Warner Bros. Discovery Beats Q4 EBITDA Estimates Amid Competing Takeover Bids

Core Insights - Warner Bros. Discovery reported higher-than-expected fourth-quarter core earnings and is "well positioned" for long-term success while evaluating competing takeover proposals from Paramount Skydance and Netflix [1] - The company reiterated its existing merger agreement with Netflix but acknowledged that Paramount's revised offer could lead to a superior proposal [1][3] Financial Performance - For the fourth quarter, adjusted core earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization totaled $2.22 billion, down 19% from the prior year but exceeding Bloomberg consensus estimates of $2.11 billion [4] - Revenue declined 5.7% to $9.46 billion, although this figure surpassed expectations [4] Takeover Proposals - Paramount raised its bid to $31 per share for Warner Bros., increasing the termination fee from $5.8 billion to $7 billion if regulatory approval is not obtained [2] - Netflix's offer stands at $27.75 per share for Warner Bros.'s studios and HBO Max streaming business, while Warner Bros. plans to spin off its traditional television operations into a separate entity [3] Studios Segment Performance - The studios segment showed a 52% year-over-year increase in core profit to $2.55 billion, excluding currency effects, with early momentum noted in the division [5] - Streaming subscribers reached nearly 132 million, exceeding the target of 130 million set in August 2022, with expectations to surpass 140 million by the end of the current quarter [5]