Netflix Could Hike Offer For WBD If Rival Bidder Paramount Does: Report

Reuters on Thursday reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that Netflix has ample cash and could hike its offer if Paramount Skydance ups its own.

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In this photo illustration, a smartphone displays the Netflix logo in front of a large blurred Warner Bros. Discovery emblem. (Photo illustration by Cheng Xin/Getty Images)

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Anan Ashraf · Stocktwits

Published Feb 19, 2026, 6:14 PM

NFLX
  • Netflix had $9.03 billion in cash and cash equivalents as of the end of 2025. 
  • The streaming giant and Paramount have been engaged in a bitter competition to acquire Warner Bros.
  • Warner Bros now intends to seek shareholder approval for the Netflix deal on March 20.

Netflix (NFLX) could reportedly hike its offer for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) if Paramount Skydance (PSKY) raises the stakes on its own offer.

Reuters on Thursday reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that Netflix has ample cash and could hike its offer if Paramount ups its own. In fact, the company had $9.03 billion in cash and cash equivalents as of the end of 2025.

Netflix and Paramount have been engaged in a bitter competition to acquire Warner Bros.

Netflix entered into a deal to acquire Warner Bros Discovery’s studio and streaming businesses in December and Paramount put forth a rival bid days later, offering to acquire the whole company, including its channel business.

Shares of NFLX and PSKY traded 1% and 3% lower, respectively, at the time of writing.

The Takeover Saga

Warner Bros now intends to seek shareholder approval for the Netflix deal on March 20. However, the company has also given Paramount a few days, until the end of Monday, to come up with its best offer.  

The Warner Bros board, however, has reiterated support for the Netflix agreement in the past.

“What we're certain of is that the Netflix deal to acquire these assets is the best deal, generates the best value for their shareholders, and they think so too. That's why they recommend the deal,” Netflix's Co-CEO Ted Sarandos said in an interview to CNBC on Tuesday about the current deal.

While Netflix is looking to acquire WBD’s studio and streaming businesses for $27.75 a share, Paramount seeks to buy the whole company for $30 per share.

How Did Stocktwits Users React?

On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around NFLX shares fell from ‘neutral’ to ‘bearish’ territory over the past 24 hours, while message volume fell from ‘normal’ to ‘low’ levels.

Meanwhile, sentiment around PSKY and WBD trended in the ‘bullish’ and ‘extremely bullish’ territory, respectively. 

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