Introduction
Warner Bros Statistics: Warner Bros. Discovery is one of the world’s largest entertainment companies, known for its popular movies, TV channels, streaming services, sports, and news. The company was created by combining WarnerMedia and Discovery, bringing together many well-known brands under one roof. As the entertainment industry shifts toward digital streaming, Warner Bros. Discovery is working to grow its audience, improve its financial performance, and reduce costs. Investors closely monitor the company’s earnings, profitability, and financial strength to assess its prospects. This article reviews Warner Bros. Discovery’s latest financial performance and highlights the key metrics that show where the company stands today and what they could mean for its future.
Spotlight Selection
- Warner Bros. Discovery reported revenue of around USD 8.893 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, reflecting a 0.96% year-over-year decline from USD 9.460 billion in December 2025.
- WBD projects HBO Max subscribers will exceed 150 million by the end of 2026.
- In Q1 2026, Warner Bros. Discovery generated USD 2,533 million in distribution revenue from its streaming business, representing a 9% increase in reported terms.
- Total revenues for the Studios Segment reached USD 3,125 million in the same period.
- Total revenues for the linear networks segment declined 8% year-over-year to USD 4,377 million in Q1 2026, down from USD 4,774 million in Q1 2025.
- On February 26, 2026, Warner Bros. Discovery determined that Paramount’s revised offer was superior. Netflix declined to increase its bid.
- Warner Bros. Discovery reported 35,500 employees at the end of 2025, with the workforce estimated to reach approximately 40,000 employees in 2026.
- Warner Bros. Discovery continued to expand its direct-to-consumer streaming business, increasing global subscribers from 117.0 million in Q4 2024 to 140+ million in Q1 2026.
- Wuthering Heights was Warner Bros.’ strongest film in early 2026. It opened domestically with USD 40 million during the Valentine’s Day weekend and generated a global opening of USD 82 million.
Company Overview
| Metrics | Details |
| Company Name | Publicly traded media and entertainment company |
| Stock Exchange | Listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker WBD (Series A) and included in the Nasdaq-100 and S&P 500 indices |
| ISIN | US9344231041 |
| Industry | Operates in the media and entertainment industry |
| Formation Date | Established on April 8, 2022, following the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc. |
| Predecessor Companies | WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Located at 230 Park Avenue South, New York City, United States |
| Geographic Presence | Globally |
| Leadership Team | Samuel DiPiazza serves as Chairman, David Zaslav is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and John C. Malone is Chairman Emeritus |
| Brand Portfolio | Owns and manages a broad portfolio of leading media and entertainment brands |
| Number of Employees | Approximately 35,500 employees (2025) |
| Business Divisions | Organized into two core operating segments: Streaming, Studios, and Global Linear Networks |
| Subsidiaries | Owns an extensive portfolio of subsidiaries and media assets under Warner Bros. Discovery |
| Official Website | wbd.com |
Warner Bros Facts
- The most favorite iconic DC Comics superheroes like Wonder Woman, Batman, and Justice League belong to Warner Bros.
- Bugs Bunny, one of the most popular cartoon characters, was designed by Warner Bros.
- Warner Bros was the first studio to produce the world’s first synchronized sound film, with dialogue and music.
- Just like Bugs Bunny, Looney Tunes also belongs to Warner Bros.
Proposed Acquisition Of Warner Bros. Discovery
- On December 4, 2025, Paramount claimed that the bidding process favored Netflix.
- On December 5, 2025, Netflix offered USD 72 billion for Warner Bros.
- Discovery’s streaming and studios business, valuing the company at USD 82.7 billion.
- On December 8, 2025, Paramount Skydance responded with a USD 30-per-share all-cash offer, valuing Warner Bros. Discovery at USD 108.4 billion. The company advised shareholders to reject this proposal.
- The Netflix offer faced strong antitrust concerns, while Paramount later improved its bid by covering Netflix’s USD 5.8 billion breakup fee and adding a USD 650 million quarterly ticking fee.
