Ultra-High-Net-Worth Families Cut Direct Investments by 62%, Young Heirs Actively Engage
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 08 2026
0mins
Should l Buy WBD?
Source: Newsfilter
- Investment Decline: According to Fintrx data, ultra-high-net-worth families made 62% fewer direct investments in December 2025, completing only 35 deals, reflecting a cautious approach amid tariff uncertainties and geopolitical conflicts.
- Emergence of Young Heirs: Despite the overall investment decline, millennial and Gen X heirs are actively engaging through family offices, as evidenced by Motier Ventures' participation in an €7.2 million ($8.5 million) seed round for blood testing startup Lucis, indicating a strong interest in tech investments.
- Diversified Investment Strategies: Billionaire eyewear heir Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio acquired a 30% stake in Italian right-wing media outlet Il Giornale through his family office LMDV Capital, showcasing that young heirs are not only focused on wealth preservation but also on social responsibility and information dissemination.
- Sustainable Investment Trends: According to UBS's latest family office survey, nearly one-third of family offices expect the next generation to be involved in direct investments, with 39% anticipating their involvement in managing investments, highlighting a strategic shift in engaging heirs in impactful investment activities.
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Analyst Views on WBD
Wall Street analysts forecast WBD stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for WBD is 24.98 USD with a low forecast of 14.75 USD and a high forecast of 30.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
14 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
9 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 27.030
Low
14.75
Averages
24.98
High
30.00
Current: 27.030
Low
14.75
Averages
24.98
High
30.00
About WBD
Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. is a global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes a portfolio of branded content across television, film, streaming and gaming. The Company's segments include Studios, Networks and DTC. Studios segment primarily consists of the production and release of feature films for initial exhibition in theaters, production and initial licensing of television programs to its networks/DTC services as well as third parties, distribution of its films and television programs to various third party and internal television and streaming services, distribution through the home entertainment market, and others. Networks segment primarily consists of its domestic and international television networks. DTC segment primarily consists of its premium pay-TV and streaming services. Its brands and products include Discovery Channel, Max, DC, TNT Sports, Eurosport, HBO, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Warner Bros., and Cartoon Network.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Market Share Insight: Trump previously noted that if Netflix acquired Warner Bros.' assets, its market share would significantly increase, although he did not specify figures; this potential growth has drawn economists' attention and could impact the competitive landscape in the industry.
- Acquisition Proposal Comparison: Netflix has made an offer to acquire Warner Bros. at an enterprise value of $82.7 billion, which has been backed by WBD's board, while Paramount has launched a hostile bid valued at over $108 billion, highlighting the fierce competition between the two companies in the market.
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- Trump's Change of Heart: In a recent interview, Trump stated he will not be involved in the acquisition battle between Netflix and Paramount for Warner Bros. Discovery, emphasizing that the Justice Department will handle the matter, reflecting his concern over market competition.
- Massive Acquisition Value: Netflix proposed a $72 billion acquisition of WBD, excluding its cable networks like CNN, which would allow Netflix to gain WBD's film studio and HBO streaming services, potentially reshaping the streaming market landscape.
- Hostile Takeover Strategy: Paramount launched a hostile bid for WBD with an enterprise value exceeding $108 billion, demonstrating its aggressive pursuit of market share and likely triggering more intense industry competition.
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See More
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Author Background: Thomas W. Hazlett is a former chief economist at the Federal Communications Commission and currently holds the Hugh H. Macaulay Endowed professorship in economics at Clemson University.
Expertise: His experience in telecommunications and economics positions him as a knowledgeable commentator on related policy issues.
See More
Trump Withdraws from Netflix-Paramount Takeover Battle
- Trump's Shift: In an interview with NBC News, Trump stated he would not participate in the takeover battle between Netflix and Paramount Skydance for Warner Bros. Discovery, marking a significant change from his previous stance two months ago, indicating he will let the Justice Department handle the matter.
- Market Share Insight: Trump previously noted that if Netflix acquired Warner Bros.' assets, its market share would significantly increase, although he did not specify figures; this potential growth has drawn economists' attention and could impact the competitive landscape in the industry.
- Acquisition Proposal Comparison: Netflix has made an offer to acquire Warner Bros. at an enterprise value of $82.7 billion, which has been backed by WBD's board, while Paramount has launched a hostile bid valued at over $108 billion, highlighting the fierce competition between the two companies in the market.
