For the past six years, Josh D’Amaro has overseen experiences, such as theme parks and cruises, at the Walt Disney Company. Starting March 18, he’ll add the rest of the company to his responsibilities. Most Read from Fast Company Disney has tapped D’Amaro as its new chief executive officer, taking the reins from Bob Iger and becoming just the ninth person to run the century-old entertainment giant. D’Amaro won a highly competitive race for the job, fending off Disney’s entertainment co-chairman, Dana W ...

Core Viewpoint - Disney's board is expected to appoint Josh D'Amaro, the chairman of the theme-park division, as the new CEO, replacing Bob Iger, who is set to step down at the end of the year [1][2][4]. Group 1: CEO Succession - D'Amaro has been leading the theme park unit, which has been the primary profit driver for Disney since 2020, making him a strong candidate for the CEO position [2][4]. - The board is scheduled to meet on Tuesday and Wednesday to finalize the decision, although there is still a possibility of changing their minds [3][4]. - Dana Walden, co-chair of entertainment, was considered D'Amaro's main competitor for the CEO role, but recent controversies have put her in a less favorable position [7][10]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Disney reported adjusted earnings of $1.63 per share on revenue of $25.98 billion, surpassing Wall Street's expectations of $1.57 EPS on $25.74 billion revenue [3]. - The theme park division achieved over $10 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time, although a slowdown in growth is anticipated due to fewer international tourists [4]. Group 3: Leadership Background - D'Amaro joined Disney in 1998 and has worked his way up through various leadership roles in the theme park sector, including positions in California, Hong Kong, and Florida [13]. - Bob Iger has had a long tenure at Disney, serving as CEO from 2005 to 2020 and returning to the role in 2022 after the ousting of his successor, Bob Chapek [7][9].

Core Insights - Walt Disney's theme parks and the movie "Zootopia 2" contributed to the company's ability to exceed revenue and earnings estimates for the holiday quarter ending in December [1] Group 1 - The performance of Disney's theme parks played a significant role in driving revenue growth [1] - The release of "Zootopia 2" positively impacted the company's earnings during the holiday quarter [1]

Group 1: Tariffs and Legal Developments - The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the legality of tariffs imposed by President Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) [3][4] - If deemed unlawful, the U.S. government may need to refund over $133.5 billion in duties to importers [6] Group 2: Alibaba and Nvidia - Alibaba's shares rose by 3.1% following reports that China may approve the import of Nvidia's H200 AI chips [6][7] - Alibaba is reportedly inquiring about purchasing over 200,000 units of the H200 chips to enhance its large language models and compete with U.S. firms [8] Group 3: Disney's Investment in China - Disney CEO Bob Iger announced plans to continue expanding investments in China, expressing confidence in the country's development [9] - Iger's visit may suggest potential plans for opening another theme park in China, as Disney currently operates Shanghai Disneyland [10]

Group 1 - Gifting stock can spark a lifelong interest in financial literacy and investing for kids and teens [1] - Custodial accounts (UTMA/UGMA) are the standard vehicle for purchasing shares on behalf of minors, managed by an adult [2] - Control of the custodial account is transferred to the child upon reaching adulthood, allowing them to benefit from the account's growth [3] Group 2 - Investing in companies that children interact with daily makes the stock market concept tangible [4] - The gift of stock is not just monetary; it teaches the basics of market mechanics, including dividends and patience [5] - Early exposure to investing fosters a wealth-building mindset that surpasses the initial cash gift [6] Group 3 - Companies like Roblox, Netflix, Disney, Nike, and McDonald's are suggested as ideal stocks for children, connecting their interests to ownership [7] - Fractional shares allow children to invest in companies with lower amounts, demonstrating that regular investing accumulates over time [7] - Stocks that pay dividends, like McDonald's, introduce children to passive income and the concept of compounding [7] - Long-term investing teaches children that daily market fluctuations are less important than solid fundamentals and long-term growth [7]

Core Insights - The race to succeed Disney CEO Bob Iger has narrowed down to two candidates: Josh D'Amaro and Dana Walden, with D'Amaro emerging as the frontrunner according to industry observers [1][2][4]. Candidate Profiles - Josh D'Amaro, currently the chairman of Disney Experiences, has been increasingly visible in public engagements, leading to perceptions that he is the favorite for the CEO position [2][8]. - Dana Walden, co-Chair of Disney Entertainment, may have faced setbacks due to her involvement in a recent controversy regarding Jimmy Kimmel, which has drawn shareholder criticism [3][4]. Financial Performance - Disney Experiences, which includes theme parks, has been the most profitable division for Disney, generating $8.12 billion in profit in the first nine months of fiscal 2025, significantly outperforming the combined profits of Disney's TV, film, streaming, and sports businesses [11][12]. - The division has seen consistent sales growth since the pandemic, although it faces public backlash over rising ticket prices, which range from $104 to $206 [10][12]. Strategic Initiatives - Disney has committed to investing up to $60 billion over the next decade to expand its resorts, including new attractions and a licensed theme park in the Middle East [12]. - D'Amaro's familiarity with Disney's culture and his long tenure at the company, nearly three decades, are seen as advantages over his competitors [15][16]. Succession Context - Iger, who returned to the CEO role in late 2022, has indicated he will step down after his contract expires in early 2026, prompting the current succession discussions [4][18]. - Other candidates like ESPN's Jimmy Pitaro and Disney Entertainment co-Chair Alan Bergman are now viewed as long shots for the CEO position [5][4].

Core Insights - Walt Disney reported better-than-expected quarterly results and raised its annual profit forecast, driven by growth in its streaming business, which is central to its future strategy [1][5] - The company entered significant deals with the NFL and WWE to enhance its ESPN streaming service, priced at $29.99 per month, providing access to major sporting events [1][4] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share increased by 16% year-over-year to $1.61, surpassing analyst expectations of $1.47 [2] - For the fiscal year ending in September, Disney projected adjusted EPS of $5.85, a 10-cent increase from previous forecasts [5] Streaming Business Growth - Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions rose by 2.6 million to 183 million, contributing to a 6% revenue increase in the direct-to-consumer segment, which reported an operating income of $346 million, a significant improvement from a loss of $19 million a year ago [8] - The company anticipates adding 10 million Disney+ and Hulu subscribers in the current quarter, primarily through an expanded partnership with Charter [7] Theme Parks and Other Segments - The parks division saw a 13% increase in operating income to $2.5 billion, with domestic parks profits rising by 22% despite new competition from Universal's Epic Universe [9] - Walt Disney World in Orlando achieved record revenue for the quarter [10] Sports Unit Performance - The sports unit's operating income increased by 29% to $1 billion, although domestic ESPN profit fell by 3% due to higher programming and production costs [10]