The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) Given Consensus Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Key Points

• Analysts rate Disney a "Moderate Buy" — 24 analysts cover the stock (17 buy, 6 hold, 1 sell) with an average 12‑month price target of $134.
• Heavy institutional ownership — institutions own about 65.71% of DIS, with Vanguard and State Street adding to positions and notable large moves from J. Stern & Co. and a new ~$2.39B position by Norges Bank.
• Mixed operational outlook — Disney beat quarterly EPS ($1.63 vs. $1.57) and revenue, and analysts point to improving streaming margins and a major Disneyland Paris expansion as upside, while tech‑partnership setbacks and some target cuts pose execution risks.

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS - Get Free Report) has been given an average rating of "Moderate Buy" by the twenty-four analysts that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have issued a hold recommendation and seventeen have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $134.00.

DIS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of Walt Disney in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $135.00 target price for the company. UBS Group restated a "mixed" rating on shares of Walt Disney in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Citigroup reduced their price objective on Walt Disney from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Guggenheim dropped their target price on Walt Disney from $140.00 to $115.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 18th. Finally, Phillip Securities upgraded Walt Disney to a "moderate buy" rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th.

Institutional Trading of Walt Disney

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Walt Disney by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 159,342,154 shares of the entertainment giant's stock valued at $18,128,357,000 after purchasing an additional 1,220,207 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its position in Walt Disney by 2.3% during the 4th quarter. State Street Corp now owns 83,873,646 shares of the entertainment giant's stock worth $9,604,567,000 after buying an additional 1,853,897 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Walt Disney by 3.5% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 40,588,604 shares of the entertainment giant's stock worth $4,597,804,000 after buying an additional 1,361,888 shares during the last quarter. J. Stern & Co. LLP grew its holdings in shares of Walt Disney by 9,060.1% in the 4th quarter. J. Stern & Co. LLP now owns 38,135,363 shares of the entertainment giant's stock valued at $4,338,660,000 after acquiring an additional 37,719,041 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Walt Disney in the 4th quarter valued at about $2,388,278,000. Institutional investors own 65.71% of the company's stock.

Walt Disney Stock Performance

Shares of DIS stock opened at $94.19 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $166.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.42. Walt Disney has a 52 week low of $80.10 and a 52 week high of $124.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.67. The company's 50 day moving average price is $104.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $108.69.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 2nd. The entertainment giant reported $1.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.57 by $0.06. Walt Disney had a net margin of 12.80% and a return on equity of 8.90%. The company had revenue of $25.98 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.54 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.40 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 5.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect that Walt Disney will post 5.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Trending Headlines about Walt Disney

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

• Positive Sentiment: Streaming margins improving — Disney+ and Hulu operating income jumped materially in fiscal 2025, suggesting streaming is moving from cash-consuming to profit-contributing, which supports earnings upgrades and valuation upside. How High Can Disney's Streaming Profit Go?
• Positive Sentiment: Theme-park expansion momentum — the opening of Disney Adventure World / World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris (a roughly €2B project) should boost attendance, F&B and merchandise revenue and supports near-term park earnings. Disney Adventure World Is Officially Open At Disneyland Paris
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support — Erste Group expects stronger earnings for Disney, which could help lift consensus estimates if other firms follow. (Supports sentiment even as other banks adjust targets.) Erste Group Bank Expects Stronger Earnings for Walt Disney
• Neutral Sentiment: Brand/PR activity — announcements like D23 Legends honorees, Minecraft tie-ins, museum/book features and creative installations keep engagement high but have limited immediate financial impact. Disney Reveals 2026 Disney Legends Honorees for This Year's D23 Event
• Negative Sentiment: Tech-partnership setbacks — reports that initiatives tied to Epic Games and OpenAI have faltered (including layoffs at Epic and problems with OpenAI’s Sora) reduce the upside from Disney’s recent tech/content bets and may slow digital engagement gains. Disney (DIS) Faces Setbacks in Epic Games and OpenAI Partnerships
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst caution — Wells Fargo cut its Disney price target to $148, signaling more conservative near-term expectations despite being above current levels; such revisions can temper investor sentiment. Wells Fargo & Company Cuts Walt Disney NYSE: DIS Price Target to $148.00
• Negative Sentiment: Broader skepticism — recent analysis highlighting a 25% decline from peaks and critiques of tech product failures underline the risk that operational gains may be offset by execution risks and macro sensitivity. Disney Is Down 25%, but the Worst Might Not Be Over

Walt Disney Company Profile

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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