The Walt Disney Company $DIS Shares Acquired by Applied Finance Capital Management LLC

Key Points

• Applied Finance Capital Management increased its Walt Disney stake by 5.4% in the first quarter, buying 12,514 more shares and bringing its position to 244,025 shares valued at about $23.5 million.
• Institutional ownership remains high, with several other hedge funds and investors also adding to Disney, and institutions now holding 65.71% of the stock.
• Analyst and news sentiment is mostly constructive: Disney was upgraded to Buy by Zacks, and other commentary pointed to improving earnings, stronger free cash flow, and possible upside from streaming and operating efficiencies, even as some concerns remain around film strategy.

Applied Finance Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS - Free Report) by 5.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 244,025 shares of the entertainment giant's stock after purchasing an additional 12,514 shares during the period. Walt Disney comprises about 1.8% of Applied Finance Capital Management LLC's holdings, making the stock its 15th largest holding. Applied Finance Capital Management LLC's holdings in Walt Disney were worth $23,519,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Procyon Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Walt Disney by 5.4% during the 1st quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC now owns 9,572 shares of the entertainment giant's stock worth $923,000 after purchasing an additional 488 shares during the period. LGT Fund Management Co Ltd. raised its holdings in Walt Disney by 264.9% in the first quarter. LGT Fund Management Co Ltd. now owns 22,738 shares of the entertainment giant's stock valued at $2,191,000 after acquiring an additional 16,507 shares in the last quarter. Global Assets Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in Walt Disney in the first quarter valued at approximately $266,000. Anchor Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in Walt Disney by 1.8% in the first quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 39,022 shares of the entertainment giant's stock worth $3,761,000 after acquiring an additional 690 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Associated Banc Corp lifted its stake in Walt Disney by 0.3% in the first quarter. Associated Banc Corp now owns 52,318 shares of the entertainment giant's stock worth $5,042,000 after acquiring an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. 65.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Headlines Impacting Walt Disney

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

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks upgraded Disney to a Buy, citing improving earnings expectations and a more favorable near-term outlook for the stock. Disney (DIS) Upgraded to Buy: Here's What You Should Know
• Positive Sentiment: Investors are reacting positively to reports that Disney+ may add a free, ad-supported tier, which could expand audience reach and improve Disney’s streaming monetization strategy over time. Disney is exploring adding a free tier for Disney+ as YouTube draws TV viewers
• Positive Sentiment: Bullish commentary highlighted strong free cash flow, improving direct-to-consumer profitability, and solid performance in sports and theme parks, while also pointing to possible upside from AI-driven efficiencies and rumored acquisition interest in Lionsgate. Disney: Lionsgate Rumors Add To An Already Compelling Bull Case
• Positive Sentiment: Another bullish valuation note argued Disney stock looks inexpensive on earnings and cash flow, with buybacks and earnings growth seen as supporting longer-term upside. Disney (DIS) Stock Looks Cheap On Earnings And Cash Flow
• Neutral Sentiment: Disney’s former Disney+ president Alisa Bowen is moving to CEO of Disney-controlled Fubo, a leadership change that may matter strategically but is not directly tied to Disney’s core operations. Alisa Bowen Exits as Disney+ President to Become CEO of Disney-Controlled Fubo TV Streamer
• Negative Sentiment: Several stories criticized Disney’s live-action remake strategy, especially around Moana, adding to concerns that the company’s film pipeline may be losing creative momentum. Moana's Record Rotten Tomatoes Score Should Give Disney Pause

Walt Disney Stock Up 0.0%

Shares of NYSE:DIS opened at $95.64 on Monday. The Walt Disney Company has a 1-year low of $92.18 and a 1-year high of $123.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.68 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The stock has a market cap of $166.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.28, a P/E/G ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.39. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $101.51 and a 200 day moving average price of $104.06.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 6th. The entertainment giant reported $1.57 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.08. Walt Disney had a net margin of 11.54% and a return on equity of 8.92%. The company had revenue of $25.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $24.87 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.45 earnings per share. Walt Disney's quarterly revenue was up 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. Walt Disney has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.640-6.640 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that The Walt Disney Company will post 6.86 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have commented on DIS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Walt Disney from $139.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, June 30th. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Walt Disney from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a research report on Thursday, June 11th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Walt Disney from $148.00 to $146.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 7th. Wolfe Research set a $131.00 price objective on Walt Disney in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. Finally, Rosenblatt Securities reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $126.00 price target on shares of Walt Disney in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $133.33.

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.

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