The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) Stake Reduced by Olstein Capital Management L.P.

Olstein Capital Management L.P. lowered its stake in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) by 12.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 137,500 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock after selling 19,500 shares during the quarter. Walt Disney accounts for 2.7% of Olstein Capital Management L.P.’s portfolio, making the stock its biggest position. Olstein Capital Management L.P.’s holdings in Walt Disney were worth $15,311,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC raised its position in Walt Disney by 7.8% during the 4th quarter. Patton Albertson Miller Group LLC now owns 52,865 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $5,887,000 after purchasing an additional 3,827 shares during the last quarter. Jacksonville Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Walt Disney during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $650,000. Insight Inv LLC raised its holdings in shares of Walt Disney by 8.6% during the fourth quarter. Insight Inv LLC now owns 18,757 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $2,089,000 after acquiring an additional 1,491 shares in the last quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp lifted its stake in Walt Disney by 8.0% in the fourth quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 62,852 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock worth $6,999,000 after acquiring an additional 4,642 shares during the period. Finally, Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Walt Disney by 38.1% in the fourth quarter. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC now owns 399 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $44,000 after acquiring an additional 110 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.71% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Brent Woodford sold 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.62, for a total transaction of $568,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 44,055 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,005,529.10. This represents a 10.19 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Robert A. Iger sold 372,412 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.57, for a total transaction of $42,667,242.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 226,767 shares in the company, valued at approximately $25,980,695.19. The trade was a 62.15 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 385,412 shares of company stock valued at $44,153,263 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on shares of Walt Disney from $115.00 to $131.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Raymond James restated a “market perform” rating on shares of Walt Disney in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Walt Disney from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Citigroup restated a “buy” rating and set a $125.00 price target on shares of Walt Disney in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Loop Capital increased their price objective on Walt Disney from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Walt Disney has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $125.52.

Walt Disney Trading Up 1.1 %

Walt Disney stock opened at $112.25 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 0.73 and a quick ratio of 0.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $203.28 billion, a PE ratio of 41.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 1.43. The business’s fifty day moving average is $112.46 and its 200 day moving average is $100.07. The Walt Disney Company has a one year low of $83.91 and a one year high of $123.74.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 14th. The entertainment giant reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.09 by $0.05. Walt Disney had a net margin of 5.44% and a return on equity of 9.21%. The firm had revenue of $22.57 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $22.49 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.82 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that The Walt Disney Company will post 5.41 EPS for the current year.

Walt Disney Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 16th were paid a $0.50 dividend. This is an increase from Walt Disney’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.45. This represents a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 16th. Walt Disney’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 36.90%.

Walt Disney Company Profile

The Walt Disney Company operates as an entertainment company worldwide. It operates through three segments: Entertainment, Sports, and Experiences. The company produces and distributes film and television video streaming content under the ABC Television Network, Disney, Freeform, FX, Fox, National Geographic, and Star brand television channels, as well as ABC television stations and A+E television networks; and produces original content under the ABC Signature, Disney Branded Television, FX Productions, Lucasfilm, Marvel, National Geographic Studios, Pixar, Searchlight Pictures, Twentieth Century Studios, 20th Television, and Walt Disney Pictures banners.