Group 1 - Orbis Investment Management reported a positive year in 2025, with returns driven by stock-specific research rather than post-pandemic valuation rebounds [1] - The strategy emphasizes disciplined bottom-up investing and improved execution across several portfolio holdings [1] - Rising global government debt supports equities as core real assets, with non-US markets offering attractive valuations [1] - Orbis suggests a potential shift from the long period of US market dominance, focusing on fundamentally undervalued businesses [1] Group 2 - IMAX Corporation is highlighted as a key entertainment holding benefiting from renewed strength in theatrical releases [2] - IMAX shares experienced a one-month return of approximately -5.61% but gained about 50.98% over the last 52 weeks, closing at approximately $35.39 per share with a market capitalization of about $1.9 billion [2] - The recent bidding war for Warner Bros Discovery between Paramount and Netflix underscores the value placed on scarce content and platforms for developing high-value Intellectual Property [3] - The theatrical window is identified as crucial for maximizing the value of IP, generating significant cash flow and marketing benefits [3]

Core Insights - The company reported a record fourth quarter with $35 million in revenue and a cash inflow of approximately $60 million, driven by cost reductions and improved working capital management [2][5] - The focus has shifted towards offshore and subsea markets, with a target to grow subsea revenue to $470 million by 2030, compensating for weaker projections in other areas [3][6] Financial Performance - Cost reductions of about $20 million have positively impacted operating margins and narrowed losses in the EMEA region, leading to a small profit in December [1] - The company aims for an EBITDA margin of 15% and has guided for revenue between $145 million and $155 million for 2026 [7][5] Strategic Focus - The company emphasizes intellectual property and differentiated products in offshore markets, identifying titanium stress joints as a unique offering [3] - Recent acquisitions are central to growth, with FES's diverless connectors significantly reducing FPSO connection times and Organic Oil Recovery targeting $100 million in annual revenue by 2030 [4][15] Market Trends - The subsea revenue increased from over $40 million in 2019 to an expected $200 million by 2026, supported by a robust tender pipeline worth about $300 million [11] - Market indicators suggest a rebound in subsea investments, with a projected 82% increase in subsea tree awards from 2025 to 2026 [10] Technology and Innovation - The company has transitioned to a life-of-field technology partner, enhancing its portfolio across the subsea well lifecycle [8] - Organic Oil Recovery (OOR) is positioned as a lower-cost alternative to traditional recovery methods, with potential incremental recovery of 10% to 15% from offshore fields [16][17] Operational Insights - FES's diverless bend stiffener connectors have been deployed over 700 times globally, reducing FPSO connection time from approximately 12 hours to about 10 minutes [13] - The company has engaged in pilot projects for floating offshore wind, indicating diversification into renewable energy sectors [14]

Core Insights - The Walt Disney Company led the domestic box office in 2025 with ticket sales of $2.49 billion, representing 27.5% of the total market share of $9.05 billion, which saw a 4% increase from 2024 [1][2] Group 1: Market Performance - Disney's closest competitors were Warner Bros. Discovery with $1.9 billion (21%) and Universal with $1.7 billion (19.7%), collectively accounting for nearly 70% of the domestic box office [2] - No other studio surpassed $1 billion in domestic ticket sales, with the next highest market share being 7% [2] Group 2: Intellectual Property and Film Releases - Disney's success was driven by popular intellectual properties, with four films in the top 10 highest-grossing domestic releases, including "Lilo & Stitch," "Zootopia" sequel, "Fantastic Four: First Steps," and a third "Avatar" film [4][5] - The dominance of known IP in the box office was highlighted, with nine of the top 10 films being from existing franchises, and only Warner Bros.' "Sinners" being an original title [5] Group 3: Future Outlook - The upcoming slate for 2026 is expected to surpass 2025 in terms of high-profile sequels and known IP, particularly for Disney, which will release "The Mandalorian and Grogu," "Toy Story 5," "Moana," and "Avengers: Doomsday" [6][7] - Other anticipated films include a new Spider-Man film, Warner Bros.' "Supergirl," Universal's "Minions 3," and Lionsgate's "Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" [8]

Core Viewpoint - The company is actively protecting its intellectual property (IP) and has taken legal action against Google due to unproductive discussions regarding IP concerns [2]. Group 1: Intellectual Property Protection - The company has been aggressive in protecting its IP and has pursued other companies that have not respected or valued its IP [2]. - A cease and desist letter was sent to Google after conversations failed to yield satisfactory results [2]. - The company emphasizes the importance of respecting IP and has had ongoing discussions with potential partners, including Disney, to ensure compliance [3][4]. Group 2: Partnerships and Collaborations - The company views Disney as an ideal partner for collaboration, particularly in the context of evolving technology [3]. - Discussions with Disney have been characterized as open-minded, indicating a willingness to adapt as technology progresses [4].

