Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) Trading Up 1.1% - Time to Buy?

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS - Get Free Report) shares traded up 1.1% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $114.22 and last traded at $113.78. 1,538,460 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 85% from the average session volume of 10,000,934 shares. The stock had previously closed at $112.53.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on DIS shares. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Walt Disney from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 8th. Guggenheim lowered their target price on shares of Walt Disney from $130.00 to $120.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 8th. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Walt Disney from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 8th. Rosenblatt Securities raised their price objective on Walt Disney from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $125.00 target price on shares of Walt Disney in a report on Thursday, May 8th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $123.75.

Walt Disney Price Performance

The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $98.14 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $105.80. 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 stock has a market cap of $204.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.49.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The entertainment giant reported $1.45 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.21 by $0.24. The firm had revenue of $23.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $23.15 billion. Walt Disney had a net margin of 6.07% and a return on equity of 9.95%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 7.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.21 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that The Walt Disney Company will post 5.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Walt Disney

In other news, EVP Brent Woodford sold 1,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.84, for a total transaction of $110,840.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 46,831 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,190,748.04. This trade represents a 2.09% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.16% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Walt Disney

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. MJT & Associates Financial Advisory Group Inc. acquired a new position in Walt Disney in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Mpwm Advisory Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in Walt Disney in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Kessler Investment Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Walt Disney by 274.0% in the first quarter. Kessler Investment Group LLC now owns 273 shares of the entertainment giant's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. bought a new stake in Walt Disney during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, Tacita Capital Inc grew its holdings in Walt Disney by 93.2% during the fourth quarter. Tacita Capital Inc now owns 257 shares of the entertainment giant's stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. 65.71% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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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