{ "ticker": "NWS", "company": "NWS", "filing_type": "10-K", "year_current": "2026", "year_prior": "2025", "summary": { "added": 0, "removed": 0, "modified": 2, "unchanged": 4, "total_current": 6, "total_prior": 6 }, "source": "SEC EDGAR", "url": "https://riskdiff.com/nws/2026-vs-2025/", "markdown_url": "https://riskdiff.com/nws/2026-vs-2025/index.md", "json_url": "https://riskdiff.com/nws/2026-vs-2025/index.json", "access": "public_preview", "source_filings": [ { "label": "2026 10-K filing on SEC EDGAR", "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1564708/000156470826000175/0001564708-26-000175-index.htm" }, { "label": "2025 10-K filing on SEC EDGAR", "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1564708/000156470825000419/0001564708-25-000419-index.htm" } ], "generated": "2026-09-28", "ai_summary": "Stock and legal-risk disclosures changed, while four other risk sections stayed the same, affecting how investors assess these areas.", "ai_brief": { "executive_summary": "Stock and legal-risk disclosures changed, while four other risk sections stayed the same, affecting how investors assess these areas.", "direction": "neutral", "top_themes": [ "Regulatory & Legal", "Common Stock" ] }, "risks": [ { "status": "MODIFIED", "current_title": "Risks Related to the Company’s Common Stock", "prior_title": "Risks Related to the Company’s Common Stock", "severity": { "deterministic": 6, "ai_bump": 0, "total": 6, "tier": "medium", "signal_hits": [ "ai", "tariffs", "china", "rates" ] }, "similarity_score": 0.912, "confidence": "high", "key_changes": [ "Reworded sentence: \"The market price of the Company’s common stock may fluctuate significantly, depending upon many factors, some of which may be beyond its control, including: (1) the Company’s quarterly or annual earnings, or those of other companies in its industry; (2) actual or anticipated fluctuations in the Company’s operating results; (3) success or failure of the Company’s business strategy; (4) the Company’s ability to obtain financing as needed; (5) changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretations or principles; (6) changes in laws and regulations affecting the Company’s business or interpretations thereof; (7) announcements by the Company or its competitors of significant new business developments or the addition or loss of significant customers; (8) announcements by the Company or its competitors of significant acquisitions or dispositions; (9) technological developments and disruptions, including evolving AI capabilities and the announcement of new AI tools and services; (10) changes in earnings estimates by securities analysts or the Company’s ability to meet its earnings guidance, if any; (11) the operating and stock price performance of other comparable companies; (12) investor perception of the Company and the industries in which it operates; (13) results from material litigation or governmental investigations; (14) sales of additional shares, or the perception of future sales, by the Company or any significant stockholders; (15) changes in capital gains taxes and taxes on dividends affecting stockholders; (16) overall market fluctuations, general economic conditions, such as inflationary pressures or a general economic slowdown or recession, the imposition of tariffs or other changes in trade policy and other external factors, including pandemics, geopolitical tensions or conflicts, war and terrorism; and (17) changes in the amounts and frequency of dividends or stock repurchases, if any.\"", "Reworded sentence: \"This ownership or service to both companies may create, or give the appearance of, conflicts of interest when faced with decisions that could have different implications for the Company and FOX.\"", "Reworded sentence: \"The Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws provide that any such overlapping person will not be liable to the Company, or to any of its stockholders, for breach of any fiduciary duty that would otherwise exist because such individual directs a corporate opportunity (other than certain types of restricted business opportunities set forth in the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws) to FOX instead of the Company.\"", "Reworded sentence: \"Certain Provisions of the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws and the Ownership of the Company’s Common Stock by LGC Holdco, LLC (“LGC Holdco”) May Discourage Takeovers, and the Concentration of Ownership Will Affect the Voting Results of Matters Submitted for Stockholder Approval.\"", "Reworded sentence: \"In particular, the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws provide for, among other things: •a dual class common equity capital structure, in which holders of Class A Common Stock can vote only in specific, limited circumstances; •a prohibition on stockholders taking any action by written consent without a meeting; 28 28 28 Table of Contents Table of Contents •special stockholders’ meeting to be called only by the Board of Directors, the Chair or a Vice or Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors, or, after first requesting that the Board of Directors fix a record date for such meeting, the holders of not less than 20% of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding voting stock; •the requirement that stockholders give the Company advance notice to nominate candidates for election to the Board of Directors or to make stockholder proposals at a stockholders’ meeting; •the requirement of an affirmative vote of at least 65% of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding voting stock to amend or repeal its by-laws; •vacancies on the Board of Directors to be filled only by a majority vote of directors then in office; •certain restrictions on the transfer of the Company’s shares; and •the Board of Directors to issue, without stockholder approval, Preferred Stock and Series Common Stock with such terms as the Board of Directors may determine.