Date: December 20, 2025
Company: Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBD)
Warner Bros. Discovery stock is no longer trading like a “normal” media equity. As of this weekend, WBD shares are moving like a merger-arbitrage instrument, tethered to two competing takeover paths: Netflix’s signed deal for WBD’s Studios + Streaming assets and Paramount Skydance’s hostile all-cash tender offer for the entire company. [1]
At the close on Friday, Dec. 19, WBD finished at $27.77 (after a session that saw heavy volume and a trading range roughly between the high-$27s and $28.50). [2] That closing price sits just pennies away from Netflix’s headline $27.75 per-share structure—and $2.23 below Paramount’s $30-per-share cash bid, a gap that tells you the market is still discounting Paramount’s probability of success. [3]
Below is a detailed breakdown of the latest WBD stock news (as of Dec. 20, 2025), the key deadlines, what analysts are forecasting, and the scenarios investors are pricing in.
What’s the latest WBD stock news as of Dec. 20, 2025?
1) WBD’s board urges shareholders to reject Paramount’s tender offer
The biggest “fresh” development dominating headlines into Dec. 20 is Warner Bros. Discovery’s unequivocal stance: the company’s board is telling shareholders to reject Paramount Skydance’s offer and stick with the Netflix merger.
In its shareholder communication and filings, WBD’s board described Paramount’s proposal as “illusory” and argued Paramount has not provided adequate, unconditional financing assurances—particularly because the bid’s equity backing depends on a revocable trust structure rather than the kind of hard backstop WBD says it repeatedly requested. [4]
WBD also highlighted deal-risk costs that would hit shareholders if the company pursued Paramount’s path and it didn’t close. The board pointed to:
- a $2.8 billion termination fee owed to Netflix if WBD walked away, and
- roughly $1.5 billion in financing costs tied to constraints around WBD’s planned debt exchange,
for a combined potential burden of about $4.3 billion (the company framed that as roughly $1.66 per share). [5]
2) Netflix reiterates: “Our position is unchanged”
Netflix, for its part, has said its posture hasn’t shifted despite the hostile bid: leadership reaffirmed that it still intends to acquire WBD’s studios, film/TV assets and streaming business in a deal valued around $72 billion (equity), and the company expects scrutiny but argues the combined business would not “dominate” the broader viewing market. [6]
3) Paramount doubles down publicly on “$30 cash” certainty
Paramount Skydance continues to message the opposite: $30 per share in cash is “cleaner,” avoids exposure to market swings, and (Paramount argues) could face a clearer regulatory path than a Netflix tie-up. [7]
Paramount’s tender offer is also built around the idea that it buys the whole WBD—including legacy linear networks—rather than carving out a streaming/studio core. [8]
The key dates: why Jan. 8, 2026 is now the near-term “WBD stock catalyst”
Paramount’s tender offer is currently scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on January 8, 2026, unless extended. [9]
This matters because the market now has a visible countdown clock. And it adds a practical tension WBD emphasized: even if shareholders tender, global regulatory approvals can take 12–18 months, meaning the offer almost certainly becomes a longer process (and may require extensions and ongoing financing certainty). [10]
Separately, Reuters reporting indicated WBD has not set a shareholder vote date for the Netflix deal, but a vote has been expected in spring or early summer 2026. [11]
WBD stock price check: what the market is signaling right now
WBD ended Dec. 19 at $27.77, after a volatile week of deal headlines. [12]
From that price, the “deal spread” is straightforward:
- Paramount offer: $30.00 cash
- WBD close (Dec. 19): $27.77
- Spread: $2.23 per share (about 7.43% of the $30 offer)
That discount is the market’s real-time way of saying: “$30 cash is not guaranteed.” The reasons are not just theoretical—WBD’s board is actively campaigning against the offer, and WBD is attacking the structure and reliability of Paramount’s financing. [13]
At the same time, WBD trading almost exactly on Netflix’s $27.75 headline value suggests investors see Netflix’s signed agreement as the “base case” more often than not—though the timeline, regulatory risk, and deal mechanics still create room for discounting. [14]
