First Trust Advisors LP Increases Position in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)

First Trust Advisors LP increased its position in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS - Free Report) by 349.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 366,221 shares of the entertainment giant's stock after acquiring an additional 284,761 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP's holdings in Walt Disney were worth $40,779,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of DIS. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Walt Disney during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $2,415,427,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its holdings in Walt Disney by 75.8% during the fourth quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 10,858,108 shares of the entertainment giant's stock valued at $1,209,050,000 after purchasing an additional 4,680,930 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC increased its position in Walt Disney by 23.4% in the fourth quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 19,197,463 shares of the entertainment giant's stock worth $2,137,637,000 after buying an additional 3,636,742 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of Walt Disney in the fourth quarter worth about $358,151,000. Finally, Boston Partners purchased a new position in shares of Walt Disney during the 4th quarter valued at about $350,707,000. Institutional investors own 65.71% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Citigroup restated a "buy" rating and set a $125.00 target price on shares of Walt Disney in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $125.00 price target on shares of Walt Disney in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on Walt Disney from $137.00 to $139.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Loop Capital lifted their target price on Walt Disney from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. Finally, Prescient Securities dropped their price target on Walt Disney from $130.00 to $115.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Walt Disney presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $123.75.

Walt Disney Price Performance

Shares of Walt Disney stock traded up $0.62 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $90.78. 1,443,847 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 10,072,553. The business has a fifty day moving average of $96.59 and a two-hundred day moving average of $104.22. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The company has a market capitalization of $164.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.44. The Walt Disney Company has a 1 year low of $80.10 and a 1 year high of $118.63.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The entertainment giant reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.32. Walt Disney had a net margin of 6.07% and a return on equity of 9.95%. As a group, research analysts predict that The Walt Disney Company will post 5.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.