\"" ], "current_body": "The Market Price of the Company’s Stock May Fluctuate Significantly. The Company cannot predict the prices at which its common stock may trade. The market price of the Company’s common stock may fluctuate significantly, depending upon many factors, some of which may be beyond its control, including: (1) the Company’s quarterly or annual earnings, or those of other companies in its industry; (2) actual or anticipated fluctuations in the Company’s operating results; (3) success or failure of the Company’s business strategy; (4) the Company’s ability to obtain financing as needed; (5) changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretations or principles; (6) changes in laws and regulations affecting the Company’s business or interpretations thereof; (7) announcements by the Company or its competitors of significant new business developments or the addition or loss of significant customers; (8) announcements by the Company or its competitors of significant acquisitions or dispositions; (9) technological developments and disruptions, including evolving AI capabilities and the announcement of new AI tools and services; (10) changes in earnings estimates by securities analysts or the Company’s ability to meet its earnings guidance, if any; (11) the operating and stock price performance of other comparable companies; (12) investor perception of the Company and the industries in which it operates; (13) results from material litigation or governmental investigations; (14) sales of additional shares, or the perception of future sales, by the Company or any significant stockholders; (15) changes in capital gains taxes and taxes on dividends affecting stockholders; (16) overall market fluctuations, general economic conditions, such as inflationary pressures or a general economic slowdown or recession, the imposition of tariffs or other changes in trade policy and other external factors, including pandemics, geopolitical tensions or conflicts, war and terrorism; and (17) changes in the amounts and frequency of dividends or stock repurchases, if any. Certain of the Company’s Directors and Significant Stockholders May Have Actual or Potential Conflicts of Interest Because of Their Equity Ownership in Fox Corporation (“FOX”) and/or Because They Also Serve as Officers and/or on the Board of Directors of FOX, Which May Result in the Diversion of Certain Corporate Opportunities to FOX. Certain of the Company’s directors and significant stockholders own shares of FOX’s common stock, and the individual holdings may be significant for some of these individuals compared to their total assets. In addition, the Company’s Chair, Lachlan K. Murdoch, also serves as Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer of FOX. This ownership or service to both companies may create, or give the appearance of, conflicts of interest when faced with decisions that could have different implications for the Company and FOX. For example, potential conflicts of interest could arise in connection with the resolution of any dispute that may arise between the Company and FOX regarding the terms of the agreements governing the indemnification of certain matters. In addition to any other arrangements that the Company and FOX may agree to implement, the Company and FOX agreed that officers and directors who serve at both companies will recuse themselves from decisions where conflicts arise due to their positions at both companies. The Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws acknowledge that the Company’s directors and officers, as well as certain of its stockholders, including K. Rupert Murdoch, certain members of his family and certain family trusts (so long as such persons continue to own, in the aggregate, 10% or more of the voting stock of each of the Company and FOX), each of which is referred to as a covered stockholder, are or may become stockholders, directors, officers, employees or agents of FOX and certain of its affiliates. The Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws provide that any such overlapping person will not be liable to the Company, or to any of its stockholders, for breach of any fiduciary duty that would otherwise exist because such individual directs a corporate opportunity (other than certain types of restricted business opportunities set forth in the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws) to FOX instead of the Company. This could result in an overlapping person submitting any corporate opportunities other than restricted business opportunities to FOX instead of the Company. Certain Provisions of the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws and the Ownership of the Company’s Common Stock by LGC Holdco, LLC (“LGC Holdco”) May Discourage Takeovers, and the Concentration of Ownership Will Affect the Voting Results of Matters Submitted for Stockholder Approval. The Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws contain certain anti-takeover provisions that may make more difficult or expensive a tender offer, change in control or takeover attempt that is opposed by the Company’s Board of Directors or certain stockholders holding a significant percentage of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding voting stock. In particular, the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws provide for, among other things: •a dual class common equity capital structure, in which holders of Class A Common Stock can vote only in specific, limited circumstances; •a prohibition on stockholders taking any action by written consent without a meeting; 28 28 28 Table of Contents Table of Contents •special stockholders’ meeting to be called only by the Board of Directors, the Chair or a Vice or Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors, or, after first requesting that the Board of Directors fix a record date for such meeting, the holders of not less than 20% of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding voting stock; •the requirement that stockholders give the Company advance notice to nominate candidates for election to the Board of Directors or to make stockholder proposals at a stockholders’ meeting; •the requirement of an affirmative vote of at least 65% of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding voting stock to amend or repeal its by-laws; •vacancies on the Board of Directors to be filled only by a majority vote of directors then in office; •certain restrictions