Warner Bros. and Paramount Discuss Merger Terms
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Should l Buy PSKY?
Source: seekingalpha
- Stock Surge: Shares of Paramount Skydance (PSKY) rose nearly 10% to $11.33 after Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) agreed to discuss merger terms, reflecting market optimism about the potential deal.
- Active Trading Volume: By 1:15 PM ET, over 7.17 million shares of PSKY had traded, nearing its three-month average of 8.77 million shares, indicating strong investor interest in the merger negotiations.
- Merger Proposal Details: Paramount's latest offer includes a $650 million “ticking fee” payable quarterly after 2026 to WBD shareholders if regulatory approvals are delayed, along with a commitment to cover a $2.8 billion termination fee, demonstrating its determination to finalize the deal.
- Market Reaction and Strategic Implications: Warner Bros. has indicated it wants more than $31 per share for the company, and if Paramount offers $33 per share, the deal could be valued at nearly $116 billion, highlighting strong market interest in large media mergers and potential value creation opportunities.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy PSKY?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on PSKY
Wall Street analysts forecast PSKY stock price to rise
15 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
7 Hold
7 Sell
Moderate Sell
Current: 10.320
Low
8.00
Averages
14.08
High
19.00
Current: 10.320
Low
8.00
Averages
14.08
High
19.00
About PSKY
Paramount Skydance Corp, formerly New Pluto Global, Inc., is a holding company. It operates through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Paramount Global (Paramount) and Skydance Media, LLC (Skydance). Paramount is a global media, streaming and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Its consumer brands include CBS, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount+ and Pluto TV. In addition to offering streaming services and digital video products, it also provides production, distribution and advertising solutions. Skydance is a diversified media company focused on creating event-level entertainment for global audiences. Skydance develops, finances and produces live-action and animated films, television shows, sports content and interactive games worldwide. Skydance has also produced 31 seasons of live-action and animated television content across 16 series and supplies content across a range of platforms.
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.
Paramount and Warner Bros. Reach Negotiation Waiver
- Negotiation Waiver Agreement: Warner Bros. Discovery has reached an agreement with Netflix to grant Paramount a 7-day negotiation waiver, which means Paramount can negotiate without a time limit, potentially affecting future merger dynamics despite relinquishing its right to prioritize Paramount's $30 cash offer.
- Shareholder Meeting Arrangement: Warner Bros. Discovery plans to hold a special shareholder meeting on March 20 to seek approval for the merger with Netflix, with expected compensation for shareholders ranging from $21.23 to $27.75, indicating urgency in their merger negotiations.
- Paramount's Superior Offer: Paramount's cash offer of $30 per share, along with a $0.25 per-share quarterly ticking fee, provides a faster and more certain path to closing a transaction, which may attract Warner shareholders to its proposal and enhance its competitive position in the market.
- Ongoing Acquisition Push: Despite the unusual actions taken by Warner's board, Paramount is prepared to engage in constructive discussions while continuing to advance its tender offer, demonstrating its proactive stance and strategic intent in the media industry consolidation.
See More
CBS Restricts Colbert from Interviewing Talarico Due to FCC Pressure
- Network Controversy: CBS barred Colbert from interviewing Texas Rep. Talarico due to concerns over violating FCC's equal opportunity rules, highlighting media self-censorship under political pressure, which could impact content diversity and freedom.
- FCC Guidance Impact: The FCC recently reminded networks of the 1934 law requiring equal coverage for political candidates, leading to restrictions on Colbert's show, reflecting potential government interference in media content that may erode public trust in press freedom.
- Talarico's Response: Talarico shared a link to his interview with Colbert on social media, accusing the network of threatening free speech and labeling this as a form of “cancel culture” from the top, which could influence voter support for the Democratic Party.
- Industry Reaction: FCC Commissioner Gomez criticized CBS's decision as another example of corporate capitulation, urging broadcasters to resist political pressure and uphold press freedom, indicating the vulnerability of media in the face of government intervention, which may affect future news reporting.
See More
Paramount and Warner Bros. Reach Negotiation Waiver
- Negotiation Waiver Agreement: The 7-day negotiation waiver agreement between Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix allows Paramount to negotiate without a time constraint, although it did not lead the WBD Board to recognize Paramount's $30 per share cash offer as a superior proposal.
- Shareholder Meeting Arrangement: The WBD Board has scheduled a special shareholder meeting on March 20 to seek approval for the merger with Netflix, with the proposed merger consideration for WBD shareholders ranging from $21.23 to $27.75, indicating competitive pressure from Paramount's offer.
- Paramount's Superior Offer: Paramount's $30 per share cash offer not only exceeds WBD's merger proposal but also includes a $0.25 per share quarterly ticking fee, providing a faster and more certain path to closing the transaction, thereby enhancing its competitive position in the market.
