We recently published 10 Stocks Jim Cramer Talked About.  Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer talked about. Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD) is at the center of attention once again due to being at the center of takeover attention from multiple media giants. The bidding war started last year after Paramount Skydance made a bid for the firm. Paramount was later joined by Netflix and Comcast. Cramer and his co-host David Faber have discussed the deal on seve ...

Group 1 - The UK Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, met with Paramount-Sky Dance CEO David Ellison to discuss issues affecting the UK film and television industry [1][2] - The meeting took place while Ellison was leading Paramount's high-stakes acquisition bid for Warner Bros. Discovery [1][2] - A US judge rejected Paramount's request to expedite the litigation process against Warner Bros., which is related to the disclosure of information regarding Warner's asset sale to Netflix [3] Group 2 - Paramount is attempting to persuade Warner Bros. shareholders to support its all-cash acquisition offer of $30 per share, as opposed to Netflix's lower cash-and-stock proposal [3] - Paramount has taken steps to nominate individuals to Warner Bros.' board to facilitate negotiations between the two companies [3]

Executive Appointments - Paramount appointed Dennis Cinelli as its new CFO, effective January 15, succeeding Andrew Warren, who will become a strategic adviser [2] - Wynn Resorts named Craig Fullalove as the new CFO, who previously served as CFO of the company's Macau operations [3] - Duolingo appointed Gillian Munson as its new CFO, effective February 23, succeeding Matt Skaruppa, who will transition to an advisory role [5] Background of New CFOs - Dennis Cinelli has experience as finance chief at Scale AI and held senior roles at Uber and GE Ventures [2] - Craig Fullalove has been with Wynn Resorts since 2020 and previously worked at Asian Coast Development Limited and Deloitte & Touche [3] - Gillian Munson has been on Duolingo's board since 2019 and has held CFO roles at Vimeo, Iora Health, and XO Group [5] Transition Plans - Andrew Warren will assist in the transition as a strategic adviser after stepping down as CFO at Paramount [2] - Julie Cameron-Doe will retire in mid-2026 but will serve as a consultant and non-executive director at Wynn Macau [3] - Matt Skaruppa will step down after nearly six years and will help with the transition in an advisory capacity at Duolingo [5] Future Retirements - Yale University CFO Stephen Murphy is set to retire in June 2026 after a long tenure, having served as CFO since 2015 [4]

Group 1 - As of December 2025, Donald Trump's investments in municipal and corporate bonds include bonds from companies related to his government policies, totaling at least $51 million [1] - The bonds purchased include those from Netflix (NFLX.US), CoreWeave (CRWV.US), General Motors (GM.US), Boeing (BA.US), Occidental Petroleum (OXY.US), and United Rentals (URI.US), along with municipal bonds from various U.S. cities, school districts, utilities, and hospitals [1] - Trump completed 189 buy transactions and 2 sell transactions between November 14 and December 29, with the total value of sell transactions reaching at least $1.3 million [1] Group 2 - Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has completed 690 transactions totaling at least $104 million, with further transactions in November and December amounting to $106 million, including three additional sell transactions worth $2 million [2] - A senior White House official stated that Trump and his family did not participate in investment decisions, and an independent financial manager used a recognized index replication investment strategy for bond purchases [2] Group 3 - Unlike previous presidents, Trump has not divested personal assets or placed them in a blind trust, with his business empire managed by his two sons, leading to potential conflicts of interest with presidential policies [3] - During foreign visits, Trump actively promoted Boeing aircraft and highlighted the company's successful sales to international airlines [3] - Trump emphasized General Motors' strategy to move production of popular models back to the U.S., claiming it demonstrates the effectiveness of his tariff policies in revitalizing American manufacturing [3]

Core Viewpoint - Netflix is reportedly planning to revise its $82.7 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery into an all-cash offer to counter Paramount Skydance's hostile bid [1]. Group 1: Deal Structure - The original agreement valued WBD's assets at $27.75 per share, with $4.50 payable in Netflix stock [3]. - Paramount has made a competing offer of $30 per share in cash for WBD, which includes its cable television division [3]. Group 2: Competitive Pressure - Paramount is pressuring WBD to reconsider its terms by offering a higher bid and has initiated a lawsuit for financial transparency [4]. - Paramount's CEO, David Ellison, has accused WBD's board of refusing to engage in negotiations regarding the proposed deal [5]. Group 3: Timeline and Reactions - Netflix's original deal was agreed upon in early December, shortly before Paramount made its $108 billion bid for the entirety of WBD [6]. - WBD has already rejected Paramount's bid twice [6].

