Walt Disney Co. experienced a significant boost in its stock price, soaring 7% following the announcement of better-than-expected quarterly earnings. The company’s board of directors also approved a share repurchase of $3 billion and declared a cash dividend of 45 cents per share, with payment scheduled for July 25th. Moreover, Disney provided guidance indicating a projected 20% increase in EPS for fiscal year 2024.
In addition to these positive financial results, Disney revealed its strategic investment of $1.5 billion in Epic Games Inc., the reputable publisher of the widely popular video game “Fortnite.”
For the fiscal first quarter, Disney reported a net income of $1.91 billion, or $1.04 per share. After adjusting for restructuring costs and other factors, the company’s earnings per share amounted to $1.22.
While overall revenue remained flat at $23.55 billion, Disney’s entertainment segment experienced a 7% decline, generating $9.9 billion in revenue. Conversely, the experiences segment saw a 7% increase, contributing $9.13 billion, while the sports segment, including ESPN, generated $4.84 billion.
These developments come at a crucial time for Disney, as the company prepares for an anticipated activist-investor confrontation during its upcoming annual shareholders meeting on April 3rd.
A Challenging Milestone for Disney’s 100th Anniversary
Despite hitting its milestone 100th anniversary, Disney faces a complex web of challenges. While trying to generate profits from its streaming business, Disney’s CEO Bob Iger also confronts activist investors adding to the predicament.
In an unexpected turn of events, investment firm Blackwells Capital is rallying shareholders to elect its three nominees to the board of directors. Additionally, Blackwells Capital proposes dividing Disney into three separate entities: sports, entertainment, and resorts. Another activist investor, Trian Partners, has put forward two candidates for Disney’s board.
ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Collaboration
Tuesday brought another exciting development as ESPN, Fox Corp., and Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. announced their collaboration in creating a joint sports streaming service. This upcoming service, expected to launch in the fall, will provide a sports programming experience similar to Hulu’s model.
Share Price Performance
Disney’s shares have experienced an 11% drop over the past year, while the S&P 500 has recorded a significant 21% climb.