- Ongoing Acquisition Push: Despite the unusual actions taken by WBD's Board, Paramount is prepared to engage in good faith discussions while continuing to advance its tender offer and nominating a slate of directors at the upcoming WBD annual meeting, demonstrating its firm commitment to the acquisition.
See More
Warner Bros. and Paramount Discuss Merger Terms
- Stock Surge: Shares of Paramount Skydance (PSKY) rose nearly 10% to $11.33 after Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) agreed to discuss merger terms, reflecting market optimism about the potential deal.
- Active Trading Volume: By 1:15 PM ET, over 7.17 million shares of PSKY had traded, nearing its three-month average of 8.77 million shares, indicating strong investor interest in the merger negotiations.
- Merger Proposal Details: Paramount's latest offer includes a $650 million “ticking fee” payable quarterly after 2026 to WBD shareholders if regulatory approvals are delayed, along with a commitment to cover a $2.8 billion termination fee, demonstrating its determination to finalize the deal.
- Market Reaction and Strategic Implications: Warner Bros. has indicated it wants more than $31 per share for the company, and if Paramount offers $33 per share, the deal could be valued at nearly $116 billion, highlighting strong market interest in large media mergers and potential value creation opportunities.
See More
Wall Street Opens Under AI Disruption Fears
- Tech Stocks Decline: The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (NYSE:IGV) fell over 2.7% in midday New York trading, marking its 11th decline in the past 15 sessions and pushing year-to-date losses to nearly 25%, reflecting ongoing investor concerns over potential AI-driven market disruptions.
- Nasdaq Underperformance: While broader equity indices were largely flat, the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 slipped 0.3%, indicating a lack of confidence in the tech sector that may influence future investment decisions.
- Airline Stocks Rally: Airbnb Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) added 3.7%, extending last week's post-earnings momentum, while Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) jumped over 6% following analyst upgrades, suggesting a positive outlook for the airline industry's recovery.
- Commodity Market Decline: Following Iran's foreign minister's statement on reaching key principles with the U.S., crude oil fell 1.3% to $62 per barrel, while gold and silver dropped 2.5% and nearly 6%, respectively, indicating market reactions to geopolitical risks.
See More
General Mills Lowers 2026 Outlook, Shares Drop
- General Mills Outlook Downgrade: General Mills has lowered its 2026 organic net sales forecast to a decline of 1.5% to 2%, with operating profit and adjusted EPS expected to fall by 16% to 20%, resulting in a 7% drop in shares, indicating market concerns about future growth.
- Southwest Airlines Stock Surge: Shares of Southwest Airlines rose over 6% after UBS upgraded its rating to buy, with analysts highlighting new initiatives like extra legroom and assigned seating that could attract more travelers, showcasing the company's proactive transformation in a competitive airline market.
- ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Surge: ZIM's shares surged 30% following the announcement that German-based Hapag-Lloyd will acquire ZIM for $4.2 billion, financed through cash and external funding, marking a significant consolidation in the shipping industry.
- Labcorp's Mixed Results: Labcorp reported a fourth-quarter EPS of $4.07, exceeding the $3.94 expected by analysts, yet shares fell over 3% due to concerns regarding the pace of organic revenue growth despite a positive earnings forecast.
See More
Paramount and Warner Bros. Reach Negotiation Waiver
- Negotiation Waiver Agreement: Warner Bros. Discovery has reached an agreement with Netflix to grant Paramount a 7-day negotiation waiver, which means Paramount can negotiate without a time limit, potentially affecting future merger dynamics despite relinquishing its right to prioritize Paramount's $30 cash offer.
- Shareholder Meeting Arrangement: Warner Bros. Discovery plans to hold a special shareholder meeting on March 20 to seek approval for the merger with Netflix, with expected compensation for shareholders ranging from $21.23 to $27.75, indicating urgency in their merger negotiations.
- Paramount's Superior Offer: Paramount's cash offer of $30 per share, along with a $0.25 per-share quarterly ticking fee, provides a faster and more certain path to closing a transaction, which may attract Warner shareholders to its proposal and enhance its competitive position in the market.
- Ongoing Acquisition Push: Despite the unusual actions taken by Warner's board, Paramount is prepared to engage in constructive discussions while continuing to advance its tender offer, demonstrating its proactive stance and strategic intent in the media industry consolidation.
See More
CBS Restricts Colbert from Interviewing Talarico Due to FCC Pressure
- Network Controversy: CBS barred Colbert from interviewing Texas Rep. Talarico due to concerns over violating FCC's equal opportunity rules, highlighting media self-censorship under political pressure, which could impact content diversity and freedom.
