As the Q1 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the media industry, including The New York Times (NYSE:NYT) and its peers.
Netflix's stock has surged 43.4% in 3 months and 99% in 1 year, with a market cap of $552 billion. Analysts project continued strong performance and a $1 trillion valuation by 2030, driven by content strategy and ad-supported tier.
Paramount agreed to pay $16 million to settle Donald Trump's lawsuit over a CBS "60 Minutes" interview with Kamala Harris, without issuing an apology, as the media giant faces mounting legal pressure and a pending $8.4 billion merger.
A new and an updated attraction hope to keep turnstile clicks coming at both domestic resorts with a new Marvel movie hoping to keep Disney's stock upticks coming.
Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at Warner Music Group (NASDAQ:WMG) and the best and worst performers in the media industry.
The company, which just initiated a series of layoffs of hundreds of employees at the beginning in June, is now getting rid of at least 2% of staffers in its product and technology division.
Disney’s first quarter of 2025 was marked by a robust performance, with management pointing to strong execution in its Experiences segment, particularly domestic theme parks and cruise operations. CEO Bob Iger cited “all-time highs” for returns on invested capital in Experiences and highlighted the impact of targeted investments in U.S. theme parks. Management also credited the ongoing integration of Hulu content and sports within Disney+ as improving user engagement and reducing churn. The market responded positively, reflecting confidence in Disney’s multi-pronged growth strategy and the resilience of its core businesses.
Billionaire Elon Musk is best known as the CEO of Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) and SpaceX. Musk is also one of the most followed and popular figures in the world.
Alibaba’s new Qwen VLo AI model enables real-time text-to-image editing as the company ramps up efforts to rival global AI leaders and deepen its push into generative technology.
BofA analyst maintains Buy rating on Walt Disney with $140 price forecast. Expects improved performance in Experiences segment and positive outlook for fiscal 2025.
Lindblad Expeditions delivered results in the first quarter that surpassed Wall Street’s expectations, with the market responding positively to the company’s strong performance. Management attributed the outperformance to a combination of higher occupancy, dynamic pricing strategies, and early benefits from its partnership with Disney. CEO Natalya Leahy highlighted, “Occupancy increased 14 points to 89% compared to 76% in the prior year,” adding that new demand-generation initiatives and expanded audience reach contributed meaningfully to the quarter. Importantly, the company also saw the highest quarterly net yield in its history, driven by effective revenue management and operational execution.
Mattel’s first quarter results were met with a positive market reaction as the company outperformed Wall Street’s revenue and adjusted EPS expectations. Management pointed to broad-based category growth, especially in action figures, vehicles, dolls, and games. CEO Ynon Kreiz emphasized that gross margin expansion was supported by cost-saving initiatives and lower inventory management costs. Kreiz added, “Our business grew across most categories and geographies,” highlighting standout performances from brands like Hot Wheels and Disney Princess. Operational improvements and a diversified supply chain also contributed to stable margins, even as macroeconomic volatility persisted.