on the transfer of the Company’s shares; and •the Board of Directors to issue, without stockholder approval, Preferred Stock and Series Common Stock with such terms as the Board of Directors may determine. These provisions could discourage potential acquisition proposals and could delay or prevent a change in control of the Company, even in the case where a majority of the stockholders may consider such proposals, if effective, desirable. In addition, all of the shares of Class A Common Stock and the majority of the shares of Class B Common Stock formerly held by the Murdoch Family Trust were transferred to LGC Holdco, a Delaware limited liability company owned by certain Murdoch family trusts (collectively, the “LGC Family Trusts”). LGC Holdco beneficially owns less than one percent of the Company’s outstanding Class A Common Stock and approximately 34.52% of the Company’s Class B Common Stock as of June 30, 2026. The voting and disposition of the shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock held by LGC Holdco is, subject to certain limited exceptions, decided solely by a managing director of LGC Holdco’s sole manager who is appointed, and may be replaced, by Lachlan K. Murdoch. As a result, Lachlan K. Murdoch may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares owned by LGC Holdco. Lachlan K. Murdoch, however, disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares. This ownership concentration of Class B Common Stock and associated concentration of voting power could discourage third parties from making proposals involving an acquisition of the Company. Additionally, such ownership concentration increases the likelihood that proposals submitted for stockholder approval that are supported by LGC Holdco will be adopted and proposals that are not supported by LGC Holdco will not be adopted, whether or not such proposals to stockholders are also supported by the other holders of Class B Common Stock. LGC Holdco’s interests may be different from, or conflict with, the interests of the Company’s other stockholders and, as a result, this concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change in control of the Company and may negatively affect the market price of its common stock. The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized a $1 billion stock repurchase program for the Company’s Class A and Class B Common Stock, which has increased and could in the future further increase the percentage of Class B Common Stock held by LGC Holdco. The Company has entered into a stockholders agreement with LGC Holdco and the LGC Family Trusts pursuant to which the parties have agreed not to take actions that would result in LGC Holdco and the LGC Family Trusts owning, collectively with K. Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan K. Murdoch, Grace Murdoch and Chloe Murdoch (the “Murdoch Individuals”), more than 44% of the outstanding voting power of the shares of Class B Common Stock (the “Ownership Threshold”). LGC Holdco and the LGC Family Trusts would forfeit votes to the extent necessary to ensure that they and the Murdoch Individuals collectively do not exceed the Ownership Threshold, except where a Murdoch Individual votes his or her own shares differently from the others on any matter.", "prior_body": "The Market Price of the Company’s Stock May Fluctuate Significantly. The Company cannot predict the prices at which its common stock may trade. The market price of the Company’s common stock may fluctuate significantly, depending upon many factors, some of which may be beyond its control, including: (1) the Company’s quarterly or annual earnings, or those of other companies in its industry; (2) actual or anticipated fluctuations in the Company’s operating results; (3) success or failure of the Company’s business strategy; (4) the Company’s ability to obtain financing as needed; (5) changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretations or principles; (6) changes in laws and regulations affecting the Company’s business or interpretations thereof; (7) announcements by the Company or its competitors of significant new business developments or the addition or loss of significant customers; (8) announcements by the Company or its competitors of significant acquisitions or dispositions; (9) changes in earnings estimates by securities analysts or the Company’s ability to meet its earnings guidance, if any; (10) the operating and stock price performance of other comparable companies; (11) investor perception of the Company and the industries in which it operates; (12) results from material litigation or governmental investigations; (13) changes in capital gains taxes and taxes on dividends affecting stockholders; (14) overall market fluctuations, general economic conditions, such as inflationary pressures or a general economic slowdown or recession, the imposition of tariffs or other changes in trade policy and other external factors, including pandemics, geopolitical tensions or conflicts, war and terrorism; and (15) changes in the amounts and frequency of dividends or stock repurchases, if any. 25 25 25 Table of Contents Table of Contents Certain of the Company’s Directors and Significant Stockholders May Have Actual or Potential Conflicts of Interest Because of Their Equity Ownership in Fox Corporation (“FOX”) and/or Because They Also Serve as Officers and/or on the Board of Directors of FOX, Which May Result in the Diversion of Certain Corporate Opportunities to FOX. Certain of the Company’s directors and significant stockholders own shares of FOX’s common stock, and the individual holdings may be significant for some of these individuals compared to their total assets. In addition, the Company’s Chair, Lachlan K. Murdoch, also serves as Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer of FOX. This ownership or service to both companies may create, or may create the appearance of, conflicts of interest when faced with decisions that could have different implications for the Company and FOX. For example, potential conflicts of interest could arise in connection with the resolution of any dispute that may arise between the Company and FOX regarding the terms of the agreements