Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) Posts Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.08 EPS

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) released its earnings results on Thursday. The entertainment giant reported $1.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.03 by $0.08, FiscalAI reports. The firm had revenue of $22.46 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.78 billion. Walt Disney had a return on equity of 9.67% and a net margin of 12.22%.The firm’s revenue was down .5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.14 EPS.

Walt Disney Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:DIS traded down $1.74 during trading on Friday, hitting $105.87. 16,637,361 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 9,475,586. The company has a quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $112.79 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $114.41. Walt Disney has a 52-week low of $80.10 and a 52-week high of $124.69. The company has a market cap of $190.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.59, a P/E/G ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 1.55.

Walt Disney Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 22nd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.75 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 139.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 30th. Walt Disney’s payout ratio is 15.67%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Walt Disney from $159.00 to $152.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $140.00 target price on shares of Walt Disney in a report on Friday. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Walt Disney from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, October 3rd. Susquehanna reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of Walt Disney in a research report on Monday, August 11th. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $138.00 price objective on shares of Walt Disney in a report on Friday. Eighteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $134.41.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DIS. Amundi boosted its position in Walt Disney by 2.0% during the third quarter. Amundi now owns 12,971,705 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock worth $1,462,645,000 after purchasing an additional 254,626 shares in the last quarter. Viking Global Investors LP lifted its stake in shares of Walt Disney by 78.7% in the third quarter. Viking Global Investors LP now owns 10,449,711 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock worth $1,196,492,000 after buying an additional 4,601,645 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners boosted its holdings in shares of Walt Disney by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 7,063,747 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock worth $808,149,000 after purchasing an additional 142,518 shares during the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System grew its holdings in Walt Disney by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 2,864,399 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $355,214,000 after buying an additional 15,801 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board increased its stake in shares of Walt Disney by 98.6% in the 2nd quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 1,734,347 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock worth $215,076,000 after acquiring an additional 861,023 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.71% of the company’s stock.

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.