Media

What to Expect When Disney Reports After the Close

Chris Lange

Published: November 8, 2018 11:15 am

Last Updated: January 11, 2020 3:11 pm

Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) is set to report its fiscal fourth-quarter financial results after the markets close on Thursday. Consensus estimates call for the Mouse House to have $1.34 in earnings per share (EPS) and $13.73 billion in revenue. The same period of last year reportedly had $1.07 in EPS and $12.78 billion in revenue.

Through October 14, Disney’s held 29.5% of the domestic box office market, which gives it a total of $2.75 billion. Next on the market share list, Warner Bros. is at 14.6%, or $1.36 billion. That is followed by Universal at 13.2% for $1.23 billion, Sony at 10.9% or $1.02 billion, and 20th Century Fox at 8.6% or $806 million.

Disney’s success is due to a few blockbusters. “Black Panther” broke several records on its way to domestic ticket sales of $700 million. “Avengers: Infinity War” brought in $678 million. “Incredibles 2” brought in $607 million. Each of the movies opened some time ago: “Black Panther” on February 14, “Infinity War” on April 27 and “Incredibles 2” on June 15.

Disney has several other movies to be released this year that could help it hold its studio share lead. “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2” is a follow-up on a successful animated feature. “Mary Poppins Returns” is also expected to post huge ticket sales.

Excluding Thursday’s move, Disney has outperformed the broad markets, with its stock up about 15% in the past 52 weeks. In just 2018 alone the stock is up 9%.

A few analysts weighed in on Disney ahead of the report:

• Barclays has an Overweight rating with a $130 price target.
• Morgan Stanley has an Overweight rating and a $135 target.
• Pivotal Research has a Sell rating with a $95 price target.
• RBC has a Buy rating with a $140 price target.
• BMO Capital Markets rates it as Market Perform with a $110 target.

Shares of Disney were last seen trading down less than 1% at $116.514, in a 52-week range of $97.68 to $119.69. The consensus analyst price target is $120.49.