Core Insights - The competition for control of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has intensified, with Paramount Skydance and Netflix focusing on gaining regulatory approval as a critical hurdle for their respective acquisition deals [1][2][3] Regulatory Landscape - Both companies are engaging with regulators in the European Union and the United Kingdom, as their deals require approval from these authorities [2][5] - Paramount Skydance's $78 billion bid is perceived as having a better chance of regulatory approval compared to Netflix's $72 billion deal, which aims to merge its streaming service with HBO Max [3][5] Competitive Dynamics - Paramount Skydance is reportedly making the case that Netflix's acquisition poses antitrust concerns, which could hinder Netflix's chances of approval [5][6] - Netflix is countering by arguing that it faces significant competition from platforms like YouTube and social media, which provide alternative programming options [6][11] Political Influences - The involvement of political figures, including a senior Trump official expressing concerns about Netflix's market power, adds another layer of scrutiny to the deal [11][15] - Trump's past connections with Larry Ellison, who is financing Paramount Skydance's bid, may influence the regulatory landscape [13][15] Market Impact - Netflix's stock has suffered a decline of over $160 billion in market value in the past six months, prompting adjustments to its acquisition offer [12]

Core Viewpoint - Shares of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have declined due to investor concerns that the administration may opt to keep these companies under government control instead of pursuing an initial public offering (IPO) [1] Company Summary - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are facing a slump in their share prices as investors react to the possibility of continued government control [1]

Core Viewpoint - Paramount's legal efforts to compel Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) to disclose the valuation of its cable networks have been unsuccessful, impacting its acquisition strategy [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings - A Delaware judge ruled against Paramount's motion for expedited discovery, stating that Paramount did not demonstrate it would suffer irreparable harm if the request was not granted [2]. - WBD's legal team argued that there was no emergency requiring the immediate disclosure of its cable assets' valuation, and that Paramount's deadline for shareholders was arbitrary [9][10]. Group 2: Acquisition Attempts - Paramount has made eight offers to acquire WBD, all of which have been rejected in favor of a deal with Netflix [6]. - Paramount's all-cash offer of $30 per share is considered superior to Netflix's cash-and-stock bid of $27.75 per share for WBD's studio and HBO assets [6]. Group 3: Shareholder Implications - The valuation of WBD's cable networks is crucial for shareholders to make informed decisions regarding the competing bids from Paramount and Netflix [7][8]. - Paramount's legal representatives emphasized that WBD shareholders are being harmed by the lack of information regarding the valuation of the cable networks [8].

Group 1 - A judge has denied a request to fast-track Paramount's lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery directors, indicating no urgency in claims of misleading investors regarding a buyout bid of over $82.7 billion [2][8] - The lawsuit also involves Netflix in related disclosures, seeking more information on the valuation of the proposed buyout [2] - U.S. stock markets, including the NASDAQ Composite, have shown positive movement, with the NASDAQ rising by 1.01%, reflecting continued investor confidence [3][8] Group 2 - The U.S. Treasury Department has announced new sanctions related to Iran, targeting individuals and entities in various sectors, which may impact global financial markets and the energy sector [4][8] - Spain's Defence Minister has expressed skepticism about the feasibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine, highlighting ongoing tensions and challenges in achieving a diplomatic resolution [5][8]

A Delaware judge refused to expedite Paramount Skydance Corp.’s (PSKY) lawsuit that accused directors of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. (WBD) of misleading investors about a more than $82.7B buyout bid from Netflix Inc. (NFLX), Bloomberg reported on Thursday. According to the ...