- Extended Deadline: Paramount recently extended the deadline for its acquisition proposal to February 20, demonstrating its firm commitment to the acquisition, which may also influence Netflix's acquisition strategy and further exacerbate market uncertainty.
See More
Trump Signals Non-Intervention in Netflix-Warner Merger
- Trump's Position Shift: Trump stated from the White House that he will not intervene in the $82.7 billion merger between Netflix and Warner Bros., emphasizing that the Justice Department will handle the matter, indicating a reduction in his influence over the media sector.
- Intensifying Merger Competition: The merger aims to combine the world's leading streaming service with the historic Warner Bros. and HBO, with Trump noting the fierce competition between the two companies, suggesting that the merger may face increased regulatory scrutiny.
- Regulatory and Ethical Scrutiny: Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos faced intense questioning during a Senate hearing, with analysts estimating that the combined entity could control over 30% of the U.S. streaming market, which is subject to a complex antitrust review.
- Poor Market Performance: While the Nasdaq 100 index is down 1.25% year-to-date, all three companies involved in this merger have underperformed, with Netflix down 11.90%, Warner Bros. down 5.19%, and PSKY down 18.44%, reflecting market concerns regarding the merger.
See More
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- Stock Price Decline: Netflix's stock has dropped approximately 40% from its June peak of $133.91, hitting an intraday low of $79.22 on Wednesday, although it rebounded slightly to close at $80.16, indicating market concerns over its acquisition of Warner Bros.
- Bearish Market Sentiment: According to Stocktwits, retail sentiment for NFLX has turned ‘bearish’ over the past week, reflecting a decline in investor confidence regarding the company's future performance, particularly amid the protracted acquisition negotiations.
- Complicated Acquisition Deal: The acquisition deal between Netflix and Warner Bros. is complicated by competing bids from Paramount Skydance, which have been rejected by Warner Bros., while the transaction is under review by the U.S. Department of Justice, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the deal.
- Analyst Rating Improvements: Despite the pressures, Phillip Capital and Freedom Capital have upgraded Netflix's ratings from ‘Sell’ and ‘Hold’ to ‘Accumulate’ and ‘Buy’, respectively, indicating analysts' optimism about the company's future profitability, especially following its latest earnings report that exceeded expectations.
See More
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- False Advertising Allegations: Verizon has filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court against T-Mobile, accusing it of misleading consumers by claiming they could save over $1,000 by switching carriers, which Verizon argues are exaggerated claims, with some inflated by over 100%.
- Regulatory Warnings: The lawsuit states that T-Mobile continued to promote savings claims that are 'substantially identical' to those found unsubstantiated and misleading by the National Advertising Review Board in 2025 and 2026, indicating a pattern of misleading behavior.
- Claims and Injunction Requests: Verizon is seeking unspecified triple damages under the federal Lanham Act for alleged intentional false advertising, along with a request for the court to block T-Mobile from running the challenged advertisements, emphasizing its commitment to fair competition in the market.
- Performance Context: This legal action follows Verizon's strong fourth-quarter results and positive 2026 guidance, reporting $36.4 billion in revenue, a 2% year-over-year increase, and adding 616,000 postpaid phone subscribers, highlighting its strengthened market position.
See More
Trump Withdraws from WBD Acquisition Dispute
- Trump's Change of Heart: In a recent interview, Trump stated he will not be involved in the acquisition battle between Netflix and Paramount for Warner Bros. Discovery, emphasizing that the Justice Department will handle the matter, reflecting his concern over market competition.
- Massive Acquisition Value: Netflix proposed a $72 billion acquisition of WBD, excluding its cable networks like CNN, which would allow Netflix to gain WBD's film studio and HBO streaming services, potentially reshaping the streaming market landscape.
- Hostile Takeover Strategy: Paramount launched a hostile bid for WBD with an enterprise value exceeding $108 billion, demonstrating its aggressive pursuit of market share and likely triggering more intense industry competition.
- Antitrust Concerns: Senator Mike Lee highlighted that the merger raises numerous antitrust issues, potentially leading to a concentration of production and distribution power, which could impact the fairness of market competition.
See More
Netflix and Warner Bros: A Perfect Match in Competitive Landscape
Author Background: Thomas W. Hazlett is a former chief economist at the Federal Communications Commission and currently holds the Hugh H. Macaulay Endowed professorship in economics at Clemson University.
Expertise: His experience in telecommunications and economics positions him as a knowledgeable commentator on related policy issues.
See More