Netflix vs. Paramount: how the two bids compare for WBD shareholders
Netflix deal (Studios + Streaming; spin-off of cable assets)
Public reporting and company statements describe the Netflix transaction as a cash-and-stock deal where WBD shareholders receive a mix of cash and Netflix shares for the assets being acquired—while WBD’s cable operations are separated. [15]
WBD has framed Netflix’s proposal as more “binding” and more financeable, emphasizing Netflix’s scale and balance sheet. [16]
WBD also said Netflix agreed to a $5.8 billion regulatory termination cash fee (a key point meant to signal seriousness and reduce closing risk). [17]
Paramount tender offer (All-cash, whole company)
Paramount’s pitch is the simplest for shareholders to understand: $30 per share in cash for all outstanding WBD shares, implying an enterprise value around $108.4 billion. [18]
But WBD is challenging whether Paramount’s “certainty” is truly certain, pointing to the trust structure, complexity, and the risks of a highly leveraged combined entity. [19]
WBD stock forecast and analyst outlook: why price targets look “behind” the tape
Here’s the strange truth about WBD stock forecasts right now: many conventional 12‑month analyst price targets were built for a world where WBD was “just” a turnaround media company navigating cord-cutting, streaming profitability, and debt. This is why published consensus targets often sit below today’s price, which is inflated by deal premiums and probabilities.
As of mid-to-late December 2025, major data aggregators show:
- TipRanks average price target:$23.61 (with a high forecast around $29.50 and a low around $14.75), based on a recent analyst sample. [20]
- MarketBeat consensus price target:$23.22, with a consensus rating described as “Moderate Buy.” [21]
- StockAnalysis average price target:$19.47, also showing a “Buy” consensus but a lower mean target. [22]
So why is WBD above many targets? Because the stock is being priced less on standalone fundamentals and more on deal outcomes.
A useful way to read those targets now is scenario-based:
- If both deals fail and WBD remains independent, consensus targets imply the stock could gravitate closer to the low‑$20s (or lower), reflecting legacy-network decline and ongoing uncertainty. [23]
- If a deal closes, the “target” becomes less about EPS estimates and more about deal terms, time value, and regulatory probabilities.
Why WBD became a takeover target in the first place: the fundamentals that set the stage
Even with M&A dominating the tape, WBD’s underlying business challenges are the backdrop that made a breakup/sale path plausible.
A Reuters report earlier this quarter described:
- pressure from cable-TV declines,
- streaming growth that missed some expectations in the quarter (Reuters cited 2.3 million streaming subscriber additions vs a higher Visible Alpha estimate),
- and a strategic posture where WBD said it had no firm deadline for a sale or split while it weighed separating Studios/Streaming from Global Networks. [24]
In other words: WBD entered late 2025 already in “strategic options” mode—then the bidding war accelerated that process into a headline-driven frenzy. [25]
Political and regulatory risk: why WBD is now a Washington story, too
This isn’t just a business battle; it has become a political and regulatory flashpoint.
- Reuters reporting has highlighted that Netflix expects regulatory scrutiny and is engaging with regulators, while some legal experts caution regulators may not accept certain market definitions (for example, whether Netflix and YouTube are interchangeable competitors). [26]
- Commentary and reporting around CNN—and the broader cable-news ecosystem—has added an extra layer of sensitivity. A Dec. 20 Guardian column argued the CNN tug-of-war illustrates deeper dysfunction and public-interest concerns in U.S. media consolidation debates. [27]
- The Wall Street Journal’s weekend coverage also underscored how central Netflix leadership has become in this drama, spotlighting co‑CEO Ted Sarandos’ role in reframing the deal as “good for Hollywood” while navigating the political environment around approvals. [28]
- Another WSJ report described “Trump world” picking sides, reflecting how the transaction has become entangled in broader political narratives. [29]
For WBD stockholders, the key takeaway is practical: political risk can change timelines, and timelines change the present value of any deal consideration—even if the headline price looks attractive.
