The trade association representing theater owners warned a congressional committee that the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by either Netflix or Paramount will have a negative impact on their business. Cinema United argued that the consolidation threatens to reduce the number of movies released theatrically and increase the leverage of studios in exhibition negotiations. The trade association outlined its concerns over consolidation in a statement to a House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee, which is ...

The bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and its extensive library of hit TV shows and films like “Harry Potter,” “Game of Thrones” and the DC Comics titles, is dragging on. The studio on Wednesday said its board had unanimously rejected Paramount Skydance’s revised $108.4 billion bid, calling the proposal a “leveraged buyout” that would saddle the company with $87 billion in debt. In a letter to shareholders, WBD urged them to reject the offer, saying the “extraordinary amount” of debt Paramount w ...

Group 1: General Motors (GM) - GM has demonstrated strategic discipline by reducing electric vehicle investments, ending a $10 billion robotaxi program to save $1 billion annually, and refocusing on personal vehicles and Super Cruise [1] - Under CEO Mary Barra, GM is expected to lead U.S. sales among all manufacturers for 2025 following a year of volatility after the announcement of "Liberation Day" [2] Group 2: Citigroup - Citigroup has transformed under CEO Jane Fraser's "Project Bora Bora," with full-year revenues tracking toward $84 billion, the highest since 2010, and all five business segments hitting quarterly records [4] - The stock performance is the best among major U.S. banks, up 67%, trading above tangible book value for the first time in a decade, and Fraser was elected Chair of the Citigroup Board of Directors [3] Group 3: Eli Lilly - Eli Lilly became the first trillion-dollar pharmaceutical company, with sales of its tirzepatide drugs growing by 131% year-over-year, capturing 63% of all branded anti-obesity prescriptions [8] - The company announced a $27 billion investment in four new U.S. manufacturing plants, the largest pharmaceutical commitment in U.S. history, driving the stock up 39% for the year [10] Group 4: Amphenol - Amphenol delivered record sales and earnings in every quarter of 2025, with revenues surging over 50% year-over-year, driven by organic growth in the IT datacom market [12] - The company's acquisition strategy has been effective, acquiring over 50 companies in the past decade, including a $10.5 billion deal to expand fiber-optic capabilities [13] Group 5: Freeport-McMoRan - Freeport-McMoRan achieved a 34% increase in performance, benefiting from the copper Supercycle, with copper prices reaching $12,000 per ton [14] - Despite a tragic mudslide halting production at the Grasberg mine, the company’s diversified portfolio showed resilience, with significant income increases from other mines [15] Group 6: Ralph Lauren - Ralph Lauren transformed from a discount-dependent retailer to a luxury brand, with average unit retail prices doubling and market capitalization reaching an all-time high of $20 billion [16] - Revenues rose 7% to $7.1 billion in fiscal year 2025, with adjusted operating margins expanding 150 basis points to 14% [17] Group 7: Boeing - Boeing delivered 537 aircraft as of November 2025, up from 348 in 2024, and increased production targets for the 787 [19] - The company completed its acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, enhancing control over production and maintaining a backlog of $640 billion [20] Group 8: Starbucks - Starbucks reached positive comparable sales for the first time in seven quarters under CEO Brian Niccol's "Back to Starbucks" strategy [23] - The company has undergone significant reorganization, including workforce reductions and store closures, while focusing on improving customer experience [24] Group 9: Nike - Nike has prioritized performance improvement across sports, launching successful products and initiatives that have driven over 20% growth in the running category [27] - The company has also strengthened wholesale channels, with revenue accelerating by 8% to $7.5 billion in the latest quarter [28] Group 10: Target - Target is at a pivotal moment with incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke, who has already acted decisively with an 8% workforce reduction [30][33] - The company has a solid foundation with a $100 billion omnichannel business, but faces challenges including market share losses and a vulnerable product mix [31][32] Group 11: Disney - Disney has fortified its position as a streaming powerhouse, with nearly 200 million subscribers and a turnaround from $4 billion in annual losses to profitability [34] - The company has faced challenges but has shown strong performance in box office sales and capital investments in parks and cruise divisions [35]

Benchmark lowered the firm’s price target on Comcast (CMCSA) to $44 from $46 and to formally reflect the consummation of the Versant (VSNT) spinoff and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The firm, which lowered its 2026 and subsequent year revenue and EBITDA estimates to reflect the Versant spin, notes that its EBITDA estimates for 2026 and 2027 are consequently (3.5%) and (2.0%) below consensus as it appears based on FactSet consensus that only one other sell side firm has made this adjustment yet. Claim ...

Paramount, with facilities in Hollywood, is continuing to pursue Warner Bros. Discovery. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Paramount's campaign to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery was dealt another blow Wednesday after Warner's board rejected a revised bid from the company. The board cited the enormous debt load that Paramount would need to finance its proposed $108-billion takeover. Warner’s board this week unanimously voted against Paramount’s most recent hostile offer — despite tech billionaire Lar ...

Goldman Sachs once again dominated the league tables for global dealmaking in 2025, taking market share and the top spot in a year marked by high-stakes political drama and increasingly bigger mergers.The rise of the $10 billion deal - of which there were 68 last year totaling $1.5 trillion, more than double the year prior - helped Goldman secure its number one ranking, according to LSEG data.The firm advised on 38 of those deals, more than any other investment bank, with $1.48 trillion in total volume of d ...

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street’s strong start to the year slowed on Wednesday. The S&P 500 slipped 0.3% from its latest all-time high for its first loss in four days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 466 points, or 0.9%, from its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.2%. Some of the market’s sharpest drops hit industries that President Donald Trump targeted with criticism on his social media network. Homebuilders fell sharply, for example, after Trump suggested moves to ...

Walt Disney (DIS) stock has been an underperformer, having remained sideways in the past 12 months. One factor that has contributed to the time correction is mixed results. In the last two quarterly numbers, Disney has missed on revenue estimates even as the company delivered better-than-expected EPS. However, the sideways movement, valuation consideration, and the company’s outlook for FY26 and FY27 point to an attractive entry opportunity. More News from Barchart Recently, Wolfe Research analyst Pet ...

About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, ...

Key Points Disney's board is set to announce Bob Iger's replacement in the next few months. Don't be surprised if it's an insider despite the stock's recent underperformance. Disney stayed out of last year's two media bidding wars. It will stick to its own business again in 2026. Its studio business has momentum, and likely the world's top draw at the multiplex this year. 10 stocks we like better than Walt Disney › When you have as many moving parts as Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS), there's always som ...