Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) Shares Gap Down - Should You Sell?

Shares of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS - Get Free Report) gapped down before the market opened on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $103.08, but opened at $99.79. Walt Disney shares last traded at $99.33, with a volume of 1,998,281 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price objective on shares of Walt Disney from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on shares of Walt Disney from $115.00 to $131.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Bank of America raised their price target on shares of Walt Disney from $120.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Citigroup reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $125.00 price target on shares of Walt Disney in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, Rosenblatt Securities reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $135.00 price target on shares of Walt Disney in a report on Monday, February 10th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $125.64.

Walt Disney Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $178.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.16, a PEG ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.68 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $109.10 and its 200-day moving average price is $104.27.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The entertainment giant reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) 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%. Sell-side analysts expect that The Walt Disney Company will post 5.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Walt Disney

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Impax Asset Management Group plc raised its stake in Walt Disney by 4.5% during the third quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 644,017 shares of the entertainment giant's stock valued at $61,948,000 after purchasing an additional 27,806 shares in the last quarter. United Bank raised its stake in Walt Disney by 6.2% during the third quarter. United Bank now owns 12,145 shares of the entertainment giant's stock valued at $1,168,000 after purchasing an additional 712 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Walt Disney by 44.9% during the third quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 13,363 shares of the entertainment giant's stock valued at $1,285,000 after purchasing an additional 4,139 shares in the last quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. raised its stake in Walt Disney by 4.8% during the third quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 21,978 shares of the entertainment giant's stock valued at $2,114,000 after purchasing an additional 1,012 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Aigen Investment Management LP purchased a new stake in Walt Disney during the third quarter valued at $267,000. Institutional investors own 65.71% of the company's stock.

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.