What's Going On With Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Stock?

Warner Bros. Discovery Inc WBD is facing geopolitical headwinds as the U.S.–China trade war escalates, with Beijing retaliating against Washington’s recent tariff hikes by increasing its own levies on U.S. goods from 34% to 84%. As of Wednesday morning, WBD stock is trading lower by 23.8% to $7.64 over the trailing week.

What To Know: This move, announced by China’s Ministry of Commerce and accompanied by new export controls and a World Trade Organization complaint, signals rising pressure on U.S. companies operating in China—including those in the media and entertainment sectors.

Among the most concerning retaliatory measures is a proposed restriction or outright ban on U.S.-made films, a serious threat to Warner Bros. Discovery, which holds numerous international licensing deals in China. Hollywood films grossed under $600 million in China’s $17.7 billion box office in 2024, but this revenue remains crucial for studios like WBD.

For Warner Bros. Discovery, China has long represented a strategic growth market for its blockbuster films and global content brands, making any potential restrictions a significant blow to its international ambitions.

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How To Buy WBD Stock

Besides going to a brokerage platform to purchase a share – or fractional share – of stock, you can also gain access to shares either by buying an exchange traded fund (ETF) that holds the stock itself, or by allocating yourself to a strategy in your 401(k) that would seek to acquire shares in a mutual fund or other instrument.

For example, in Warner Bros. Discovery’s case, it is in the Communication Services sector. An ETF will likely hold shares in many liquid and large companies that help track that sector, allowing an investor to gain exposure to the trends within that segment.

According to data from Benzinga Pro, WBD has a 52-week high of $12.70 and a 52-week low of $6.64.