Erste Group Bank Boosts Earnings Estimates for Walt Disney

Key Points

• Erste Group Bank raised Disney’s FY2026 EPS estimate to $6.92 from $6.85, slightly above the $6.91 consensus, and projected FY2027 EPS of $7.47.
• Disney’s latest quarter beat earnings expectations, reporting $2.06 EPS versus $1.86 expected, while revenue rose 6.8% year over year to $25.25 billion but fell short of estimates.
• Analyst sentiment remains favorable, with a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and an average price target of $127.61; shares recently opened at $108.15.

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS - Free Report) - Investment analysts at Erste Group Bank upped their FY2026 earnings per share estimates for shares of Walt Disney in a research note issued on Thursday, August 27th. Erste Group Bank analyst S. Lingnau now anticipates that the entertainment giant will post earnings per share of $6.92 for the year, up from their previous estimate of $6.85. The consensus estimate for Walt Disney's current full-year earnings is $6.91 per share. Erste Group Bank also issued estimates for Walt Disney's FY2027 earnings at $7.47 EPS.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 5th. The entertainment giant reported $2.06 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.86 by $0.20. The firm had revenue of $25.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.39 billion. Walt Disney had a return on equity of 9.90% and a net margin of 8.70%.The business's quarterly revenue was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.61 EPS. Walt Disney has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.642-6.642 EPS.

Several other research analysts have also commented on DIS. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Walt Disney from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, August 6th. Benchmark reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $115.00 target price on shares of Walt Disney in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Walt Disney from $139.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Walt Disney from $125.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, UBS Group set a $115.00 price objective on Walt Disney in a research report on Monday, August 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Walt Disney presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $127.61.

Walt Disney Stock Performance

Shares of DIS stock opened at $108.15 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $186.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.30, a PEG ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.39. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $100.63 and a 200 day moving average of $101.54. Walt Disney has a 52 week low of $92.18 and a 52 week high of $119.78. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Walt Disney

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Highland Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Walt Disney in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Swiss RE Ltd. purchased a new position in Walt Disney during the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Curio Wealth LLC raised its stake in Walt Disney by 110.4% during the fourth quarter. Curio Wealth LLC now owns 223 shares of the entertainment giant's stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 117 shares during the last quarter. Osbon Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Walt Disney during the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Finally, Sfam LLC bought a new stake in Walt Disney in the fourth quarter worth $26,000. Institutional investors own 65.71% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Paul M. Roeder sold 3,596 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.32, for a total value of $382,326.72. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Brent Woodford sold 7,238 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.31, for a total transaction of $762,233.78. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 62,323 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,563,235.13. The trade was a 10.41% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders own 0.17% of the company's stock.

Walt Disney News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Walt Disney this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Streaming ecosystem expansion: Disney+ and Hulu’s video-podcast partnership with iHeartMedia will bring video versions of six popular podcasts to Disney’s streaming platforms. The initiative could increase engagement, broaden content offerings and improve the value proposition of Disney’s direct-to-consumer services. Can The Walt Disney Company DIS’s iHeartMedia IHRT Partnership Strengthen its Streaming Ecosystem?
• Positive Sentiment: Streaming and parks momentum: Analyst coverage points to streaming profits and theme-park growth as key drivers of Disney’s strong third-quarter performance. New content, resorts and cruise capacity could support revenue and earnings growth in the next phase of the company’s strategy. Can DIS Stock Maintain Momentum With Streaming Wins and Parks Growth?
• Positive Sentiment: Resort investment: Disney revealed additional details for Lakeshore Lodge, a new Walt Disney World resort scheduled to open in July 2027. Waterfront accommodations, cottages and a lazy river could strengthen Disney’s premium lodging offering and support long-term parks monetization. Disney's Lakeshore Lodge Reveals Rooms, Opens July 2027
• Neutral Sentiment: Upcoming investor event: CFO Hugh Johnston is scheduled to participate in the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference on September 9. Investors may look for updates on streaming profitability, parks demand and capital allocation, but no new financial guidance was announced. The Walt Disney Company to Participate in the Goldman Sachs Communacopia Technology Conference
• Negative Sentiment: Growth comparison risk: Commentary contrasting Disney with Netflix underscores that Disney’s larger, diversified business may offer scale and stability, but Netflix has shown more consistent double-digit revenue growth. This may limit enthusiasm if Disney’s streaming growth does not accelerate. Walt Disney vs. Netflix

About Walt Disney

The Walt Disney Company NYSE: DIS, commonly known as Disney, is a diversified global entertainment and media conglomerate headquartered in Burbank, California. Founded in 1923 by Walt and Roy O. Disney, the company grew from an animation studio into a multi‑national entertainment enterprise known for iconic intellectual property and family‑oriented storytelling. Disney's operations span film and television production, streaming services, theme parks and resorts, consumer products, and live entertainment.

On the content side, Disney produces and distributes feature films and television programming through a portfolio of studios and labels that includes Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm and 20th Century Studios, along with broadcast and cable networks such as ABC, FX and National Geographic.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.

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