What analysts and market watchers are saying on Dec. 20
Beyond the major-wire headlines, Dec. 20 brought additional investor-oriented coverage noting WBD’s prominence in entertainment screens and deal commentary:
- MarketBeat’s Dec. 20 round-up listed WBD among “entertainment stocks to watch,” pointing to unusually high dollar trading volume relative to peers in recent days—an unsurprising byproduct of the takeover battle. [30]
This kind of coverage matters mainly because it highlights a reality: liquidity and volatility are elevated, and WBD is attracting both retail attention and professional event-driven capital.
Three scenarios for WBD stock from here
Scenario A: Netflix deal closes (the “board-backed” path)
If Netflix clears regulatory reviews and shareholders approve the plan, WBD shareholders would receive the negotiated mix of value tied to Netflix’s terms, plus the separate fate of spun-off cable assets (depending on the structure and timing). [31]
What moves the stock in this scenario: regulator headlines, formal shareholder vote scheduling, and any changes in the effective value of stock-linked consideration over time. [32]
Scenario B: Paramount succeeds with the $30 cash tender (or sweetens it)
This is the “cleanest” number—$30 cash—but the market is discounting the probability, and WBD is actively arguing the offer’s structure creates risk and potential shareholder downside. [33]
What moves the stock in this scenario: tender participation rates, extensions, clearer financing backstops, and any increased offer price.
Scenario C: No deal (or prolonged limbo)
If the situation drags into 2026 without clarity—or if regulatory/political obstacles derail both paths—WBD could revert toward a fundamentals-based valuation (where many published targets currently sit). [34]
What moves the stock in this scenario: streaming performance, advertising trends, debt/refinancing actions, and progress on any internal breakup plan. [35]
What to watch next for WBD stock
If you’re following Warner Bros. Discovery stock closely, these are the next high-signal checkpoints:
- Jan. 8, 2026: Paramount tender offer expiration (unless extended). [36]
- Any change in Paramount’s financing disclosure or structure, especially around the “backstop” debate and trust commitment. [37]
- Regulatory dialogue and formal review milestones for the Netflix-WBD deal. [38]
- The timing of the shareholder vote for the Netflix transaction (expected in spring/early summer 2026 per Reuters reporting). [39]
- WBD’s own debt and restructuring moves (because, deal or no deal, capital structure and cash generation remain core to valuation). [40]
Bottom line: WBD is a “deal stock” until proven otherwise
As of Dec. 20, 2025, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) sits at the center of one of the biggest media bidding battles in years, and the stock price reflects that reality.
The market is currently pricing WBD near Netflix’s agreed headline value while leaving a meaningful gap to Paramount’s $30 cash—a spread that captures the central investor question: Which deal (if any) can actually close, and on what timeline? [41]
Until that question is answered, WBD’s day-to-day “forecast” will be driven less by box office results or streaming additions—and more by deal documents, regulators, financing certainty, and political risk. [42]
References
1. www.reuters.com, 2. stockanalysis.com, 3. www.reuters.com, 4. www.reuters.com, 5. ir.wbd.com, 6. www.reuters.com, 7. www.reuters.com, 8. www.prnewswire.com, 9. www.sec.gov, 10. ir.wbd.com, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. stockanalysis.com, 13. www.reuters.com, 14. www.reuters.com, 15. www.reuters.com, 16. ir.wbd.com, 17. ir.wbd.com, 18. www.prnewswire.com, 19. www.reuters.com, 20. www.tipranks.com, 21. www.marketbeat.com, 22. stockanalysis.com, 23. www.tipranks.com, 24. www.reuters.com, 25. www.reuters.com, 26. www.reuters.com, 27. www.theguardian.com, 28. www.wsj.com, 29. www.wsj.com, 30. www.marketbeat.com, 31. apnews.com, 32. www.reuters.com, 33. www.reuters.com, 34. www.tipranks.com, 35. www.reuters.com, 36. www.sec.gov, 37. www.reuters.com, 38. www.reuters.com, 39. www.reuters.com, 40. www.reuters.com, 41. stockanalysis.com, 42. www.reuters.com
