rd quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 1,690 shares of the company’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 675 shares during the last quarter. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Warner Bros. Discovery in the 2nd quarter valued at $34,000. Crews Bank & Trust grew its holdings in Warner Bros. Discovery by 1,242.2% in the 3rd quarter. Crews Bank & Trust now owns 1,718 shares of the company’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 1,590 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Meeder Asset Management Inc. increased its position in Warner Bros. Discovery by 183.9% during the 3rd quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,891 shares of the company’s stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 1,225 shares during the period. 59.95% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WBD has been the topic of several research reports. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Warner Bros. Discovery from $16.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 30th. Cowen lowered shares of Warner Bros. Discovery from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 16th. Redburn Partners set a $28.00 target price on shares of Warner Bros. Discovery in a report on Thursday, October 30th. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Warner Bros. Discovery from $10.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, October 6th. Finally, Barclays set a $20.00 price objective on Warner Bros. Discovery in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Warner Bros. Discovery currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $23.85.

Insider Transactions at Warner Bros. Discovery

In related news, CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels sold 242,994 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $29.50, for a total value of $7,168,323.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 918,940 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $27,108,730. This represents a 20.91% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CAO Lori C. Locke sold 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.62, for a total transaction of $138,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 110,084 shares in the company, valued at $3,040,520.08. This represents a 4.34% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 489,326 shares of company stock valued at $12,781,456 in the last three months. Company insiders own 1.80% of the company’s stock.

Warner Bros. Discovery Stock Up 1.6%

Shares of WBD opened at $28.86 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $26.28 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $19.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 1.07. Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. has a one year low of $7.52 and a one year high of $30.00. The company has a market cap of $71.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 151.90 and a beta of 1.56.

Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported ($0.06) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.04) by ($0.02). Warner Bros. Discovery had a net margin of 1.28% and a return on equity of 1.34%. The business had revenue of $9.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.17 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.05 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. will post -4.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Warner Bros. Discovery News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Warner Bros. Discovery this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Netflix is reportedly discussing converting its December cash‑and‑stock offer into an all‑cash bid for Warner’s studios and streaming assets — a move that would reduce execution risk for shareholders and make the transaction cleaner/clearer. Netflix Considers Shifting Deal For Warner Bros. To All Cash – Report
• Positive Sentiment: Paramount/Skydance has intensified its challenge — pushing a $30/share all‑cash alternative, saying it will nominate directors at WBD’s annual meeting and is actively soliciting shareholders. That escalation raises the odds of a competing bid or a higher final price. Paramount to nominate directors for election at Warner Bros Discovery, files lawsuit
• Neutral Sentiment: Warner Bros. Discovery has publicly downplayed Paramount’s tactics as “gimmicks” and is reportedly seeking a sweetened bid from Netflix, which keeps multiple strategic outcomes possible. This is a source of negotiation leverage but unclear near‑term impact. Warner Bros. Discovery mocks Paramount Skydance’s merger ‘gimmicks’ as it seeks sweetened bid: sources
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry commentary (e.g., media exec analysis) emphasizes broader regulatory, creative and consumer implications of who owns Warner — important context for longer‑term value but not an immediate price driver. Does it really matter who ends up owning Warner Bros.? Media exec Tom Rogers breaks it down
• Negative Sentiment: Paramount has filed lawsuits seeking detailed disclosure about the Netflix transaction and has accused WBD’s board of breaching fiduciary duties — litigation and proxy fights can delay closing, increase legal costs and create execution risk for the Netflix deal. Paramount Sues WBD For Details Around Sale, Plans Proxy Fight As It Escalates Battle To Derail Netflix Deal

Warner Bros. Discovery Profile

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.