Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) Stock Price Expected to Rise, Morgan Stanley Analyst Says

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) had its price objective upped by equities researchers at Morgan Stanley from $125.00 to $130.00 in a research note issued on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an “overweight” rating on the entertainment giant’s stock. Morgan Stanley’s price objective suggests a potential upside of 18.75% from the company’s previous close.

Several other research firms also recently weighed in on DIS. Piper Sandler assumed coverage on Walt Disney in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $95.00 price objective for the company. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Walt Disney in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. They set a “hold” rating and a $120.00 target price on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on Walt Disney from $115.00 to $131.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on Walt Disney from $128.00 to $134.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, November 18th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price objective on Walt Disney from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $125.85.

Walt Disney Stock Performance

Shares of DIS stock traded down $1.07 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $109.47. 1,928,599 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,082,548. The company has a market cap of $197.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 1.42. The company’s 50 day moving average is $112.11 and its two-hundred day moving average is $100.99. Walt Disney has a 1 year low of $83.91 and a 1 year high of $123.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 0.73 and a quick ratio of 0.67.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The entertainment giant reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.44 by $0.32. Walt Disney had a return on equity of 9.21% and a net margin of 5.44%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Walt Disney will post 5.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Brent Woodford sold 8,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.74, for a total transaction of $917,920.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 44,055 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,054,870.70. This represents a 15.37 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Robert A. Iger sold 372,412 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.57, for a total value of $42,667,242.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 226,767 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $25,980,695.19. This trade represents a 62.15 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 385,412 shares of company stock worth $44,153,263. 0.16% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Walt Disney

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Walt Disney during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Midwest Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Walt Disney in the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Walt Disney in the fourth quarter valued at $35,000. Hager Investment Management Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Walt Disney in the fourth quarter valued at $43,000. Finally, Providence First Trust Co purchased a new stake in shares of Walt Disney in the fourth quarter valued at $44,000. 65.71% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.