Warner Music Group Corp. Class A (WMG)

In the past six months, WMG's stock price has been influenced by several key events. The company reported its fiscal first-quarter 2026 earnings on February 5, 2026, with revenue exceeding analyst expectations but an earnings per share (EPS) miss. Despite the EPS miss, Q1 2026 revenue rose approximately 10% to $1.84 billion, driven by recorded music, streaming, and artist services. Adjusted OIBDA increased by 22%, with margins up 310 basis points to 25%. WMG expanded its AI partnerships and renewed its TikTok deal. The company also expanded its investment joint venture with Bain Capital and signaled plans for more catalog acquisitions. On February 6, 2026, shares of WMG surged 6.33% in mid-day trading. Additionally, WMG declared a quarterly dividend of $0.19 per share. Over the past year, WMG's stock has delivered a -13.84% change, with a 52-week range between $25.56 and $36.64.

Only four years of historical data are available for Warner Music Group, which is considered insufficient to establish a reliable seasonal demand profile. Within this limited timeframe, the stock has shown positive results compared to the benchmark in four of those periods, with returns outperforming the relative buy-and-hold performance by an average of 30.31% per year. The seasonal timeframe for WMG correlates poorly with the seasonal strength period of the Industrials sector.

Warner Music Group Corp. (WMG) is a global music entertainment company and one of the "Big Three" recording companies. It operates in Recorded Music, encompassing labels like Atlantic Records and Warner Records, focusing on the marketing, sale, and licensing of recorded music. The Music Publishing segment, managed by Warner Chappell Music, acquires and administers copyrights for musical compositions, generating revenue through royalties. WMG also provides artist services, supporting talent development.

Warner Music Group has a significant global presence, with operations in over 50 countries. The company has been actively expanding its reach, including the establishment of Warner Music India in Mumbai in 2020. In 2024, WMG continued its global expansion by opening new offices in Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, and Brazil. The company is also seeing progress in high-growth markets such as MENA, Nigeria, and India, with a focus on increasing market share as monetization shifts towards paid streaming.

Warner Music Group has demonstrated a strong brand reputation in the past year. The company was ranked #12 in the Media & Entertainment category for Newsweek's Most Trustworthy Companies in America in 2024. Warner Music Spain received a "Great Place To Work" Certification for the second consecutive year, achieving a 93% trust index score. WMG has also consistently earned a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index (HRC CEI) in the U.S. since 2019 and in Mexico since 2020. The company is actively working to attract a diverse talent pool through global internship initiatives.

Access Industries, founded by Len Blavatnik, is the controlling shareholder of Warner Music Group, holding 72% of the equity and 98% of the voting power as of July 23, 2025. Institutional investors collectively hold a significant portion of WMG's shares, including JPMorgan Chase & Co, Independent Franchise Partners LLP, and Vanguard Group Inc.