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Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD) stock fell 2.01% to $28.31 as of 10:23 AM EST on Monday, January 12, 2026, as Paramount Skydance Corporation intensified its hostile takeover campaign. The entertainment giant faces mounting pressure after Paramount announced plans to nominate its own slate of directors to WBD’s board and filed a lawsuit in Delaware Chancery Court seeking critical financial disclosures.
The escalating battle comes as WBD shareholders weigh competing offers—Paramount’s $30 per share all-cash proposal versus the announced Netflix merger valued at $27.75 per share. With the advance notice window for WBD’s 2026 annual meeting opening in three weeks, investors are bracing for what could become one of Hollywood’s most contentious corporate battles.
Paramount Takes Aggressive Action in Pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery
Paramount Skydance has launched a multi-pronged offensive to advance its $30 per share all-cash offer for Warner Bros. Discovery, signaling its determination to derail the Netflix transaction announced on December 5, 2025. In a letter to WBD shareholders dated January 12, 2026, Paramount CEO David Ellison outlined the company’s strategy, which includes nominating a slate of directors for election at WBD’s 2026 annual meeting who would, according to their fiduciary duties, engage with Paramount’s superior offer.
Additionally, Paramount plans to propose an amendment to WBD’s bylaws requiring shareholder approval for any separation of Global Networks, a key component of the Netflix deal.
The most significant development is Paramount’s lawsuit filed in Delaware Chancery Court seeking to compel WBD to provide basic financial information that shareholders need to make an informed decision. Paramount argues that WBD has failed to disclose how it valued the Global Networks stub equity, how the purchase price reduction mechanism for debt works in the Netflix transaction, or the basis for its “risk adjustment” of Paramount’s cash offer.
This legal action follows Delaware law precedent requiring boards to provide adequate disclosure when making investment recommendations to shareholders. Paramount emphasized it does not undertake these actions lightly but remains committed to constructive discussions with WBD’s board to reach an agreement in shareholders’ best interests.
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WBD Shares Slide as Takeover Uncertainty Weighs on Investors
Warner Bros. Discovery stock opened at $28.47 and traded in a range of $28.40 to $28.68 during the morning session on January 12, 2026, before settling at $28.31, down $0.58 or 2.01% from the previous close of $28.89.
The stock has experienced significant volatility amid the competing acquisition offers, with a 52-week range of $7.52 to $30.00 reflecting the dramatic turnaround in investor sentiment. With a market capitalization of $70.62 billion and an enterprise value of $100.85 billion, WBD carries substantial debt that factors into the valuation debate between the two suitors.
Despite the impressive 193.61% one-year return through January 12, 2026, analyst sentiment remains mixed, with price targets ranging from $20.00 to $35.00 and an average target of $27.25, slightly below the current trading price. The company’s trailing P/E ratio of 152.03 reflects minimal profitability, with diluted EPS of just $0.19 and a profit margin of 1.28%.
Trading volume of approximately 5.98 million shares was well below the average of 44.9 million, suggesting many investors are waiting for clarity on the takeover situation. The competing offers have created uncertainty about WBD’s strategic direction, particularly regarding the fate of its Global Networks division, which Paramount values at zero equity while Netflix’s transaction includes it as spun-off equity to shareholders.
Disclaimer: The author does not hold or have a position in any securities discussed in the article. All stock prices were quoted at the time of writing.
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