Zacks Research Has Positive View of Walt Disney Q1 Earnings

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) – Analysts at Zacks Research raised their Q1 2025 earnings estimates for shares of Walt Disney in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, December 5th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the entertainment giant will post earnings of $1.42 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $1.22. The consensus estimate for Walt Disney’s current full-year earnings is $5.41 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Walt Disney’s Q2 2025 earnings at $1.26 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $1.43 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $1.19 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $5.31 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $1.48 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $1.52 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $1.54 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $6.02 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $6.72 EPS.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 14th. The entertainment giant reported $1.14 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.09 by $0.05. Walt Disney had a return on equity of 9.21% and a net margin of 5.44%. The business had revenue of $22.57 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.49 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.82 EPS. Walt Disney’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.3% on a year-over-year basis.

A number of other equities research analysts have also commented on DIS. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Walt Disney from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Loop Capital increased their price target on shares of Walt Disney from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of Walt Disney from $108.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Piper Sandler started coverage on Walt Disney in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $95.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Walt Disney in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. They set a “hold” rating and a $120.00 target price for the company. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $123.67.

Walt Disney Price Performance

Shares of DIS stock opened at $114.64 on Monday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $103.07 and its 200-day moving average is $97.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.73. Walt Disney has a 52 week low of $83.91 and a 52 week high of $123.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $207.61 billion, a PE ratio of 42.30, a PEG ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 1.42.

Walt Disney Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 16th will be issued a $0.50 dividend. This is a positive change from Walt Disney’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.45. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 16th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.6%. Walt Disney’s payout ratio is 36.90%.

Insider Activity at Walt Disney

In related news, CEO Robert A. Iger sold 372,412 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.57, for a total value of $42,667,242.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 226,767 shares in the company, valued at approximately $25,980,695.19. The trade was a 62.15 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Brent Woodford sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.62, for a total value of $568,100.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 44,055 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,005,529.10. The trade was a 10.19 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Walt Disney

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Copley Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Walt Disney in the third quarter valued at about $70,000. Inspire Trust Co. N.A. acquired a new stake in Walt Disney in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $2,597,000. Synovus Financial Corp lifted its stake in Walt Disney by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 78,401 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $7,542,000 after acquiring an additional 249 shares in the last quarter. PVG Asset Management Corp acquired a new position in Walt Disney during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $211,000. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB boosted its position in Walt Disney by 16.8% during the 3rd quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 80,278 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock worth $7,722,000 after acquiring an additional 11,568 shares during the last quarter. 65.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Walt Disney Company Profile

The Walt Disney Company operates as an entertainment company worldwide. It operates through three segments: Entertainment, Sports, and Experiences. The company produces and distributes film and television video streaming content under the ABC Television Network, Disney, Freeform, FX, Fox, National Geographic, and Star brand television channels, as well as ABC television stations and A+E television networks; and produces original content under the ABC Signature, Disney Branded Television, FX Productions, Lucasfilm, Marvel, National Geographic Studios, Pixar, Searchlight Pictures, Twentieth Century Studios, 20th Television, and Walt Disney Pictures banners.