Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD) Short Interest Update

Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD) saw a significant decrease in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totaling 77,486,708 shares, a decrease of 21.7% from the December 31st total of 98,974,919 shares. Approximately 3.2% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 26,076,592 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.0 days. Based on an average daily volume of 26,076,592 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.0 days. Approximately 3.2% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Warner Bros. Discovery Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:WBD traded down $0.06 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $27.54. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 24,229,739 shares, compared to its average volume of 23,039,668. The stock has a market capitalization of $68.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 144.95 and a beta of 1.56. Warner Bros. Discovery has a fifty-two week low of $7.52 and a fifty-two week high of $30.00. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $27.69 and its 200 day simple moving average is $20.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.07.

Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported ($0.06) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.04) by ($0.02). Warner Bros. Discovery had a return on equity of 1.34% and a net margin of 1.28%.The firm had revenue of $9.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.17 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.05 EPS. Warner Bros. Discovery’s revenue for the quarter was down 6.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Warner Bros. Discovery will post -4.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have weighed in on WBD. Rothschild & Co Redburn raised Warner Bros. Discovery from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $28.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Guggenheim lowered shares of Warner Bros. Discovery from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and boosted their target price for the company from $25.00 to $30.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Warner Bros. Discovery from $21.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Morgan Stanley set a $29.00 price objective on Warner Bros. Discovery in a report on Thursday, December 18th. Finally, Rothschild Redb raised Warner Bros. Discovery from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $25.08.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CAO Lori C. Locke sold 5,000 shares of the company’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 transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 110,084 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,040,520.08. This represents a 4.34% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels sold 242,994 shares of Warner Bros. Discovery stock in a transaction dated 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 directly owned 918,940 shares in the company, valued at $27,108,730. This represents a 20.91% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 267,116 shares of company stock valued at $7,781,731. Company insiders own 1.90% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Warner Bros. Discovery

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of WBD. Concord Wealth Partners boosted its position in shares of Warner Bros. Discovery by 49.9% during the third quarter. Concord Wealth Partners now owns 1,321 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 440 shares during the period. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Warner Bros. Discovery by 152.1% in the 3rd quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 1,404 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 847 shares in the last quarter. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. acquired a new position in Warner Bros. Discovery during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Grove Bank & Trust boosted its position 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 acquiring an additional 675 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rakuten Securities Inc. grew its stake in shares of Warner Bros. Discovery by 81.5% during the 4th quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 1,160 shares of the company’s stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 521 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 59.95% of the company’s stock.

More Warner Bros. Discovery News

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

• Positive Sentiment: An Argus analyst reiterated a positive outlook on WBD, saying the stock is expected to rise—this provides a near-term bullish analyst catalyst that can support the share price. Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD) Stock Price Expected to Rise, Argus Analyst Says
• Positive Sentiment: Warner Bros. Discovery struck a promotional/distribution partnership with X around the Winter Olympics—such platform deals can broaden reach and ad inventory, supporting ad revenue and streaming promotional efforts. Warner Bros. Discovery Partners With X On Winter Olympics
• Positive Sentiment: Market speculation and trading flow show bets around a possible Warner Bros.–Netflix deal; heightened positioning can amplify moves if deal optimism increases. (High short interest in WBD also raises volatility.) Wall Street traders show their hands with bets on Warner Bros. Discovery-Netflix deal
• Neutral Sentiment: Reports say Barry Diller expressed interest in buying CNN from WBD, but WBD publicly said CNN is not for sale and the idea did not advance to the board—this creates occasional M&A chatter but no concrete asset-sale catalyst. Barry Diller Told Warner Discovery He’s Interested in Buying CNN
• Neutral Sentiment: Profiles and commentary on potential leadership/strategy moves (e.g., coverage of David Ellison’s plans) add background on governance and strategic options but contain limited immediate financial detail. What Is David Ellison’s Warner Bros. Endgame?
• Negative Sentiment: Filmmakers and small theaters have urged state attorneys general to block the reported Netflix–Warner Bros. deal—this raises regulatory/legal risk that could scuttle or materially delay any transaction and weigh on the stock. State AGs urged by filmmakers, small theaters to block Netflix-Warner Bros. deal: report
• Negative Sentiment: Industry reporting highlights weakening box-office performance for major franchise films—this is a headwind for WBD’s theatrical revenue and franchise monetization, increasing near-term revenue uncertainty. Hollywood has an IP problem: Box office sales are banking on franchise hits that keep falling flat

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.