New York, May 24, 2026, 16:01 (EDT)
Starz Entertainment Corp. shares closed near a 52-week high as the U.S. market heads into an extended break. The newly standalone media name saw a late rebound, though it wasn’t enough to smooth out a rough week.
Shares on the Nasdaq ended Friday at $22.27, rising 2.58%. The stock moved between $21.13 and $23.00 during the day. After hours, it was quoted at $22.31. The company’s market cap was around $374 million.
U.S. stock markets won’t open Monday because of Memorial Day, with trading set to resume Tuesday, Nasdaq’s 2026 holiday calendar shows.
Starz dropped around 3.7% for the week, ending below last Friday’s $23.12 close. The stock sank 8% Monday, held steady Wednesday, then clawed back with gains Thursday and Friday.
Starz’s story now is about more than just the stock price. The main question for investors is if Starz can make steady cash from a smaller, focused premium-TV and streaming business after breaking away from Lionsgate’s studio unit. In a 2025 filing, Starz said after the split, it kept the Starz operations while Lionsgate Studios took the film and TV studio assets.
Starz said first-quarter revenue came in at $306.9 million, with an operating loss of $152.8 million. Net cash from operating activities was $73.2 million. The company said adjusted OIBDA rose to $58 million from the previous quarter. CEO Jeffrey Hirsch said Starz is “structurally stronger” after the separation. Starz Entertainment, LLC
Baird pushed Starz to Outperform from Neutral and bumped its target to $30, up from $12, calling Starz’s spot “unique and favorable” after the studio split. The upgrade pointed to an improved monetization path, a stronger content slate and a better leverage profile. Not every analyst has the same take on the margin story. Investing
Morgan Stanley is sticking with a cautious stance. Analyst Sean Diffley bumped up the price target to $21 from $20 but left the Equal Weight rating unchanged. He called Starz’s decision to drop the Universal pay-2 output deal a “calculated move.” Pay-2 deals are later-window rights arrangements, usually coming after initial streaming or pay-TV. TipRanks
Starz faces tough competition. Netflix is valued at about $381 billion, Warner Bros. Discovery stands at roughly $67 billion. After the split, Starz lines up closer to Lionsgate Studios, which finished Friday at $14.95, giving it a market cap near $414 million.
But the risks are clear. Starz is still posting losses. Linear TV is still squeezed. Analyst targets range from $13 to $42, showing how much depends on subscriber numbers, content outlays, and cash flow.
The schedule for company news looks light this week. According to its investor site, Starz has Hirsch set to speak on June 3 at Baird’s Global Consumer, Technology & Services Conference, following the upcoming holiday-shortened week.
