Squawk on the Street WBD Up For Sale, GM Leads Earnings Winners, Starboard Value CEO Jeff Smith 10/21/25
Oct 21, 2025
Jeff Smith, CEO of activist investment firm Starboard Value, shares insights into high-stakes corporate strategies. He discusses Starboard's recent stake in Kenvue, emphasizing turnaround plans and the significance of board changes. Smith advocates for action at underperforming companies to unlock value, asserting that activism remains a potent force in today's market. The conversation also touches on strategic investor practices seen at recent summits, catching the pulse of the evolving investment landscape.
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WBD Puts Company Up For Sale
- Warner Bros. Discovery has opened a formal sale process that could include selling the entire company or alternative structures.
- David Faber says multiple bidders exist and the deal could reshape how the studio and linear networks are split and sold.
GM Beats And Raises Guidance
- General Motors beat Q3 expectations and raised full-year guidance, driven by stronger U.S. market share and margins.
- Management highlighted China restructuring and profitable recovery there.
Policy Shapes Industry Allocation
- Jim Cramer links corporate performance and policy environment, saying a pro-business administration changes capital allocation and favorability for traditional industries.
- He argues this reduces pressure on EV transition and benefits industrial and defense firms.
