News: Netflix Stock Surges 25% as Wall Street Cheers Warner
Netflix shares have soared roughly 25% over the past week, marking the streaming giant's best weekly performance since mid-2022, after the company declined to raise its bid for Warner Bros Discovery. The stock closed Friday at $96.24, up $11.65 or nearly 14% on the session alone, on trading volume of 190.8 million shares — more than 3.7 times its daily average of 51 million. The rally represents a striking market verdict: investors overwhelmingly approve of Netflix's decision to walk away from what would have been one of the largest media acquisitions in history. Paramount Skydance's rival offer, valued at approximately $111 billion, was deemed superior by Warner Bros Discovery's board, and Netflix chose not to counter. Rather than punishing the company for losing the deal, the market rewarded what analysts are calling a masterclass in capital discipline. Netflix's market capitalisation has climbed back above $407 billion on the move, though the stock remains well below its 200-day moving average of $110.14 and its 52-week high of $134.12. The surge comes against a notably weak broader market backdrop, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both declining on Friday amid persistent inflation concerns and an escalating geopolitical situation in the Middle East.