Major Averages Mixed as Investors Await Fed Policy Meeting Conclusion
The major averages were mixed near noon as investors await the conclusion of the Federal Reserve's policy meeting, with the results of the meeting set to be released at 2:00 pm ET this afternoon. Markets expect a rate cut, but remain wary about what guidance might come afterward. Equity investors are acting cautiously. With heightened uncertainty about future rate moves and economic growth, trading volume and conviction remain muted.Looking to commodities, gold was fractitonally lower, with the commodity continuing its up-and-down run. Oil prices were lower as well after the release of crude data.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:GE Vernovadoubled its quarterly dividend, raised its buyback authorization, updated its FY25 revenue guidance, andCracker Barrelreportedand cut its FY26 revenue guidanceSK Hynix is exploring a U.S. listing to lift its global valuation,Lakeland Industriesreportedand withdrew its FY26 guidanceAmazonwill pay Italian tax authorities EUR723M in a settlement,2. WALL STREET CALLS:GE Vernovato Outperform at RBC Capital and Oppenheimer after the company raised its medium-term outlookEchoStarto Overweight at Morgan StanleyPepsiCoto Overweight at JPMorganRobloxwith a Buy at B. RileyHSBCBiogento Reduce, its sell-equivalent rating3. AROUND THE WEB:After Netflixannounced its deal for Warner Bros. Discovery, Larry Ellison called President Donald Trump to argue it would hurt competition,Nvidiahas built location verification technology to indicate what country its chips are operating in, a move that could help prevent the chips from being smuggled into countries where the export is banned,AirbusCEO Guillaume Faury said it was possible Boeingwould win in the annual order race for the first time in six years,CoupangCEO Park Dae-jun has resigned and is taking responsibility for a massive data breach at the company,Elliot Investment Management has increased its stake in Toyotato 5.01%, increasing pressure on the client as it plans to buy out the forklift manufacturer,4. MOVERS:Brazeincreases afterand raising its guidance for FY26Photronicsand Dave & Buster'sgain afterTerns Pharmaceuticalshigher after announcing aAeroVironmentfalls afterand cutting its guidance for FY26Wave Life Scienceslower in New York after announcing a5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Chewy, with EPS and revenue beating consensusJ.Jilland provided guidance for FY25 and Q4, with CEO Mary Ellen Coyne commenting, "We delivered better than expected earnings results with topline at the high end of our expectations"Hello Group, with EPS and revenue lower year-over-yearREV Group, with EPS and revenue beating consensusDaktronics, with interim CEO Brad Wiemann commenting, "We delivered another solid quarter of revenue and profit expansion"INDEXES:Near midday, the Dow was up 0.51%, or 242.04, to 47,802.33, the Nasdaq was down 0.18%, or 41.77, to 23,534.72, and the S&P 500 was up 0.10%, or 7.05, to 6,847.56.
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- Value Confirmation: The acquisition deal between Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) provides a clear value path for WBD shareholders, with expectations for shareholder support at the special meeting on March 20, 2026, as recommended by the board.
- Clear Regulatory Approval Path: Netflix and WBD have submitted their Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) filings and are actively collaborating with global competition authorities to ensure a smooth transaction process, demonstrating a higher level of certainty compared to PSKY.
- Industry Growth Potential: This transaction is set to expand production capacity and increase investment in original content, which is expected to create long-term job opportunities and further drive overall growth in the entertainment industry.
- Competitive Comparison: PSKY's financing challenges and rapid deleveraging plans pose significant risks to the entertainment sector, while Netflix's strong cash flow supports its all-cash transaction structure, ensuring a healthy balance sheet and flexibility for future strategic priorities.
- DOJ Inquiry: The Department of Justice has summoned major theater chain owners to assess the potential impact of Warner Bros. Discovery's sale on moviegoers and the number of films released, indicating a concern for market competition.
- Netflix's Commitment: Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos met with several theater CEOs in Los Angeles last week, pledging to exclusively release Warner Bros. films in theaters for 45 days, aiming to alleviate market concerns and enhance theater appeal.
- Bidding War Dynamics: Analyst Gary Black predicts that Netflix will emerge victorious in the bidding war, suggesting that even if Paramount wins, Netflix shares could rebound to the $100 level, reflecting optimistic market expectations for its future performance.
- Market Response: Although the DOJ and Netflix did not immediately respond to media inquiries, these developments highlight the industry's keen interest in the potential implications of the Warner Bros. sale and the evolving market dynamics.
- Negotiation Resumption: Warner Bros. announced it will reopen talks with Paramount to hear its final offer, which must be presented by February 23, with expectations that it will increase to $31 per share to gain board support.
- Stock Price Fluctuation: Warner Bros. shares have bounced back 8% since February 5, indicating investor optimism about a potentially sweeter bid from Paramount, with retail sentiment on Stocktwits remaining 'extremely bullish'.
- Competitive Pressure: Despite Netflix's acquisition offer of $27.75 per share, Paramount's $30 bid has been rejected, and the market speculates that a price of $33 or $34 per share may be necessary to shift the balance, highlighting the deal's uncertainty.
- Market Reaction: Both Netflix and Paramount stocks are under pressure due to the prolonged deal negotiations, with Netflix shares down about 42% from their June 30 peak and Paramount shares down approximately 44% since September 23.
- Acquisition Scale: Netflix plans to acquire multiple media assets from Warner Bros. Discovery for a staggering $82.7 billion in an all-cash deal, but with only about $9 billion in cash and short-term investments, it will need to incur substantial debt to finance this acquisition.
- Poor Stock Performance: Since hitting an all-time high in July 2025, Netflix's stock has dropped approximately 43%, raising investor concerns about its financial health, especially as the integration plan for the acquired assets remains unclear.
- Market Valuation Analysis: Prior to the drop, Netflix's price-to-earnings ratio exceeded 60, while its revenue growth was only in the mid-teens, making its valuation appear expensive, particularly compared to rapidly growing AI companies.
- Investment Opportunity Assessment: Despite the challenges, if Netflix can successfully integrate the acquired assets, the current stock price may present a good buying opportunity for investors; however, failure to do so could prolong its recovery time in the market.
- Copyright Protection Action: Netflix has issued a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance over AI-generated infringing videos, demanding the removal of its intellectual property within three days or face litigation, indicating Netflix's strong commitment to protecting its original series like 'Stranger Things' and 'Squid Game'.
- Escalating Legal Threats: Netflix's litigation director, Mindy LeMoine, described Seedance 2.0 as a high-speed piracy engine that generates unauthorized derivative works, showcasing the company's aggressive stance on IP protection, which could lead to a legal confrontation with ByteDance.
- Industry Response: Concerns among media companies regarding AI videos are intensifying, with Warner Bros. also warning ByteDance, highlighting the urgent need for regulatory measures on AI tools, potentially prompting more companies to take legal action to safeguard their characters and brands.
- Future Outlook: While ByteDance has pledged to enhance video oversight, Netflix and other media companies may continue to pressure for stricter copyright protections, and failure to meet these demands could result in more severe legal consequences for ByteDance.

Warner Sale's Impact: The sale of Warner Bros. Discovery is being examined for its effects on theaters, particularly in terms of content distribution and financial implications.
Justice Department Investigation: The U.S. Justice Department is investigating the sale to assess potential antitrust issues and its impact on competition in the entertainment industry.