- According to Wikipedia, on February 26, 2026, Warner Bros. Discovery determined that Paramount’s revised offer was superior. Netflix declined to increase its bid.
- On February 27, 2026, Paramount Skydance agreed to acquire Warner Bros.
- Discovery for USD 110 billion, with the transaction expected to close no earlier than September 30, 2026.
- Shareholders approved the transaction on April 23, 2026, but rejected executive golden parachute payments.
- Between May and June 2026, the transaction received approvals from regulators in Ukraine, Australia, the European Union, and multiple other jurisdictions.
- On June 12, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division also approved the proposed merger.
Warner Bros. Discovery Growth Outlook
- Warner Bros. Discovery is considering selling parts of its business or spinning off its linear TV networks, while continuing to expand HBO Max globally.
- The company expects HBO Max subscribers to exceed 150 million by the end of 2026, according to Stream TV Insider.
- In Q3 2025, streaming subscribers reached 128 million, including 58 million in the U.S. and Canada and 70 million internationally.
- Streaming revenue remained stable at USD 2.6 billion, while adjusted EBITDA increased from USD 289 million to USD 345 million.
- Global streaming of average revenue per user decreased by 16%, to USD 6.64.
- Additionally, domestic ARPU stood at USD 10.40, while international ARPU fell from USD 4.05 to USD 3.70.
- Streaming advertising revenue rose 14% to USD 235 million, supported by ad-tier growth.
Warner Bros Financial Performance

(Source: macrotrends.net)
- Warner Bros. Discovery reported revenue of around USD 8.893 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, reflecting a 0.96% year-over-year decline from USD 9.460 billion in December 2025.
- Revenue for the twelve months ended March 31, 2026, reached USD 37.210 billion, down 2.95% year over year.
- Warner Bros. Discovery reported total assets of USD 97.837 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, down 6.43% year over year.
- The company recorded a 1.95% net profit margin, a PE ratio of 94.62 (as of June 12, 2026), and a current ratio of 0.73.
- According to Yahoo Finance report analyses, Warner Bros. Discovery reported a net loss of USD 2.9 billion in Q1 226, compared with USD 453 million a year earlier.
- The company recorded a USD 2.8 billion payment linked to Netflix and an additional USD 1.3 billion in amortization, restructuring, and content-related charges.
- Studio revenue reached USD 3.13 billion, while TV revenue increased 58% and games revenue fell 30%.
- Cable network revenue was USD 4.38 billion. Gross debt stood at USD 33.4 billion, cash at USD 3.3 billion, and free cash flow was negative USD 476 million.
Streaming Segment Report, Q1 2026
- Warner Bros. Discovery generated USD 2,533 million in distribution revenue from its streaming business during the quarter, representing a 9% reported increase.
- Advertising revenue rose to USD 284 million from USD 237 million, a 20% increase, as reported.
- Subscriber-related revenue increased to USD 2,817 million from USD 2,566 million, up 10% reported.
- Content revenue declined to USD 68 million from USD 88 million, down 23% reported, while other revenue remained USD 2 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA accounted for USD 438 million from USD 339 million, a 29% reported increase from last quarter.
Studios Segment Performance
- Total revenues for the Studios Segment reached USD 3,125 million in Q1 2026, marking a strong 35% year-over-year increase from USD 2,314 million in Q1 2025.
- Content revenue was the primary growth driver, surging 37% to USD 2,934 million from USD 2,139 million in the prior year.
- Other revenues grew by 10%, rising to USD 190 million from USD 173 million.
- Distribution revenue remained flat at USD 1 million.
- Costs of revenues (excluding depreciation & amortization) rose a modest 19% to USD 1,679 million.
- Selling, general & administrative expenses increased 5% to USD 671 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA saw the most remarkable improvement, surging 199% to USD 775 million from just USD 259 million.
Global Linear Networks Segment
- Total revenues declined 8% year-over-year to USD 4,377 million in Q1 2026, down from USD 4,774 million in Q1 2025.
- Distribution revenue fell 7% to USD 2,373 million from USD 2,558 million.