governing the indemnification of certain matters. In addition to any other arrangements that the Company and FOX may agree to implement, the Company and FOX agreed that officers and directors who serve at both companies will recuse themselves from decisions where conflicts arise due to their positions at both companies. The Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws acknowledge that the Company’s directors and officers, as well as certain of its stockholders, including K. Rupert Murdoch, certain members of his family and certain family trusts (so long as such persons continue to own, in the aggregate, 10% or more of the voting stock of each of the Company and FOX), each of which is referred to as a covered stockholder, are or may become stockholders, directors, officers, employees or agents of FOX and certain of its affiliates. The Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws further provide that any such overlapping person will not be liable to the Company, or to any of its stockholders, for breach of any fiduciary duty that would otherwise exist because such individual directs a corporate opportunity (other than certain types of restricted business opportunities set forth in the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws) to FOX instead of the Company. This could result in an overlapping person submitting any corporate opportunities other than restricted business opportunities to FOX instead of the Company. Certain Provisions of the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws and the Ownership of the Company’s Common Stock by the Murdoch Family Trust May Discourage Takeovers, and the Concentration of Ownership Will Affect the Voting Results of Matters Submitted for Stockholder Approval. The Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws contain certain anti-takeover provisions that may make more difficult or expensive a tender offer, change in control or takeover attempt that is opposed by the Company’s Board of Directors or certain stockholders holding a significant percentage of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding voting stock. In particular, the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws provide for, among other things: •a dual class common equity capital structure, in which holders of Class A Common Stock can vote only in specific, limited circumstances; •a prohibition on stockholders taking any action by written consent without a meeting; •special stockholders’ meeting to be called only by the Board of Directors, the Chair or a Vice or Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors, or, after first requesting that the Board of Directors fix a record date for such meeting, the holders of not less than 20% of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding voting stock; •the requirement that stockholders give the Company advance notice to nominate candidates for election to the Board of Directors or to make stockholder proposals at a stockholders’ meeting; •the requirement of an affirmative vote of at least 65% of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding voting stock to amend or repeal its by-laws; •vacancies on the Board of Directors to be filled only by a majority vote of directors then in office; •certain restrictions on the transfer of the Company’s shares; and •the Board of Directors to issue, without stockholder approval, Preferred Stock and Series Common Stock with such terms as the Board of Directors may determine. These provisions could discourage potential acquisition proposals and could delay or prevent a change in control of the Company, even in the case where a majority of the stockholders may consider such proposals, if effective, desirable. In addition, as a result of his ability to appoint certain members of the board of directors of the corporate trustee of the Murdoch Family Trust (“MFT”), which beneficially owns less than one percent of the Company’s outstanding Class A Common Stock and approximately 40.6% of the Company’s Class B Common Stock as of June 30, 2025, K. Rupert Murdoch may be deemed to be a 26 26 26 Table of Contents Table of Contents beneficial owner of the shares beneficially owned by the MFT. K. Rupert Murdoch, however, disclaims any beneficial ownership of these shares. Also, K. Rupert Murdoch beneficially owns or may be deemed to beneficially own an additional less than one percent of the Company’s Class B Common Stock as of June 30, 2025. Thus, K. Rupert Murdoch may be deemed to beneficially own in the aggregate less than one percent of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and approximately 41.2% of the Company’s Class B Common Stock as of June 30, 2025. This concentration of voting power could discourage third parties from making proposals involving an acquisition of the Company. Additionally, the ownership concentration of Class B Common Stock by the MFT increases the likelihood that proposals submitted for stockholder approval that are supported by the MFT will be adopted and proposals that are not supported by the MFT will not be adopted, whether or not such proposals to stockholders are also supported by the other holders of Class B Common Stock. The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized two $1 billion stock repurchase programs for the Company’s Class A and Class B Common Stock, which have increased and could in the future further increase the percentage of Class B Common Stock held by the MFT. The Company has entered into a stockholders agreement with the MFT pursuant to which the Company and the MFT have agreed not to take actions that would result in the MFT and Murdoch family members collectively owning more than 44% of the outstanding voting power of the shares of Class B Common Stock or would increase the MFT’s voting power by more than 1.75% in any rolling 12-month period. The MFT would forfeit votes to the extent necessary to ensure that the MFT and the Murdoch family collectively do not exceed 44% of the outstanding voting power of the shares of Class B Common Stock, except where a Murdoch family member votes their own shares differently from the MFT on any matter." } ], "full_url": "https://riskdiff.com/nws/2026-vs-2025/full/" }