WBD Set to Report Q3 Earnings: How Should Investors Play the Stock?

Core Insights - Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is expected to report third-quarter 2025 results on November 6, with revenues estimated at $9.18 billion, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 4.64% [1] - The consensus estimate for loss is projected at 4 cents per share, a significant drop from a profit of 5 cents in the same quarter last year, although this estimate has improved by 4 cents over the past month [1] Revenue Estimates - The Zacks consensus estimate for third-quarter 2025 Studios revenues is $3.18 billion, indicating an 18.8% increase from the previous year [9] - Streaming revenues are estimated at $2.74 billion, suggesting a rise of 4.1% year-over-year [9] - Global Linear Networks revenues are projected at $3.95 billion, reflecting a decrease of 21.1% from the year-ago quarter [10] - Distribution revenues are expected to be $4.81 billion, indicating a 2.1% decline [10] - Advertising revenues are pegged at $1.48 billion, suggesting an 11.8% decrease [10] - Content revenues are estimated at $2.77 billion, indicating a 2% rise from the previous year [11] Earnings Performance - In the last reported quarter, WBD achieved an earnings surprise of 171.43%, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the last four quarters, with an average positive surprise of 3.8% [3] - The company has a current Earnings ESP of +35% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a potential for an earnings beat [4] Operational Highlights - WBD entered Q3 2025 with strong momentum in theatrical and streaming operations, following a successful Q2 [5] - The Streaming segment reported its first quarterly profit of $293 million, while Studios' revenues surged by 54% year-over-year [5] - Global streaming subscribers increased by 3.4 million to reach 125.7 million [5] Theatrical Performance - WBD's theatrical portfolio led the global box office, with significant openings including Superman at $125 million domestically [6] - The company is projected to surpass $4 billion in global box office receipts for 2025, outperforming competitors like Disney and Amazon Studios [7] Market Position and Valuation - WBD shares have appreciated 110.9% year-to-date, significantly outperforming its industry and sector peers [12] - The company is currently trading at 1.46X forward 12-month price-to-sales, below the industry average of 4.73X, making it the most attractively valued among major media peers [14]