bring in Barton Crockett who's a senior analyst at Rosenblat Securities along with Julia Boren. I always love it when we get to sit at the same table together. Julia, let me ask you, when they're talking about being broad, are they trying to be all things to all people at all times.>> I think it's really about general entertainment that's founded with its sort of origin on this this family brand of Disney. And if you look at the strength of this new bundle, they said of new subscribers to their ESPN app, th ...

Core Insights - Disney is focusing on a broad entertainment strategy that combines family-friendly content with sports, leveraging its brands like ESPN, Disney Plus, and Hulu to attract subscribers [2][3][4] - The company reported a significant increase in subscribers, with 3.8 million new Disney Plus subscribers in the last quarter, driven by strong content and international expansion [8] - Despite some mixed results in theme park performance, Disney remains optimistic about its growth outlook and has reiterated its EPS growth guidance for the next two years [4][7] Streaming and Subscriber Growth - The new ESPN All Access bundle has attracted a substantial number of subscribers, with 80% also subscribing to Disney Plus and Hulu, indicating a successful cross-promotion strategy [2] - Disney Plus saw a 3.8 million increase in subscribers, attributed to content strength and international market expansion [8] Theme Parks and Experiential Offerings - Theme parks continue to be a critical revenue driver for Disney, with strong performance in international markets and new cruise ship bookings showing promising growth [7][13] - The company is launching two new cruise ships in the first half of next year, with strong bookings indicating robust demand for Disney's experiential offerings [13] Market Dynamics and Challenges - The recent sell-off in Disney's stock surprised analysts, who expected a smaller decline, highlighting investor concerns despite the company's positive outlook [6][7] - The blackout of Disney channels on YouTube TV has raised questions about potential costs, but Disney remains confident in its negotiating position and the necessity of its content for platforms like YouTube TV [9][11][12]

It's time now for the 360 round. Let's bring in our panel to discuss earnings from Disney. Joining us now, James Trinowski, head of emerging tech at Consumer Choice Center, and Matt Doljen, the senior equity analyst at Morning Star.James, love to just start with your thoughts on this report. >> Yeah, thank you for having me. I think that it's a mixed bag for Disney because on one end, I think that we've seen some really promising stuff.Their model of direct to consumer, of growing their subscriber rate, uh, ...

Disney is set to report its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings before the opening bell Thursday, with Wall Street analysts looking for growth from its streaming business and theme parks, along with sports. https://t.co/539lDMJqjo ...

Core Viewpoint - Disney's revenue fell short of estimates due to linear TV weakness, despite growth in its streaming business, leading to a significant drop in stock price [1] Financial Performance - Disney's shares dropped as much as 10%, breaching the $110 level, which coincides with the 200-day moving average [1] - Despite the earnings-related decline, Disney stock is up over 34% from its year-to-date low in early April [2] Analyst Insights - Bernstein analysts believe Disney stock will rise significantly by 2026, citing growing streaming margins and ad-tier monetization as potential catalysts [3] - Citi analyst Jason Bazinet maintains a $145 price target for Disney, indicating nearly 40% upside from current levels, due to the company's cost discipline and focus on high-growth segments [5] Strategic Initiatives - Disney plans to raise its dividend next year and double its share repurchase plan, reflecting insider confidence in the stock's future performance [4] - The company is reallocating funds to high-growth segments like ESPN direct-to-consumer and advertising to unlock revenue upside [5] - Integration of betting and fantasy features into ESPN is expected to drive new sports partnerships, further enhancing growth prospects [6] Market Sentiment - Wall Street analysts remain positive on Disney shares as they head into 2026, indicating a constructive outlook for the company [8]

Disney Says Film Studio’s Expenses Weigh on Current Quarter. Listen for more on Bloomberg Intelligence. https://t.co/YGeyReiizJ ...

Company Performance - Disney beat earnings expectations but missed on revenue [1] - TV networks and a soft theatrical slate weighed on results [1] Strategic Focus - Discussion of Disney's streaming strategy [1] - Focus on theme parks [1] Industry Issues - Discussion of the YouTube TV blackout [1] - Explanation of rising insurance premiums [1] - Examination of the path ahead for the ACA (Affordable Care Act) [1] - Analysis of what it will take to rein in the country's soaring health care costs [1] Government & Policy - Government starting to reopen after President Trump signed a funding bill, ending the shutdown [1]

Core Viewpoint - Disney reported a mixed fourth quarter with adjusted earnings per share of $1.11, exceeding estimates, but revenue fell short of expectations. The company has increased its share repurchase target to $7 billion for the next fiscal year, leading to downward pressure on shares [1]. Streaming Business Performance - The streaming segment saw significant growth, with earnings rising to $352 million, a 39% increase, indicating a successful transition from traditional linear TV to streaming [2]. - Disney Plus and Hulu added 12.5 million subscribers, with the Disney Plus app gaining an additional 3.8 million subscribers, surpassing analyst expectations [3]. Advertising and Subscriber Trends - Approximately 37% of new subscribers are from ad-supported tiers, reflecting a broader trend where advertisers are increasingly focusing on streaming services to reach audiences [5]. Revenue Streams and Business Segments - The experiences segment, including cruises, is showing resilience, with an uptick in bookings for Q1 of the next year, although the linear network segment experienced a 16% year-over-year decline [10]. - Disney's ability to leverage its intellectual property (IP) across various business segments, including theatrical releases and video game licenses, positions the company favorably in the market [13]. Global Expansion Opportunities - Disney is considering launching ESPN in Asia, which could tap into global audiences, particularly in the sports sector, representing a potential growth area for the company [14].

Group 1: Market Overview - Major U.S. equities indexes experienced a decline, with technology shares significantly impacting the Nasdaq, which fell nearly 2% [1] - The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average also reported lower performance following the end of the longest federal shutdown in U.S. history [1] Group 2: Company Performance - Cisco Systems (CSCO) saw its stock surge over 4% after the company raised its full-year profit outlook [3] - The Walt Disney Co. (DIS) shares dropped 9% due to weaker-than-expected revenue, particularly in its linear TV networks business [2] - Flutter Entertainment (FLUT) stock fell 11% after the company revised its full-year revenue and adjusted EBITDA forecasts downward [2] - WEBTOON Entertainment (WBTN) shares plummeted 25% after projecting a decline in fourth-quarter revenue [2] - Sealed Air (SEE) shares soared 19% following reports of potential talks with private-equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice for a private acquisition [3] - Firefly Aerospace (FLY) shares jumped 17% after posting better-than-expected results and a positive full-year revenue projection [3] Group 3: Commodity and Currency Movements - Oil futures rose nearly 1%, trading just above $59 per barrel [3] - Gold futures remained relatively unchanged at around $4,200 per ounce [3] - The yield on the 10-year Treasury note increased to 4.10% [3] - The U.S. dollar weakened against the euro, pound, and yen [3] - Cryptocurrency prices were mixed, with Bitcoin trading under $101,000 [3]

Core Insights - Disney plans to increase its overall content spending by $1 billion to $24 billion in fiscal 2026, primarily due to rising costs for marquee sports rights, particularly the NBA [1][2] - The increase in spending reflects a disciplined approach to capital allocation, focusing on high-quality sports rights, film franchises, and television content [2] - The new NBA rights deal, which began with the 2025-26 season, will cost Disney $2.6 billion annually, approximately three times the previous deal's average annual value [2] Financial Implications - The additional $1 billion in content spending will impact the latter half of fiscal 2026, creating some financial variability throughout the year [3] - The NBA is considered a valuable asset due to its ability to attract large audiences, making it appealing to advertisers and strategically beneficial for Disney [3]