Business
Victoria's Secret In Las Vegas
(Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

Victoria’s Secret rises as another activist wants a board overhaul

Barington Capital is pushing for a board shake-up and wants to revamp its key bra division.

Nia Warfield
6/16/25 10:21AM

Victoria’s Secret shares climbed nearly 4% Monday after reports that activist investor Barington Capital Group is building a stake in the struggling lingerie brand.

The firm now owns about 1% of the company, according to The Wall Street Journal, and plans to grow that stake. In a letter to Chairwoman Donna James, Barington called for a board overhaul and urged the company to double down on its core bra business to revive lagging sales and share performance.

Barington is now the second activist known to be in the mix. Australian billionaire Brett Blundy, whose BBRC firm owns nearly 13% of the stock, has also called for a board refresh, blaming “disastrous” decisions and ongoing mismanagement for the brand’s decline.

In May, Victoria’s Secret adopted a poison pill to fend off Blundy’s pressure campaign.

Barington is already familiar with the company. Back in 2019, it bought a stake in what was then Victoria’s Secret’s parent company, L Brands, and urged the company to split off from Bath & Body Works.

The moves come on the heels of a mixed Q1 earnings report: revenue topped expectations, but the company slashed its full-year profit forecast, citing $50 million in tariff-related costs. Meanwhile, the core retail business (especially bras) remains soft.

Victoria’s Secret shares are still down 53% year to date.

More Business

See all Business
business
Nia Warfield
6h

Paramount Skydance reportedly preparing an Ellison-backed Warner Bros. Discovery takeover bid, sending shares soaring

Paramount Skydance is preparing a majority cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, The Wall Street Journal reported, sending shares of both companies surging. The Journal’s sources say the deal is backed by the Ellison family, led by David Ellison.

WBD shares were up 30% on the report, while Paramount Skydance jumped 8%.

The offer would cover WBD’s entire business — cable networks, movie studios, the whole enchilada. That comes after WBD announced plans last year to split into two divisions: one for streaming and studios, the other for its traditional cable and TV assets. A recent Wells Fargo note gave WBD a price target hike, primarily because the analysts viewed it as a prime takeover candidate.

If the deal goes through, it would bring together HBO, CNN, DC Studios, and Warner Bros.’ film library with Paramount+, Nickelodeon, and MTV, all under one umbrella.

Exclusive | Paramount Skydance Prepares Ellison-Backed Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery

Exclusive | Paramount Skydance Prepares Ellison-Backed Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery

The offer would cover WBD’s entire business — cable networks, movie studios, the whole enchilada. That comes after WBD announced plans last year to split into two divisions: one for streaming and studios, the other for its traditional cable and TV assets. A recent Wells Fargo note gave WBD a price target hike, primarily because the analysts viewed it as a prime takeover candidate.

If the deal goes through, it would bring together HBO, CNN, DC Studios, and Warner Bros.’ film library with Paramount+, Nickelodeon, and MTV, all under one umbrella.

Max Knoblauch
9/10/25
As tariffs take root, August new vehicle prices climb by the most in more than 2 years

According to data from Cox Automotive, 17 vehicle brands raised prices of their new vehicles by more than 3% in August.

Ford Issues Recalls On Some Of Its Mach-E Mustangs And Aviators
Nia Warfield
9/10/25
Netflix taps Amazon to sell streaming ads in new partnership

Starting this fall, brands will be able to access Netflix’s premium ad slots using Amazon’s buying tech.

Netflix Headquarters
Millie Giles
WITHDRAWALS
9/10/25
Bank branches are still closing at breakneck speed in the US

Institutions like Chase and Wells Fargo closed 76 locations in just six weeks over the summer, per the OCC.

Indianapolis - March 2016: Chase Bank III
business
Nia Warfield
9/9/25

Fox and News Corp slide as investors digest $3.3 billion Murdoch succession settlement

Fox and News Corp shares dropped on Tuesday after Rupert Murdoch’s heirs agreed to a $3.3 billion settlement to resolve a long-running succession drama.

Under the deal, Prudence, Elisabeth, and James Murdoch will each receive about $1.1 billion, paid for in part by Fox selling 16.9 million Class B voting shares and News Corp selling 14.2 million shares. The stock sales will raise roughly $1.37 billion on behalf of the three heirs.

The new trust for Lachlan Murdoch will now control about 36.2% of Fox’s Class B shares and roughly 33.1% of News Corp’s stock, granting him uncontested voting authority over both companies for the next 25 years. Originally, the Murdoch trust was designed to hand over voting control of Fox and News Corp to Prudence, Elisabeth, Lachlan, and James after his death.

Investors are weighing the trade-off. Clear leadership under Lachlan may resolve conflict internally, but the share dilution, executed at a roughly 4.5% discount, means long-term investors now hold slightly less clout than before.

Both companies’ stocks were trading close to all-time highs prior to the announcement.

Latest Stories

Sherwood Media, LLC produces fresh and unique perspectives on topical financial news and is a fully owned subsidiary of Robinhood Markets, Inc., and any views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of any other Robinhood affiliate, including Robinhood Markets, Inc., Robinhood Financial LLC, Robinhood Securities, LLC, Robinhood Crypto, LLC, or Robinhood Money, LLC.
©2025 Sherwood Media, LLC