Core Insights - Walt Disney reported quarterly earnings of $1.61 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.46 per share, and showing an increase from $1.39 per share a year ago, resulting in an earnings surprise of +10.27% [1] - The company posted revenues of $23.65 billion for the quarter ended June 2025, slightly missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.14%, but up from $23.16 billion year-over-year [2] - Disney has surpassed consensus EPS estimates in all four of the last quarters, while it has topped revenue estimates twice during the same period [2] Earnings Outlook - The sustainability of Disney's stock price movement will largely depend on management's commentary during the earnings call and future earnings expectations [3][4] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $1.05 on revenues of $23.09 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $5.78 on revenues of $95.02 billion [7] Industry Context - The Media Conglomerates industry, to which Disney belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 26% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential challenges ahead [8] - Empirical research suggests a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked by investors [5][6]

Group 1 - Walt Disney (DIS) is a notable stock within the Consumer Discretionary sector, which consists of 255 companies and currently ranks 9 in the Zacks Sector Rank [2] - The Zacks Rank system indicates that Walt Disney has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), with a consensus estimate for full-year earnings increasing by 5.9% over the past quarter, reflecting improved analyst sentiment [3] - Year-to-date, Walt Disney has returned 7.2%, outperforming the average return of 6.8% for the Consumer Discretionary sector [4] Group 2 - Walt Disney is categorized under the Media Conglomerates industry, which includes 17 companies and is currently ranked 182 in the Zacks Industry Rank; this industry has seen an average gain of 8% this year, indicating that DIS is slightly underperforming its industry [5] - Another stock in the Consumer Discretionary sector, OneSpaWorld (OSW), has performed better with a year-to-date return of 12.3% and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [4][5] - The Leisure and Recreation Services industry, to which OneSpaWorld belongs, is ranked 177 and has increased by 7% this year [6]

Group 1 - Reservoir Media, Inc. reported a quarterly loss of $0.01 per share, consistent with the Zacks Consensus Estimate, and the same loss as the previous year [1] - The company posted revenues of $37.16 million for the quarter ended June 2025, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.47%, and up from $34.32 million year-over-year [2] - Reservoir Media shares have declined approximately 13.7% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's gain of 7.6% [3] Group 2 - The earnings outlook for Reservoir Media is mixed, with the current consensus EPS estimate at $0.05 on revenues of $43.22 million for the upcoming quarter, and $0.16 on revenues of $166.56 million for the current fiscal year [7] - The Zacks Industry Rank indicates that the Media Conglomerates sector is in the bottom 27% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges for stock performance [8] Group 3 - The estimate revisions trend for Reservoir Media was mixed ahead of the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the market [6] - Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked by investors [5]

Core Viewpoint - The Walt Disney Company is expected to report its third-quarter fiscal 2025 results on August 6, with revenue estimates at $23.67 billion, reflecting a modest growth of 2.23% year-over-year, and earnings per share expected to be $1.47, indicating a growth of 5.76% year-over-year [1][12]. Revenue and Earnings Estimates - The consensus estimate for revenues is $23.67 billion, suggesting a 2.23% increase from the previous year [1]. - The earnings per share consensus has decreased by a penny to $1.47, indicating a year-over-year growth of 5.76% [1]. - The estimated revenues for the Entertainment segment are projected at $10.84 billion, representing a 2.5% increase year-over-year [7]. - The Experiences segment is estimated to generate $8.4 billion in revenues, showing marginal growth of 0.3% year-over-year [11]. Recent Performance and Trends - In the last reported quarter, Disney achieved an earnings surprise of 22.88%, with an average surprise of 16.38% over the last four quarters [2]. - The Entertainment segment reported an operating income of $1.3 billion, a significant increase of 61% year-over-year [5]. - The direct-to-consumer segment's operating income surged to $336 million from $47 million a year earlier, with expectations for continued profitability growth [6][8]. - Disney+ gained 1.4 million subscribers, while Hulu added 1.3 million subscribers in the fiscal second quarter, contributing to positive momentum [8]. Strategic Developments - The Sports segment benefited from a 29% year-over-year growth in ESPN's domestic advertising revenues, with new initiatives expected to enhance performance [9]. - Disney announced its seventh theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, which is anticipated to significantly impact the Experiences segment and access a large global audience [10]. - The company is trading at a forward P/E of approximately 18.61x, which is below the industry average of 20.25x, indicating a potentially attractive valuation [15]. Investment Considerations - Disney presents a compelling buy opportunity ahead of the third-quarter earnings, supported by strong fundamentals and multiple growth catalysts [18]. - The integrated ecosystem of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN creates sustainable competitive advantages, especially as rivals face streaming losses [18]. - The convergence of streaming profitability, international expansion, and robust operational momentum positions Disney favorably for future growth [19].

