Walt Disney Stock Overview (NYSE:DIS) – All You Need to Know About Walt Disney Co 

The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney, is a leading American multinational entertainment and media conglomerate headquartered in Burbank, California. Founded in 1923 by brothers Walt and Roy O. Disney, the company has grown from a small animation studio into one of the world’s largest and most influential entertainment companies.  

Disney’s diverse portfolio includes iconic brands such as Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox, as well as theme parks, resorts, and a cruise line. With a mission to entertain, inform, and inspire people globally, Disney continues to be a dominant force in the entertainment industry. 

Here, we explore Disney’s business dynamics, stock performance, and what investors should know moving forward. 

Key Points 

• Disney exceeded expectations with a 44% rise in EPS and 6% revenue growth, though stock fluctuated, rebounding 39% after a dip. 

• Disney+ is on track for $1B in profits, with new features and a reduced content budget of $23 billion. 

• Disney’s media, theme parks, and streaming segments are performing well, positioning the company for continued growth. 

Latest developments investors should note  

FY2025 Q1 earnings beats analyst expectations ^[1]

Disney’s latest earnings report revealed a strong performance, surpassing Wall Street’s expectations. The company reported significant gains driven by the success of “Moana 2” and increased subscription prices for Disney+ and Hulu.  

Disney’s streaming services contributed to earnings of $293 million, while the overall revenue for the quarter increased by 6% to $22.6 billion. The company’s diluted earnings per share (EPS) also saw a notable rise, reporting a 44% jump in adjusted per-share earnings of $1.76 for the October-December quarter, exceeding the $1.45 per-share earnings consensus estimate of 24 analysts surveyed by LSEG. 

Disney to roll out new features for Disney+ ^[2]

Disney’s first quarter of 2025 showcases major strides in its streaming services. The company is on track to reach a $1 billion streaming profit goal for the year, thanks to hits like “Inside Out 2,” “Deadpool & Wolverine,” and “Moana 2.” 

Over the next year, Disney+ will see several technological upgrades, including measures to curb password sharing and a more engaging home screen. Additionally, Disney plans to launch ESPN Flagship, a new sports streaming service, in fall 2025 to tap into the evolving sports media market. 

Despite these ambitious initiatives, Disney has reduced its content budget from $24 billion to $23 billion, focusing on efficiency while continuing to grow. 

About Walt Disney Co

History of the company ^[3,4]

The Walt Disney Co was founded in 1923 by brothers Roy and Walt Disney. Then known as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, the company got its start when it secured a contract from J. M. Winkler to produce a series of cartoons called Alice Comedies.

In 1928, the Walt Disney Co would introduce its most famous star – Mickey Mouse – which was an immediate hit as the main character in Steamboat Willie, the first animated film to feature synchronised sound. 

In 1932, the company debuted Flowers and Trees, the first full-colour cartoon, which also won the first-ever Academy Award in the Cartoon Short Subject category. Disney went on to achieve many more groundbreaking successes, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937; the live-action feature Treasure Island in 1950; the opening of the Disneyland theme park in 1955, and later in 1971, Walt Disney World; and Mary Poppins in 1964 – the company’s most successful live action feature film of its time. 

In recent decades, Walt Disney Co went on to make several headlining acquisitions, including Marvel in 2009; Lucasfilms in 2012; and 21st Century Fox in 2019. 

That same year, the company launched Disney+, officially taking a stake in the lucrative streaming media segment. While the service saw a loss of 4 million subscribers in May 2023, Disney+ is still the second-largest player, behind only to Netflix.

Disney’s Share Price 2025 ^[5]

Here’s a look at how Disney has been performing over the past year:   

Chart 1: Disney’s share price performance for the past year (https://www.tradingview.com/x/Kor7hXXs/) 

Disney’s stock jumped 37% early in 2024 as it navigated a proxy battle with activist investors. Strong Q1 results, a $1.5 billion stake in Epic Games, a 50% dividend hike, and major content wins like Taylor Swift’s concert film and Moana 2’s theatrical release kept investor confidence high. 

After the April shareholder meeting, momentum faded, and shares dropped 32%. Activist Nelson Peltz exited, Q2 revenue fell short, and concerns grew over CEO Bob Iger’s succession. Theme park performance slowed, and Disney lost its Dow leadership, raising doubts about its long-term outlook. A turnaround began in August with ambitious theme park expansions, box office hits like Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine, and Disney+ reaching profitability. 

Despite shares rebounding 39% and strong earnings, Disney’s stock has exhibited volatility since the beginning of 2025. This can be attributed to the company’s decision to merely reiterate its full-year guidance of high-single-digit EPS growth, which fell short of some investors’ expectations ^[6]. 

Business segments ^[7]

Disney operates through various segments, including Media Networks, Parks, Experiences and Products, Studio Entertainment, and Direct-to-Consumer & International. Each segment contributes to the company’s success and showcases its diverse range of offerings.

In the Media Networks segment, Disney owns and operates prominent television networks such as ABC, ESPN, Disney Channel, and National Geographic. 

The Parks, Experiences, and Products segment is responsible for Disney’s iconic theme parks, resorts, cruise lines, and vacation clubs. 

Studio Entertainment is another vital segment, responsible for producing and distributing films under various banners, including Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, and Lucasfilm. 

The Direct-to-Consumer & International segment focuses on streaming services, including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. 

Disney is headquartered in Burbank, California, U.S. Its staff strength is estimated to be 223,000 ^[8].

About the stock DIS

DIS trading information

• Primary exchange: NYSE
• Ticker: DIS
• Country: U.S. 
• Currency: USD
• Trading hours:
  • Main: 9.30am to 4pm ET, Mon to Fri
  • Pre-market: 4am to 9.30am
  • After-market: 4pm to 8pm 

When was DIS listed? 

Although The Walt Disney Co issued over-the-counter stock in 1940, it wasn’t until 12 Nov 1957 when the company embarked on its IPO, co-led by Goldman Sachs. The stock DIS was listed at USD 13.88 per share (equivalent to USD 0.018 per share, adjusted for stock splits) ^[9].

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Stock splits and dividends

DIS does not currently pay a dividend, although it has declared dividends sporadically throughout its history. The last time a dividend was declared was in 2019, for a semi-annual dividend of USD 0.88, paid in Jan 2022 ^[10]. 

The stock has undergone a total of seven stock splits ^[11] .

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References