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LION vs WBD
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Entertainment
LION vs WBD — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment | Entertainment |
| Market Cap | $4.16B | $67.64B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.63B | $37.22B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-198M | $-2.15B |
| Gross Margin | 39.5% | 38.2% |
| Operating Margin | 4.5% | 4.5% |
| Forward P/E | 47.4x | 93.0x |
| Total Debt | $3.98B | $32.57B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $182M | $4.57B |
LION vs WBD — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 24 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lionsgate Studios C… (LION) | 100 | 171.9 | +71.9% |
| Warner Bros. Discov… (WBD) | 100 | 327.4 | +227.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LION vs WBD
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
LION is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 38.8% 10Y total return vs WBD's 3.9%
- Lower P/E (47.4x vs 93.0x)
WBD carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.87
- Rev growth -5.1%, EPS growth 106.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 3.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.87, Low D/E 87.6%, current ratio 1.06x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | -5.1% revenue growth vs LION's -17.6% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (47.4x vs 93.0x) | |
| Quality / Margins | -5.8% margin vs LION's -7.5% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.87 vs LION's 0.95 | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +165.6% vs LION's +116.6% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | -2.2% ROA vs LION's -3.8%, ROIC 1.5% vs 4.3% |
LION vs WBD — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
LION vs WBD — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WBD leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WBD is the larger business by revenue, generating $37.2B annually — 14.1x LION's $2.6B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from -5.8% (WBD) to -7.5% (LION). On growth, WBD holds the edge at -0.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.6B | $37.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.2B | $10.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$198M | -$2.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$66M | $2.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +39.5% | +38.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.5% | +4.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -7.5% | -5.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -2.5% | +6.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -15.3% | -0.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +130.0% | -5.5% |
Valuation Metrics
LION leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, LION's 6.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WBD's 13.7x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.2B | $67.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $8.0B | $95.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -20.75x | 93.03x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 47.37x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.69x | 13.68x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.58x | 1.81x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 1.84x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 365.08x | 21.91x |
Profitability & Efficiency
LION leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WBD scores 6/9 vs LION's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | -5.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -3.8% | -2.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.3% | +1.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.9% | +1.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.88x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.8B | $28.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $182M | $4.6B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.0B | $32.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.26x | 2.00x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — LION and WBD each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LION five years ago would be worth $12,517 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,754 for WBD. Over the past 12 months, WBD leads with a +165.6% total return vs LION's +116.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WBD at 24.5% vs LION's 7.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +54.0% | -5.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +116.6% | +165.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +25.2% | +93.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +25.2% | -12.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +38.8% | +3.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.8% | +24.5% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — LION and WBD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WBD is the less volatile stock with a 0.87 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LION's 0.95 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LION currently trades 95.4% from its 52-week high vs WBD's 89.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.95x | 0.87x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $15.01 | $30.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $5.55 | $9.98 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.4% | +89.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 60.7 | 48.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.3M | 17.3M |
Analyst Outlook
WBD leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LION as "Buy" and WBD as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 13.0% upside for WBD (target: $31) vs 1.3% for LION (target: $15).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $14.50 | $30.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 32 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
WBD leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Analyst Outlook). LION leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). 2 tied.
LION vs WBD: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LION or WBD a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Warner Bros.
Discovery, Inc. (WBD) is the stronger pick with -5. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -17. 6% for Lionsgate Studios Corp. (LION). Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD) offers the better valuation at 93. 0x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Lionsgate Studios Corp. (LION) a "Buy" — based on 8 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which is the better long-term investment — LION or WBD?
Over the past 5 years, Lionsgate Studios Corp.
(LION) delivered a total return of +25. 2%, compared to -12. 5% for Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LION returned +38. 8% versus WBD's +3. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — LION or WBD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Warner Bros.
Discovery, Inc. (WBD) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 87β versus Lionsgate Studios Corp. 's 0. 95β — meaning LION is approximately 9% more volatile than WBD relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — LION or WBD?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Warner Bros.
Discovery, Inc. (WBD) is pulling ahead at -5. 1% versus -17. 6% for Lionsgate Studios Corp. (LION). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. grew EPS 106. 3% year-over-year, compared to -60. 5% for Lionsgate Studios Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WBD leads at 3. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
05Which has better profit margins — LION or WBD?
Warner Bros.
Discovery, Inc. (WBD) is the more profitable company, earning 1. 9% net margin versus -7. 5% for Lionsgate Studios Corp. — meaning it keeps 1. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LION leads at 5. 6% versus 3. 5% for WBD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LION leads at 39. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is LION or WBD more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WBD: 13.
0% to $30. 50.
07Which pays a better dividend — LION or WBD?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
08Is LION or WBD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Warner Bros.
Discovery, Inc. (WBD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 87)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WBD: +3. 9%, LION: +38. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between LION and WBD?
Both stocks operate in the Communication Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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