Warner Music
About: Warner Music is the third-largest of the three major record companies. Recorded music accounts for most of the firm's revenue, with the segment housing notable record labels including Atlantic Records, Warner Records, Elektra Records. Some of the most successful current artists signed to record deals with Warner include Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Cardi B, and Dua Lipa. Warner's remaining revenue comes from its publishing business, where Warner Chappell represents more than 180,000 songwriters and composers, some of whom are also Warner recording artists but many of whom are not recording artists or are attached to other labels. Warner Chappell controls more than 1 million musical compositions. Access Industries controls 98% of Warner's voting rights, while holding a 72% economic interest.
Employees: 5,800
0
Funds holding %
of 7,296 funds
0
Analysts bullish %
of 6 analysts
Fund manager confidence
Based on 2025 Q1 regulatory disclosures by fund managers ($100M+ AUM)
1,016% more call options, than puts
Call options by funds: $105M | Put options by funds: $9.38M
51% more repeat investments, than reductions
Existing positions increased: 113 | Existing positions reduced: 75
28% more first-time investments, than exits
New positions opened: 50 | Existing positions closed: 39
4% more funds holding
Funds holding: 254 [Q4 2024] → 265 (+11) [Q1 2025]
2% more capital invested
Capital invested by funds: $4.57B [Q4 2024] → $4.65B (+$78.2M) [Q1 2025]
0% more funds holding in top 10
Funds holding in top 10: 4 [Q4 2024] → 4 (+0) [Q1 2025]
1.1% less ownership
Funds ownership: 103.32% [Q4 2024] → 102.22% (-1.1%) [Q1 2025]
Research analyst outlook
6 Wall Street Analysts provided 1 year price targets over the past 3 months
Low target
$28
6%
upside
Avg. target
$33
24%
upside
High target
$38
44%
upside
6 analyst ratings
3 positive
50%
3 neutral
50%
0 negative
0%
Citigroup Jason Bazinet | 29%upside $34 | Buy Maintained | 29 May 2025 |
Goldman Sachs Stephen Laszczyk | 6%upside $28 | Neutral Downgraded | 12 May 2025 |
UBS Batya Levi | 44%upside $38 | Buy Maintained | 9 May 2025 |
Guggenheim Michael Morris | 40%upside $37 | Buy Maintained | 9 May 2025 |
Morgan Stanley Benjamin Swinburne | 18%upside $31 | Equal-Weight Maintained | 9 May 2025 |
Financial journalist opinion
Negative
Investopedia
1 week ago
Major Labels in Talks to License AI Use of Music, Report Says
Warner Music Group (WMG) shares fell on word the big music distributor was one of three firms negotiating with artificial intelligence (AI) startups to monetize AI use of its music catalog.
Neutral
GlobeNewsWire
4 weeks ago
Warner Music Group Corp. Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend
NEW YORK, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Warner Music Group Corp. (“Warner Music Group” or “WMG”) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per share on WMG's Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. The dividend is payable on June 3, 2025, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 27, 2025.
Negative
Seeking Alpha
1 month ago
Warner Music Group: Still Overvalued
Warner Music Group is overvalued due to high market expectations and low growth rates, making it an unattractive investment at its current price. Recent earnings show declines in revenue and net income, indicating ineffective cost management and suboptimal financial performance. Warner's long-term debt is too high relative to net income, with a concerning debt-to-income ratio nearing 9 times.
Neutral
Seeking Alpha
1 month ago
Warner Music Group Corp. (WMG) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Warner Music Group Corp. (NASDAQ:WMG ) Q2 2025 Results Conference Call May 8, 2025 8:30 AM ET Company Participants Kareem Chin - Head of Investor Relations Robert Kyncl - Chief Executive Officer Bryan Castellani - Chief Financial Officer Conference Call Participants Michael Morris - Guggenheim Securities LLC Benjamin Black - Deutsche Bank Kutgun Maral - Evercore ISI Batya Levi - UBS Kiscada Hastings - JPMorgan Stephen Laszczyk - Goldman Sachs Operator Welcome to Warner Music Group's Second Quarter Earnings Call for the period ended March 31, 2025. At the request of Warner Music Group, today's call is being recorded for replay purposes, and if you object, you may disconnect at any time.
Negative
Zacks Investment Research
1 month ago
Warner Music Group Corp. (WMG) Lags Q2 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
Warner Music Group Corp. (WMG) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.07 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.28 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.18 per share a year ago.
Neutral
GlobeNewsWire
1 month ago
Warner Music Group Corp. Reports Results for Fiscal Second Quarter Ended March 31, 2025
Financial Highlights Q2 Performance Driven by Revenue Growth Across Recorded Music and Music Publishing Cost Savings Plans on Track, With Reinvestment Initiatives Accelerating Year-to-Date Operating Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Increased by 53% and 59%, Respectively For the three months ended March 31, 2025 Total revenue decreased 1% , or increased 1% in constant currency Net incom e decreased 63% to $36 million versus $96 million in the prior-ye ar quar ter Operating income increased 41% to $168 million versus $119 million in the prior-year quarter Adjusted OIBDA decreased 3% to $303 million , versus $312 million in the prior-year quarter, or 1% in constant currency Cash provided by operating activities increased to $69 million from cash used in operating activities of $31 million in the prior-year quarter NEW YORK, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Warner Music Group Corp. today announced its second-quarter financial results for the period ended March 31, 2025. “Our strategy is starting to bear fruit, with our strongest chart presence in two years, translating to expanding new release market share in the US.
Positive
Zacks Investment Research
1 month ago
Warner Music Group Corp. (WMG) Reports Next Week: Wall Street Expects Earnings Growth
Warner Music Group (WMG) doesn't possess the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report. Get prepared with the key expectations.
Neutral
PRNewsWire
1 month ago
WARNER MUSIC GROUP PARTNERS WITH ENTREPRENEURIAL POWERHOUSE ANJULA ACHARIA
'5 Junction' imprint focused on breaking American artists of South Asian heritage and talent from the Subcontinent in the U.S. NEW YORK , April 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Warner Music Group (Nasdaq: WMG) and entrepreneurial powerhouse Anjula Acharia are partnering to launch 5 Junction, a new JV label focused on discovering and nurturing U.S.-based artists of South Asian heritage, as well as amplifying the success of WMG's existing artists from South Asia and its diaspora. 5 Junction will collaborate closely with LA-based Warner Records, led by Tom Corson [Co-Chairman and COO] and Aaron Bay-Schuck [Co-Chairman and CEO].
Positive
Reuters
2 months ago
Warner Music appoints former Activision Blizzard executive as finance chief
Warner Music Group , the label behind artists such as Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa, has appointed former Activision Blizzard executive Armin Zerza as its finance chief, the music entertainment company said on Monday.
Neutral
PRNewsWire
2 months ago
WARNER MUSIC GROUP APPOINTS ARMIN ZERZA AS EVP & CFO EFFECTIVE MAY 5
Accomplished Leader from Activision Blizzard and Procter & Gamble NEW YORK , April 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Warner Music Group Corp. (Nasdaq: WMG) today announced that Armin Zerza is joining the company as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective May 5, reporting to CEO Robert Kyncl. Zerza brings extensive global financial, commercial, and operational leadership experience, most recently serving as CFO of Activision Blizzard, while it was traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange.
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