Core Insights - Netflix has successfully acquired Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and streaming assets for an estimated $72 billion in equity value, totaling $82.7 billion in enterprise value, which includes the HBO Max streaming service and major franchises like Harry Potter and Game of Thrones [1] - This acquisition is expected to significantly enhance Netflix's position as the global streaming leader and improve its long-term value [2] Strategic Benefits - The Warner Bros. agreement will deepen Netflix's content library by adding a century-old studio catalog and globally recognized franchises, which will help attract and retain subscribers [3] - The acquisition is seen as a move to secure unparalleled intellectual property (IP) and scale Netflix's business for long-term growth, creating a "streaming powerhouse" [4] Financial Implications - The deal is anticipated to attract more subscribers and reduce reliance on costly original content production, with management targeting $2-$3 billion in annual cost synergies by the third year post-acquisition, which should enhance profit margins and free cash flow [5] - Upon completion of the takeover, expected within 12-18 months, Netflix will command a larger share of the streaming market, potentially increasing its pricing power and profitability for decades [6] ETF Considerations - Investing in ETFs that have substantial Netflix exposure can mitigate stock-specific risks associated with single-stock investments, especially given Netflix's recent earnings miss that led to a significant share price drop [7][8] - ETFs provide a diversified approach to benefit from Netflix's growth while cushioning against potential setbacks [9] Recommended ETFs - **First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (FDN)**: Net assets of $6.88 billion, with Netflix accounting for 8.27% of the fund. Year-to-date gain of 12.3% and charges 49 basis points in fees [11][12] - **FT Vest Dow Jones Internet & Target Income ETF (FDND)**: Net assets of $10.3 million, with Netflix at 8.23%. Year-to-date gain of 10.9% and charges 75 basis points in fees [13][14] - **Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC)**: Assets under management of $27.73 billion, with Netflix at 5.08%. Year-to-date gain of 22% and charges 8 basis points in fees [15][16]

Core Viewpoint - Netflix has won the bidding war for Warner Brothers Discovery in a significant transaction valued at $72 billion, which is expected to enhance Netflix's long-term growth and success [1]. Group 1: Strategic Implications - The acquisition is primarily aimed at growing Netflix's subscriber base and overall audience by leveraging Warner's intellectual property and content library [2]. - Netflix's engagement has stagnated, prompting the need for new strategies to accelerate growth, with the Warner acquisition seen as a way to exploit underutilized IP [4]. - The deal is perceived as a way for Netflix to create more opportunities for talent and larger projects, despite concerns about reduced opportunities in the entertainment ecosystem due to the consolidation [3]. Group 2: Consumer Impact - The merger is expected to benefit consumers by providing more content at lower prices, with Netflix likely to promote the availability of a wider range of offerings and shorter movie windows [5]. Group 3: Industry Concerns - The acquisition raises significant regulatory challenges, with concerns about its impact on producers, creatives, and the overall diversity of storytelling in the industry [6][7]. - There is a belief that the deal poses a threat to the long-term viability of theatrical exhibition, prompting scrutiny from both federal and state regulators [7]. - The regulatory risks associated with the deal could jeopardize its closure, making it a risky bet for both Netflix and Warner [8].

Protocol & Authentication Concerns - Story Protocol integrates Solo Leveling with 14 billion views and 175 million readers [1] - Authentication failure after Baby Shark verification, indicating inability to distinguish real IP from fake [1] - Platform undermines its own value proposition with a $2.67 billion fully diluted valuation (FDV) [1] - Broken authentication impacts revenue streams [1] Financial & Infrastructure Issues - Aria Protocol brings $100 million Korean music catalog [1] - Infrastructure approved fraudulent tokens and then deleted evidence [1]

Core Insights - The Federal Reserve's recent 25bps rate cut and potential fiscal easing are expected to stimulate M&A activity, particularly in the TMT sector, which has shown resilience with a 33% increase in deal value to $146 billion [1] - Intellectual property (IP) is becoming a central asset in TMT M&A, influencing valuations and strategic directions, as companies seek to acquire content libraries and franchises to enhance user engagement and competitive positioning [2] M&A Activity Highlights - Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion in 2023 is the largest gaming deal in history, allowing Microsoft to control significant IPs and become the third-largest gaming platform by revenue [3][4] - The deal was justified by the recurring monetization potential from subscriptions and in-game purchases, supported by Activision's 400 million monthly active users [4] - Skydance Media's merger with Paramount Global for $28 billion aims to create a media and technology leader, leveraging Paramount's extensive IP and streaming platforms to enhance distribution and production capabilities [6][7] Strategic Importance of IP - The integration of Activision's library into Microsoft's Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming has proven beneficial, with gaming revenue reaching $2 billion and Xbox content growing by 16% [5] - Paramount's acquisition of UFC for $7.7 billion is positioned as a strategic move to enhance its sports IP portfolio, transitioning UFC events from pay-per-view to subscription models, thereby increasing engagement and retention [9][10] - The valuation of IP in these transactions reflects a shift towards viewing IP as a recurring, ecosystem-driven asset rather than just a one-time revenue generator [16][20] Future Outlook - The long-term growth potential of the media industry remains strong, driven by increasing consumption and the central role of IP across various entertainment formats [22] - Companies must be cautious in their M&A strategies, ensuring they have the scale and platforms to fully leverage acquired IP, as today's high premiums could lead to future valuation challenges [23]