Virtu Financial LLC Boosts Stake in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)

Key Points

• Virtu Financial LLC significantly increased its stake in The Walt Disney Company by 182.8%, now holding 33,193 shares valued at approximately $3.28 million.
• Several research firms have upgraded their price targets for Disney, with JPMorgan** raising its target to $138.00 and Guggenheim to $140.00, indicating strong analyst confidence in the stock.
• Walt Disney reported a quarterly earnings per share of $1.61, exceeding analysts' expectations and showing a 2.1% increase in revenue compared to the same quarter last year.

Virtu Financial LLC boosted its position in shares of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS - Free Report) by 182.8% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 33,193 shares of the entertainment giant's stock after acquiring an additional 21,455 shares during the quarter. Virtu Financial LLC's holdings in Walt Disney were worth $3,276,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of DIS. Acorns Advisers LLC grew its position in Walt Disney by 2.6% in the 4th quarter. Acorns Advisers LLC now owns 3,826 shares of the entertainment giant's stock valued at $426,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares during the period. Clearstead Trust LLC raised its stake in shares of Walt Disney by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 16,509 shares of the entertainment giant's stock worth $1,629,000 after purchasing an additional 99 shares during the period. Hemington Wealth Management raised its stake in shares of Walt Disney by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Hemington Wealth Management now owns 5,628 shares of the entertainment giant's stock worth $555,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares during the period. Allegheny Financial Group raised its stake in Walt Disney by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Allegheny Financial Group now owns 4,624 shares of the entertainment giant's stock valued at $515,000 after acquiring an additional 106 shares during the period. Finally, Resonant Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in Walt Disney by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC now owns 26,119 shares of the entertainment giant's stock valued at $2,578,000 after acquiring an additional 113 shares during the period. 65.71% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Brent Woodford sold 1,000 shares of Walt Disney stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.84, for a total transaction of $110,840.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 46,831 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,190,748.04. This trade represents a 2.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.16% of the company's stock.

Walt Disney Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of NYSE DIS traded up $0.17 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $112.60. 8,526,534 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,920,482. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $119.16 and a 200 day moving average of $107.98. The Walt Disney Company has a 1 year low of $80.10 and a 1 year high of $124.69. The stock has a market cap of $202.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.65, a P/E/G ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.56. The company has a quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The entertainment giant reported $1.61 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.45 by $0.16. Walt Disney had a return on equity of 9.67% and a net margin of 12.22%. The business had revenue of $23.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $23.69 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.39 earnings per share. The company's revenue was up 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that The Walt Disney Company will post 5.47 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. Guggenheim lifted their target price on Walt Disney from $120.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, June 27th. UBS Group upped their target price on Walt Disney from $120.00 to $138.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Citigroup raised their price target on Walt Disney from $125.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $125.00 price objective on shares of Walt Disney in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Rosenblatt Securities raised their target price on Walt Disney from $140.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Walt Disney has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $131.18.

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.