The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) Stock Position Lifted by Wesleyan Assurance Society

Wesleyan Assurance Society boosted its position in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS - Free Report) by 12.4% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 217,862 shares of the entertainment giant's stock after purchasing an additional 24,000 shares during the quarter. Walt Disney comprises about 1.6% of Wesleyan Assurance Society's holdings, making the stock its 17th largest position. Wesleyan Assurance Society's holdings in Walt Disney were worth $21,499,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Mpwm Advisory Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in Walt Disney in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Kessler Investment Group LLC lifted its position in Walt Disney by 274.0% during the first quarter. Kessler Investment Group LLC now owns 273 shares of the entertainment giant's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Pilgrim Partners Asia Pte Ltd acquired a new position in Walt Disney during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Copia Wealth Management acquired a new position in Walt Disney during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in Walt Disney during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.71% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Brent Woodford sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 13th. The stock was 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 owned 46,831 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,190,748.04. This 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 link. 0.16% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have weighed in on DIS shares. Guggenheim lifted their price target on shares of Walt Disney from $120.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, June 27th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Walt Disney from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price target for the company from $100.00 to $144.00 in a research report on Monday, June 30th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Walt Disney from $120.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. Needham & Company LLC restated a "buy" rating and issued a $125.00 price target on shares of Walt Disney in a report on Thursday, May 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Walt Disney from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, May 8th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $128.13.

Walt Disney Stock Performance

Shares of DIS stock traded down $0.91 on Thursday, hitting $122.03. 5,131,616 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 9,865,175. 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 company has a market capitalization of $219.38 billion, a PE ratio of 24.95, a PEG ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 1.56. The Walt Disney Company has a 1-year low of $80.10 and a 1-year high of $124.69. The company's fifty day moving average is $117.61 and its 200 day moving average is $107.22.

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

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.