- Advertising revenue dropped 11% to USD 1,570 million from USD 1,758 million in the prior year.
- Content revenue decreased 9% to USD 346 million from USD 380 million.
- Other revenue was the only bright spot, rising 13% to USD 88 million from USD 78 million.
- Costs of revenues (excluding depreciation & amortization) declined 10% to USD 2,084 million from USD 2,327 million, reflecting cost discipline.
- Selling, general & administrative expenses were nearly flat, edging up just 1% to USD 659 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA contracted 9% to USD 1,634 million from USD 1,793 million.
Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (Consolidated Statements Of Operations)
For the Three Months Ended March 31 (in millions, except per share data)
| Financial Metric | 2026 | 2025 | Change Rate |
| Distribution Revenue | USD 4,906 | USD 4,886 | +0.41% |
| Advertising Revenue | USD 1,847 | USD 1,980 | -6.72% |
| Content Revenue | USD 1,887 | USD 1,866 | +1.13% |
| Other Revenue | USD 253 | USD 247 | +2.43% |
| Total Revenue | USD 8,893 | USD 8,979 | -0.96% |
| Cost of Revenues (excluding depreciation and amortization) | USD 4,643 | USD 5,131 | -9.51% |
| Selling, General and Administrative Expenses | USD 2,475 | USD 2,194 | +12.81% |
| Netflix Termination Fee | USD 2,800 | USD 0 | N/M% |
| Depreciation and Amortization | USD 1,226 | USD 1,547 | -20.75% |
| Restructuring and Other Charges | USD 204 | USD 54 | +277.78% |
| Impairments and Loss on Dispositions | USD 14 | USD 90 | -84.44% |
| Total Costs and Expenses | USD 11,362 | USD 9,016 | +26.02% |
| Operating Loss | USD (2,469) | USD (37) | N/M% |
| Interest Expense, Net | USD (581) | USD (468) | +24.15% |
| Loss on Extinguishment of Debt, Net | USD (27) | USD (4) | +575% |
| Loss from Equity Investees, Net | USD (5) | USD (7) | -28.57% |
| Other (Expense) Income, Net | USD (38) | USD 82 | N/M% |
| Loss Before Income Taxes | USD (3,120) | USD (434) | +619.35% |
| Income Tax Benefit (Expense) | USD 214 | USD (15) | N/M% |
| Net Loss | USD 2,906 | USD 449 | +547.22% |
| Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests | USD 10 | USD 8 | +25% |
| Net Loss Attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests | USD 0 | USD 4 | -100% |
| Net Loss Available to Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. | USD 2,916 | USD 453 | +543.93% |
| Basic Net Loss Per Share | USD 1.17 | USD 0.18 | +550% |
| Diluted Net Loss Per Share | USD 1.17 | USD 0.18 | +550% |
| Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (Basic) | 2,492 | 2,462 | +1.22% |
| Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (Diluted) | 2,492 | 2,462 | +1.22% |
Top 10 All-Time Highest-Grossing Warner Bros. Movies
| Movie | Release Year | Worldwide Box Office (USD Billion) |
| Barbie | 2023 | 1.448 |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part 2 | 2011 | 1.312 |
| Aquaman | 2018 | 1.149 |
| The Dark Knight Rises | 2012 | 1.082 |
| Joker | 2019 | 1.079 |
| The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey | 2012 | 1.015 |
| The Dark Knight | 2008 | 1.010 |
| Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone | 2001 | 0.975 |
| The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug | 2013 | 0.962 |
| A Minecraft Movie | 2025 | 0.958 |
Biggest Warner Bros. Movie Flops Worldwide By Estimated Net Loss
| Movie | Release Year | Estimated Net Loss (USD Million) |
| The Flash | 2023 | 155 |
| King Arthur: Legend of the Sword | 2017 | 153.2 |
| Joker: Folie à Deux | 2024 | 144 |
| Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga | 2024 | 119 |
| Wonder Woman 1984 | 2020 | 100 |
| Green Lantern | 2011 | 75 |
| Jupiter Ascending | 2015 | 70 |
| Pan | 2015 | 60 |
| The Adventures of Pluto Nash | 2002 | 57 |
| The Legend of Tarzan | 2016 | 45 |
Warner Bros. Discovery Employment Statistics

(Reference: stockanalysis.com)
- Warner Bros. Discovery reported 35,500 employees at the end of 2025, with the workforce estimated to reach approximately 40,000 employees in 2026.
