WBD Rises 1.07% Despite 165th-Ranked $700M Volume in Restructuring Push

Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) closed July 30 with a 1.07% increase, despite a 22.27% drop in trading volume to $700 million, ranking 165th in market activity. The stock's performance came amid significant restructuring moves by the company.

Executives announced a 10% reduction in the Motion Picture Group workforce across marketing, production, and distribution units as part of pre-split preparations. Leadership cited the need to transition from a US-centric model to a global structure, aligning with broader industry shifts toward streaming dominance. The restructuring follows mixed film performance, including 2024 box office disappointments but recent hits like "Superman" and "A Minecraft Movie."

WBD plans to separate into two publicly traded entities by mid-2026: Warner Bros, housing the film division and HBO Max, and Discovery Global, managing cable networks and Discovery+. The decision reflects ongoing efforts to streamline operations in a competitive streaming landscape. While the film group has shown recovery signs, the layoffs underscore cost-cutting pressures ahead of the corporate reorganization.

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