Earnings Performance - Paramount Global reported quarterly earnings of $0.46 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.44 per share, but down from $0.54 per share a year ago, indicating an earnings surprise of +4.55% [1] - The company posted revenues of $6.85 billion for the quarter ended June 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.47%, and showing a slight increase from $6.81 billion year-over-year [2] Stock Performance and Outlook - Since the beginning of the year, Paramount Global shares have increased by approximately 4.4%, while the S&P 500 has gained 8.2% [3] - The company's current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.41 on revenues of $6.85 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.25 on revenues of $28.64 billion [7] Industry Context - The Media Conglomerates industry, to which Paramount Global belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 26% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges ahead [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which could impact investor sentiment [5]

Group 1: Earnings Performance - Paramount Global-B reported quarterly earnings of $0.46 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.41 per share, but down from $0.54 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of +12.20% [1] - The company posted revenues of $6.85 billion for the quarter ended June 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.22%, compared to revenues of $6.81 billion a year ago [2] - Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times [2] Group 2: Stock Performance and Outlook - Paramount Global-B shares have increased approximately 27.2% since the beginning of the year, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 8.2% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.44 on revenues of $6.68 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.28 on revenues of $28.29 billion [7] - The estimate revisions trend for Paramount Global-B was mixed ahead of the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) for the stock, indicating expected performance in line with the market [6] Group 3: Industry Context - The Media Conglomerates industry, to which Paramount Global-B belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 26% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges ahead [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can impact investor decisions [5]

Core Insights - Walt Disney (DIS) is positioned to potentially continue its earnings-beat streak in the upcoming report, having surpassed earnings estimates by an average of 22.55% in the last two quarters [1][2]. Earnings Performance - For the last reported quarter, Disney achieved earnings of $1.45 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.18 per share, resulting in a surprise of 22.88% [2]. - In the previous quarter, Disney was expected to report earnings of $1.44 per share but delivered $1.76 per share, leading to a surprise of 22.22% [2]. Earnings Estimates and Predictions - Estimates for Disney have been trending higher, influenced by its history of earnings surprises, and the stock currently has a positive Zacks Earnings ESP of +1.59%, indicating bullish sentiment among analysts regarding its near-term earnings potential [5][8]. - The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) suggests a strong likelihood of another earnings beat in the upcoming report, scheduled for August 6, 2025 [8]. Statistical Insights - Research indicates that stocks with a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) or better have a nearly 70% chance of producing a positive surprise [6]. - The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with the Most Accurate Estimate reflecting the latest analyst revisions, which may be more accurate [7].

Group 1 - Paramount Global is a major media and entertainment conglomerate with assets including Paramount Pictures, CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount+, and Pluto TV [1] - The company has agreed to merge with Skydance Media in a two-step deal after a prolonged battle [1] Group 2 - The merger is expected to help build a consistent, low-risk passive income portfolio for investors [1] - The investment strategy emphasizes risk assessment over speculative growth, aligning with contrarian and value-driven principles [1]

Group 1: Stock Performance - Walt Disney's stock closed at $122.94, with a daily increase of +1.55%, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.78% [1] - Over the past month, the stock has risen by 2.03%, which is below the Consumer Discretionary sector's gain of 4.9% and the S&P 500's gain of 5.88% [1] Group 2: Upcoming Earnings - The upcoming earnings report for Walt Disney is scheduled for August 6, 2025, with projected EPS of $1.47, indicating a 5.76% increase year-over-year [2] - Revenue for the upcoming quarter is estimated at $23.7 billion, reflecting a 2.35% rise from the same quarter last year [2] Group 3: Fiscal Year Estimates - For the entire fiscal year, earnings are projected at $5.78 per share, with revenue expected to reach $95.15 billion, representing increases of +16.3% and +4.14% respectively from the previous year [3] Group 4: Analyst Estimates and Confidence - Recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Walt Disney reflect evolving short-term business trends, with positive revisions indicating analysts' confidence in the company's performance [4] - The Zacks Rank system, which incorporates estimate changes, currently ranks Walt Disney as 2 (Buy) [6] Group 5: Valuation Metrics - Walt Disney's Forward P/E ratio stands at 20.96, which is lower than the industry average of 21.25, suggesting the stock may be trading at a discount [7] - The company has a PEG ratio of 1.77, compared to the Media Conglomerates industry's average PEG ratio of 2.53 [8] Group 6: Industry Context - The Media Conglomerates industry, part of the Consumer Discretionary sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 189, placing it in the bottom 24% of over 250 industries [8] - Research indicates that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [9]

Core Insights - Disney is experiencing significant growth in its direct-to-consumer streaming platforms, particularly with the integration of ESPN into Disney+, which is expected to enhance its competitive position in the streaming market [1][8] - The streaming segment reported an operating income of $336 million in Q2 2025, a substantial increase from $47 million in the same quarter last year, indicating a successful turnaround [1][8] - Profitable streaming operations are allowing Disney to invest in high-profile content, such as Moana 2 and Inside Out 2, which not only boosts streaming engagement but also enhances revenue across merchandise, parks, and cruises [2][8] Streaming Subscriber Growth - In Q2 2025, Disney+ added 1.4 million subscribers, reaching a total of 126 million, while Hulu reached 54.7 million subscribers, bringing Disney's total streaming subscribers to 180.7 million, a 2.5% sequential increase [4][8] - This growth reflects Disney's successful transition from traditional media to streaming, showcasing real momentum in subscriber acquisition [4] Competitive Landscape - Netflix remains a dominant player in the U.S. streaming market, with over $11 billion in revenue in Q2 2025 and a 45% earnings growth, leveraging its scale and exclusive content [4] - Paramount Global, through Paramount+ and Pluto TV, is also competing with Disney+ by utilizing its extensive content library, although it faces profitability challenges due to debt and operating losses [5] Financial Performance and Valuation - Disney's stock has gained 9.1% year-to-date, underperforming compared to the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector and the Zacks Media Conglomerates industry [6] - The current forward 12-month Price/Earnings ratio for DIS stock is 19.46X, compared to the industry's 21.1X, indicating a relatively favorable valuation [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Disney's 2025 earnings is $5.78 per share, reflecting a 16.3% increase from the previous year [12]