The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) FY Conference November 19, 2025 11:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsHugh Johnston - CFOConference Call ParticipantsSteven Cahall - Media and Cable AnalystSteven CahallThank you, and good morning, everyone. I'm Steven Cahall, media and cable analyst at our Wells Fargo TMT Summit, and we're fortunate to be joined by Hugh Johnston, The Walt Disney Company's Chief Financial Officer. Hugh, thank you for joining us.Hugh JohnstonHappy to be here.Steven CahallThere's a lot of debates ...

Disney shares tumbling almost 8% today. Its worst day since April. The media giant reporting better than expected earnings before the bell, but missing on revenue.Disney's TV networks and movie business weighing on results. The company is also in a carriage dispute with YouTube TV. CNBC founder and current contributor Tom Rogers joins us now with his reaction.Tom was the first president of NBC cable and is now senior adviser to Versent Media, which will soon become CNBC's parent company. Tom, it's always gr ...

Core Viewpoint - Disney's shares fell nearly 8%, marking its worst day since April, despite reporting better-than-expected earnings but missing revenue targets [1] Financial Performance - Disney's TV networks and movie business negatively impacted results, and the company is currently in a carriage dispute with YouTube TV [1] - The company reported an increase of 11 million subscribers for Disney Plus, but this growth is largely attributed to wholesale subscriptions under a charter deal [12] Streaming and Future Outlook - There were high expectations for acceleration in the streaming segment, which is considered the future of the company, but no clear catalyst was identified [3][4] - CEO Bob Iger discussed plans for Disney Plus to evolve into a "super app" that integrates various Disney offerings, but this did not seem to excite investors [5] - The integration of Hulu and ESPN into a cohesive streaming strategy is seen as essential for future growth, with 80% of ESPN subscribers being part of a Disney Hulu bundle [6] Market Position and Competition - Disney is noted for having a strong presence across various demographics, including children, families, and sports, but it needs to demonstrate that this will drive growth [7] - The company has shown that its streaming growth is outpacing the decline in traditional media, with the majority of engagement and revenue now coming from streaming [11] Investor Sentiment - The market reaction to Disney's earnings was viewed as an overreaction, with some analysts suggesting that the stock has been priced for a prolonged period of stagnation [8][10] - Despite challenges, Disney is in a better financial position now, including a $7 billion share buyback plan, indicating recovery from previous difficulties [9]

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 ...

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 ...

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, ...

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].

Disney shares uh falling. Uh it was a mixed quarter. The company did beat on the bottom line.It posted a slight revenue miss. Entertainment unit by the way uh helped by streaming uh growth continuing to increase there. Let's talk to Michael Morris, Guggenheim Partners analyst does have a buy rating $140 price target.Michael, what do you make of the quarter. I mean, we're now talking sort of about a back-end loaded year and I guess what investors don't want to wait and see if they actually do deliver what th ...

Core Viewpoint - Disney's recent quarter showed mixed results with a slight revenue miss but a beat on the bottom line, driven by growth in streaming services [1] Financial Performance - The company reported a slight revenue miss while beating earnings expectations, indicating a mixed quarter performance [1] - Analysts have noted that Disney's stock is currently undervalued, trading at about a 25% discount to the market at the low end of their guidance range for the coming year [8][9] Streaming and Entertainment Segment - The entertainment unit's growth is attributed to the continued increase in streaming, particularly through the bundling of services like ESPN and Hulu with Disney Plus [5][6] - There are early signs that the bundling approach is effective, leading to longer subscription life and lower churn rates [6] - However, the streaming business growth has not been as robust as expected, especially when compared to competitors like Netflix [9][10] Future Outlook - Analysts express that there is uncertainty regarding the performance of Disney's experiences segment and the direct-to-consumer business, which needs to prove its growth potential [3][4] - The company has set targets for operating income of around $10 billion, and there is a belief that they will ultimately deliver on these targets [8]

Core Insights - Disney is integrating Hulu into the Disney Plus streaming app, with CEO Bob Iger highlighting the potential of artificial intelligence to enhance the platform's offerings [1] - The unified app is envisioned as a "portal" for all Disney services, leveraging AI technology to improve user engagement [1] Group 1: AI Integration and User Engagement - Disney sees significant opportunities for commerce and engagement through AI, particularly for theme parks, hotels, and cruises [2] - The partnership with Epic Games allows Disney to incorporate game-like features into Disney Plus, aligning it with competitors like Netflix that offer mobile gaming [2] - Productive discussions with AI companies aim to enhance customer engagement while safeguarding intellectual property [3] Group 2: User-Generated Content and Experience - AI will enable Disney Plus to provide a more engaged user experience, including the creation and consumption of user-generated content, primarily in short form [4] - There is speculation about the introduction of TikTok-style videos or features similar to Netflix's Moments, although details remain to be seen [4]