The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) Given Average Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Key Points

• The Walt Disney Company has been assigned a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" by 28 brokerages, with an average 12-month price target of $131.18.
• Walt Disney reported earnings of $1.61 EPS for the latest quarter, surpassing analyst expectations of $1.45, though its revenue fell slightly short of projections.
• Hedge funds currently own 65.71% of Disney's stock, indicating strong institutional interest in the company.

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS - Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the twenty-eight brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $131.1818.

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on DIS. Barclays upped their price target on Walt Disney from $120.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. Susquehanna reiterated a "neutral" rating on shares of Walt Disney in a research report on Monday, August 11th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Walt Disney from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, August 11th. Chardan Capital reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Walt Disney in a research report on Monday, August 11th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Walt Disney from $120.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, August 4th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. NWF Advisory Services Inc. grew its position in Walt Disney by 1.3% in the second quarter. NWF Advisory Services Inc. now owns 66,455 shares of the entertainment giant's stock worth $8,241,000 after acquiring an additional 870 shares during the period. V. M. Manning & CO. Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Walt Disney during the second quarter worth $1,386,000. Osaic Holdings Inc. boosted its position in shares of Walt Disney by 33.6% during the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 636,316 shares of the entertainment giant's stock worth $76,518,000 after buying an additional 160,128 shares during the period. American Trust purchased a new position in shares of Walt Disney during the second quarter worth $243,000. Finally, Total Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Walt Disney during the second quarter worth $37,000. 65.71% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Walt Disney Price Performance

Shares of Walt Disney stock opened at $117.10 on Friday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $118.50 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $108.99. Walt Disney has a 12 month low of $80.10 and a 12 month high of $124.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $210.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.35, a PEG ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 1.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.72 and a quick ratio of 0.66.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The entertainment giant reported $1.61 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.45 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $23.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $23.69 billion. Walt Disney had a return on equity of 9.67% and a net margin of 12.22%.The business's revenue was up 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.39 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Walt Disney will post 5.47 EPS 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.

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