The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) MoffettNathanson 2025 Media, Internet & Communications Conference Call May 14, 2025 9:40 AM ET Company Participants Michael Nathanson - MoffettNathanson Robert Fishman - MoffettNathanson Conference Call Participants Josh D’Amaro - Chairman, Disney Experiences Michael Nathanson Josh, thank you so much for being here. So excited to have you. You made some big news last week with you and Bob announced Disney, Seventh Park in Abu Dhabi. There's lots of excitement for the growt ...

Walt Disney Company (DIS) Conference May 14, 2025 09:40 AM ET Speaker0 About where we wanted to be in the world. We knew, that there was demand for Disney product around the world. I've said this publicly before for every one theme park visitor, that we have in our existing experiences today. We believe there are 10 more out there that want to come and participate in the Disney experience. They just haven't had an opportunity to do so. So as we looked around the world, we looked at The Middle East and UAE s ...

Cutting-edge ride technology, breathtaking all-real-world footage and face-to-face animal encounters bring guests up close with the wonders of the Arctic, blending simulation & realityDOWNLOAD MEDIA ASSETS HEREORLANDO, Fla., May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SeaWorld Orlando is thrilled to announce that its groundbreaking, dynamic and immersive Arctic experience, Expedition Odyssey, is now officially open. This first-of-its-kind in the world attraction that combines cutting-edge ride technology, breathtaking all ...

ORLANDO, Fla., May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- United Parks & Resorts Inc. (NYSE: PRKS), a leading theme park and entertainment company, today reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2025.First Quarter 2025 Highlights Attendance was 3.4 million guests, a decrease of approximately 59,000 guests or 1.7% from the first quarter of 2024. Total revenue was $286.9 million, a decrease of $10.5 million or 3.5% from the first quarter of 2024. Net loss was $16.1 million, a decrease of $4.9 million from th ...

Core Viewpoint - Disney demonstrated strong growth in parks and streaming, leading to raised guidance after a resilient first-quarter performance despite macroeconomic challenges [2][3]. Group 1: Financial Performance - Revenue, operating income, earnings per share, and free cash flow all exceeded expectations, indicating robust financial health [2]. - Disney raised its full-year earnings per share guidance, which is seen as encouraging amid recent macro volatility [2][5]. - The direct-to-consumer (DTC) segment achieved its fourth consecutive profitable quarter, with full-year DTC operating profit expected to exceed $1 billion [6]. Group 2: Parks and Streaming Growth - Future bookings for Walt Disney World are strong, with bookings up 4% in Q3 and 7% in Q4 [2]. - Analysts highlighted the reacceleration of the Parks business as a near-term catalyst for growth [3]. - The launch of ESPN's flagship streaming platform in Q4 is anticipated to enhance bundled offerings with Hulu and Disney+ [5]. Group 3: Analyst Ratings and Price Action - Bank of America analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich reiterated a Buy rating with a price target of $140, while Guggenheim's Michael Morris lowered his target from $130 to $120, maintaining a Buy rating [1]. - Disney stock rose 3.1% to $105.27, with a 52-week trading range of $80.10 to $118.63, although it is down 5% year-to-date in 2025 [6].

Core Insights - Walt Disney's shares surged by 10.6% following better-than-expected quarterly results and the announcement of a new theme park in Abu Dhabi [1][2] Financial Performance - Disney reported Q2 revenue of $23.62 billion, a 7% increase year-over-year, surpassing estimates of $23.05 billion [2] - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) reached $1.45, a 20% increase, exceeding expectations of $1.20 [2] - The company raised its full-year EPS forecast to $5.75, indicating a 16% year-over-year gain from 2024 and nearly double the previous guidance [2] Streaming Business - The streaming segment, including Disney+ and Hulu, reported a profit of $336 million, significantly up from $47 million in Q2 2024 [3] New Theme Park Announcement - Disney announced plans for a new theme park and resort in Abu Dhabi, marking its first major expansion into the Middle East [5] - CEO Bob Iger highlighted the strategic location of the UAE, with one-third of the world's population within a four-hour flight, potentially accessing a tourism market of around 500 million visitors [6] Growth Strategy - Under CEO Bob Iger's leadership, Disney is executing a multipronged growth strategy, with parks performing well and the company emerging as a winner in the streaming wars [8]

Core Insights - Walt Disney reported better-than-expected financial results, raising its guidance for fiscal 2025, and announced a new theme park in Abu Dhabi, marking its seventh resort globally [1][9] Financial Performance - Analysts had low expectations, forecasting $23.1 billion in revenue for the first three months of the calendar year, a modest 5% increase, and flat adjusted earnings of $1.21 per share [3] - Actual revenue rose 7% to $23.6 billion, while adjusted earnings soared 20% to $1.45 per share, driven by a 15% increase in segment operating income [4] - Disney's adjusted earnings for fiscal 2025 are now projected at $5.75 per share, a 16% increase over fiscal 2024, surpassing previous forecasts of single-digit growth [7] Theme Parks and Experiences - Contrary to expectations, Disney's domestic parks and experiences business saw a 9% increase in revenue and a 13% jump in operating income, while rival Comcast reported a decline in its theme parks business [5] - The new Abu Dhabi resort will not require Disney to have an ownership stake or capital contributions, allowing the company to earn ongoing royalties [9][10] Streaming Operations - Disney's direct-to-consumer streaming operations, particularly Disney+, have significantly contributed to profitability, with operating profit increasing sevenfold compared to the previous fiscal year [6] Market Reaction - Following the strong financial results and theme park expansion news, Disney's stock price surged above $100, reversing a bearish narrative [11]

The Walt Disney Company says it will open a seventh theme park resort in Abu Dhabi. Disney, which won't own the park but is licensing the operation to Miral, an immersive experiences company, announced the new destination on Wednesday. "As such, both the fears around tariffs and a possible recession, along with a slowdown in travel that has already begun, have dragged DIS stock down ~27% in ~6 weeks," wrote Raymond James analysts Ric Prentiss and Brent Penter. Here are the key numbers for the second quarter ...

A telltale financial update, a new milestone celebration, and a reimagined live-action take on a popular animated film will keep Disney busy in the month ahead.Shares of Walt Disney (DIS 1.83%) are failing to keep up with the market for the fourth time in the last five years. The company still has another seven months to turn things around. What will it take to get back on track?This should be a big month for Disney. It has two big movies opening this month. There's an important financial update coming in a ...

Core Insights - Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor in Bowie, Maryland, will close on November 2, as they are no longer considered a strategic fit for Six Flags Entertainment Corporation's long-term growth plan [1][2] - The park features the historic Wild One roller coaster, which has been operational since 1917 and is recognized for its height and thrilling experience [2][5] - The closure will affect approximately 70 full-time employees, who will receive severance and other benefits [6][9] Company Strategy - Six Flags President & CEO Richard Zimmerman stated that marketing the property for redevelopment is expected to generate the highest value and return on investment [2] - The decision aligns with a comprehensive review of the park portfolio, indicating a shift in focus towards more strategically aligned properties [2] Community Impact - Local officials, including Prince George's County Council Chair Edward Burroughs, see potential for redevelopment of the park area, emphasizing collaboration with the community for future projects [10] - The closure follows the recent announcement by the NFL's Washington Commanders to leave Prince George's County, indicating a broader trend of significant changes in the local entertainment landscape [12]