- FCC Guidance Impact: The FCC recently reminded networks of the 1934 law requiring equal coverage for political candidates, leading to restrictions on Colbert's show, reflecting potential government interference in media content that may erode public trust in press freedom.
- Talarico's Response: Talarico shared a link to his interview with Colbert on social media, accusing the network of threatening free speech and labeling this as a form of “cancel culture” from the top, which could influence voter support for the Democratic Party.
- Industry Reaction: FCC Commissioner Gomez criticized CBS's decision as another example of corporate capitulation, urging broadcasters to resist political pressure and uphold press freedom, indicating the vulnerability of media in the face of government intervention, which may affect future news reporting.
See More
Paramount and Warner Bros. Reach Negotiation Waiver
- Negotiation Waiver Agreement: The 7-day negotiation waiver agreement between Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix allows Paramount to negotiate without a time constraint, although it did not lead the WBD Board to recognize Paramount's $30 per share cash offer as a superior proposal.
- Shareholder Meeting Arrangement: The WBD Board has scheduled a special shareholder meeting on March 20 to seek approval for the merger with Netflix, with the proposed merger consideration for WBD shareholders ranging from $21.23 to $27.75, indicating competitive pressure from Paramount's offer.
- Paramount's Superior Offer: Paramount's $30 per share cash offer not only exceeds WBD's merger proposal but also includes a $0.25 per share quarterly ticking fee, providing a faster and more certain path to closing the transaction, thereby enhancing its competitive position in the market.
- Ongoing Acquisition Push: Despite the unusual actions taken by WBD's Board, Paramount is prepared to engage in good faith discussions while continuing to advance its tender offer and nominating a slate of directors at the upcoming WBD annual meeting, demonstrating its firm commitment to the acquisition.
See More
Warner Bros. and Paramount Discuss Merger Terms
- Stock Surge: Shares of Paramount Skydance (PSKY) rose nearly 10% to $11.33 after Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) agreed to discuss merger terms, reflecting market optimism about the potential deal.
- Active Trading Volume: By 1:15 PM ET, over 7.17 million shares of PSKY had traded, nearing its three-month average of 8.77 million shares, indicating strong investor interest in the merger negotiations.
- Merger Proposal Details: Paramount's latest offer includes a $650 million “ticking fee” payable quarterly after 2026 to WBD shareholders if regulatory approvals are delayed, along with a commitment to cover a $2.8 billion termination fee, demonstrating its determination to finalize the deal.
- Market Reaction and Strategic Implications: Warner Bros. has indicated it wants more than $31 per share for the company, and if Paramount offers $33 per share, the deal could be valued at nearly $116 billion, highlighting strong market interest in large media mergers and potential value creation opportunities.
See More
Wall Street Opens Under AI Disruption Fears
- Tech Stocks Decline: The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (NYSE:IGV) fell over 2.7% in midday New York trading, marking its 11th decline in the past 15 sessions and pushing year-to-date losses to nearly 25%, reflecting ongoing investor concerns over potential AI-driven market disruptions.
- Nasdaq Underperformance: While broader equity indices were largely flat, the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 slipped 0.3%, indicating a lack of confidence in the tech sector that may influence future investment decisions.
- Airline Stocks Rally: Airbnb Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) added 3.7%, extending last week's post-earnings momentum, while Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) jumped over 6% following analyst upgrades, suggesting a positive outlook for the airline industry's recovery.
- Commodity Market Decline: Following Iran's foreign minister's statement on reaching key principles with the U.S., crude oil fell 1.3% to $62 per barrel, while gold and silver dropped 2.5% and nearly 6%, respectively, indicating market reactions to geopolitical risks.
See More
General Mills Lowers 2026 Outlook, Shares Drop
- General Mills Outlook Downgrade: General Mills has lowered its 2026 organic net sales forecast to a decline of 1.5% to 2%, with operating profit and adjusted EPS expected to fall by 16% to 20%, resulting in a 7% drop in shares, indicating market concerns about future growth.
- Southwest Airlines Stock Surge: Shares of Southwest Airlines rose over 6% after UBS upgraded its rating to buy, with analysts highlighting new initiatives like extra legroom and assigned seating that could attract more travelers, showcasing the company's proactive transformation in a competitive airline market.
- ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Surge: ZIM's shares surged 30% following the announcement that German-based Hapag-Lloyd will acquire ZIM for $4.2 billion, financed through cash and external funding, marking a significant consolidation in the shipping industry.
- Labcorp's Mixed Results: Labcorp reported a fourth-quarter EPS of $4.07, exceeding the $3.94 expected by analysts, yet shares fell over 3% due to concerns regarding the pace of organic revenue growth despite a positive earnings forecast.
See More