- The company added 500 employees year over year, representing a 1.43% increase.
- In 2025, revenue per employee was approximately USD 1.05 million, while income per employee was about USD 20,479.
- The average employee salary was approximately USD 85,400, and the median employee salary reported in the SEC proxy was around USD 119,000.
Warner Bros Subscriber Growth
- Warner Bros. Discovery continued to expand its direct-to-consumer streaming business, increasing global subscribers from 117.0 million in Q4 2024 to more than 140 million in Q1 2026.
- Subscriber additions remained positive each quarter, with +5.3 million in Q1 2025, +3.4 million in Q2 2025, +2.3 million in Q3 2025, and +3.5 million in Q4 2025.
- In Q1 2025, the company reported 57.6 million domestic subscribers and 64.6 million international subscribers, compared with 57 million domestic and 60 million international subscribers in Q4 2024.
- The highest growth was served in Q1 2026, when the platform added approximately 9 million subscribers, taking its global subscriber base to more than 140 million.
Warner Bros. Box Office Performance In 2026
- Wuthering Heights was Warner Bros.’ strongest film in early 2026. It opened domestically with USD 40 million during the Valentine’s Day weekend and generated a global opening of USD 82 million. Produced on a USD 80 million budget, the film earned around USD 241.6 million worldwide.
- The Bride! underperformed significantly. Despite a USD 80 million production budget, it opened with only USD 7.1 million domestically and grossed approximately USD 23.9 million worldwide, resulting in losses of up to USD 90 million.
- They Will Kill You had a weak theatrical run, opening with USD 5 million domestically and reaching only about USD 19 million globally by mid-April 2026.
- Lee Cronin’s The Mummy earned USD 90.5 million worldwide, including USD 29.2 million domestically and USD 61.3 million internationally, with 67.8% of revenue generated outside North America.
- Mortal Kombat II opened with USD 38.5 million domestically, including USD 5.2 million in Thursday previews, and reached USD 128.8 million worldwide against an USD 80 million budget.
- Supergirl is scheduled to release on June 26, 2026, and will carry a net production budget of approximately USD 175 million. Opening weekend forecasts range between USD 57 million and USD 77 million, while the estimated break-even point will be around USD 315-425 million worldwide. Industry expectations are for the film to surpass USD 500 million in global box office.
The Future Of Warner Bros. Discovery: Streaming Expansion & Market Position
The entertainment landscape is constantly evolving, and Warner Bros. is determined to adapt. They’re investing heavily in streaming services to reach viewers wherever and whenever they watch. Additionally, they’re looking to expand globally, introducing their characters and stories to new international markets. This global expansion allows them to tap into new audiences and further solidify their position as a worldwide entertainment leader.
Challenges And Opportunities – A Look Ahead
Warner Bros. isn’t without its challenges. Competition in the entertainment industry is fierce, with new streaming services and production companies emerging constantly. Additionally, protecting creative rights and maintaining a steady stream of high-quality content can be difficult.
However, Warner Bros. also has exciting opportunities on the horizon. The rise of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) could open doors for new and immersive storytelling experiences. Furthermore, the growing popularity of eSports (competitive video gaming) presents a potential new market for Warner Bros. Games to explore.
Conclusion
From their humble beginnings as Nickelodeon owners to their current status as a global entertainment powerhouse, Warner Bros. has come a long way. Their commitment to innovation, diverse content creation, and audience engagement has secured their place as a leader in the industry.
With a rich library of characters, franchises, and a forward-thinking approach, Warner Bros. is poised to continue captivating audiences and shaping the future of entertainment for generations to come.
