Applied Finance Capital Management LLC Reduces Stock Position in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)

Key Points

• Applied Finance Capital Management LLC has reduced its stake in The Walt Disney Company by 49.4%, bringing its holdings down to 228,311 shares worth approximately $22.5 million.
• Institutional investors continue to adjust their positions in Disney, with several firms like Nvwm LLC and Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC increasing their stakes during the first quarter.
• Walt Disney's stock has a market cap of $218.32 billion, with recent brokerages setting new price targets ranging from $125.00 to $140.00, reflecting positive sentiment towards the company.

Applied Finance Capital Management LLC lessened its stake in shares of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS - Free Report) by 49.4% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 228,311 shares of the entertainment giant's stock after selling 223,212 shares during the quarter. Walt Disney comprises about 1.7% of Applied Finance Capital Management LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Applied Finance Capital Management LLC's holdings in Walt Disney were worth $22,534,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Nvwm LLC lifted its stake in shares of Walt Disney by 5.3% in the 1st quarter. Nvwm LLC now owns 26,902 shares of the entertainment giant's stock worth $2,655,000 after purchasing an additional 1,366 shares during the period. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Walt Disney by 18.1% in the 1st quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC now owns 134,129 shares of the entertainment giant's stock worth $13,239,000 after purchasing an additional 20,539 shares during the period. Bell & Brown Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Walt Disney by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Bell & Brown Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 53,624 shares of the entertainment giant's stock worth $5,293,000 after purchasing an additional 679 shares during the period. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ lifted its stake in shares of Walt Disney by 2.8% in the 1st quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 381,010 shares of the entertainment giant's stock worth $37,606,000 after purchasing an additional 10,472 shares during the period. Finally, Equitable Trust Co. lifted its stake in shares of Walt Disney by 4.9% in the 1st quarter. Equitable Trust Co. now owns 10,993 shares of the entertainment giant's stock worth $1,085,000 after purchasing an additional 510 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.71% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Walt Disney

In related news, EVP Brent Woodford sold 1,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.84, for a total value of $110,840.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 46,831 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,190,748.04. This trade represents a 2.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.16% of the company's stock.

Walt Disney Trading Down 0.4%

Walt Disney stock opened at $121.44 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $218.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.83, a PEG ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 1.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 0.67 and a quick ratio of 0.61. The Walt Disney Company has a 1 year low of $80.10 and a 1 year high of $124.69. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $117.97 and its 200-day moving average price is $107.37.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The entertainment giant reported $1.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.21 by $0.24. Walt Disney had a net margin of 9.47% and a return on equity of 9.99%. The firm had revenue of $23.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $23.15 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.21 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 7.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that The Walt Disney Company will post 5.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on DIS. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Walt Disney from $125.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Walt Disney from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Sunday, July 20th. Rosenblatt Securities increased their price objective on shares of Walt Disney from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 3rd. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Walt Disney from $120.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC restated a "buy" rating and set a $125.00 target price on shares of Walt Disney in a research note on Thursday, May 8th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $128.13.

About Walt Disney

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.

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