Disney's 2026 Film Slate Promises Growth
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 23 2026
0mins
Should l Buy DIS?
Source: Fool
- Strong Film Lineup: Disney is set to release multiple films in 2026, including Avengers: Doomsday, Toy Story 5, and Moana, which are expected to generate billions in box office revenue, further solidifying its leadership in the global film market.
- Earnings Growth Potential: Should these films perform as anticipated, Disney could see earnings growth and valuation expansion, creating significant returns for investors and enhancing the company's overall market performance.
- Positive Market Reaction: Based on market prices from February 13, 2026, investors are optimistic about Disney's future film performance, reflecting confidence in the anticipated success of its new slate.
- Clear Strategic Positioning: By launching several high-budget blockbusters, Disney is not only reinforcing its brand influence but also actively positioning itself for future market competition, aiming to attract a broader audience through content diversification.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy DIS?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on DIS
Wall Street analysts forecast DIS stock price to rise
19 Analyst Rating
16 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 96.560
Low
123.00
Averages
137.29
High
152.00
Current: 96.560
Low
123.00
Averages
137.29
High
152.00
About DIS
The Walt Disney Company is a diversified worldwide entertainment company. The Company's segments include Entertainment, Sports and Experiences. The Entertainment segment generally encompasses its non-sports focused global film and episodic content production and distribution activities. The lines of business within the Entertainment segment along with their business activities include Linear Networks, Direct-to-Consumer, and Content Sales/Licensing. The Sports segment encompasses its sports-focused global television and direct-to-consumer (DTC) video streaming content production and distribution activities. The lines of business within the Sports segment include ESPN and Star. The Experiences segment includes Parks and Experiences and Consumer Products. Parks and Experiences consists of Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Disneyland Resort in California, Disney Cruise Line, and others. Consumer Products includes licensing of its trade names, characters, visual, literary and other IP.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Disney Ends Partnership with OpenAI as Sora Model Shuts Down
- Partnership Termination: Disney's collaboration with OpenAI has ended due to the shutdown of the Sora text-to-video AI model, which also cancels a planned $1 billion investment, highlighting uncertainty in Disney's tech investment strategy.
- Market Valuation: OpenAI's current valuation stands at $852 billion, enough to acquire five Disneys, indicating that while Disney may miss out on participating in OpenAI's IPO funding, it could refocus on internal growth opportunities.
- Theme Park Investment: Disney plans to invest $60 billion over the next decade to upgrade its theme parks and expand its cruise fleet, emphasizing its commitment to enhancing guest experiences, which is expected to attract more visitors and boost revenue.
- Content Production Focus: With its streaming business now profitable, Disney will increase investments in high-budget films, including Toy Story 5 and Avengers: Doomsday, further solidifying its leadership position in the entertainment industry.
See More
OpenAI Shuts Down Sora, Ending Disney's $1 Billion Investment
- Sora Shutdown: OpenAI's decision to shut down its text-to-video model Sora not only jeopardizes its financial health but also nullifies Disney's planned $1 billion investment, which was aimed at integrating iconic characters into AI outputs.
- Lost Investment Opportunity: The collaboration was expected to provide Disney access to classic characters, but with Sora's closure, this potential market expansion opportunity is lost, impacting Disney's strategic positioning in the AI landscape.
- Future Investment Focus: Despite the setback with OpenAI, Disney plans to invest $60 billion over the next decade in expanding its theme parks and cruise lines, indicating a strategic pivot back to its core business to remain competitive in the entertainment sector.
- Content Production Emphasis: Disney is set to increase its investment in content production, with major releases like Toy Story 5 and Avengers: Doomsday planned for this year, aiming to enhance its competitiveness in the streaming market and ensure long-term profitability.
See More
Media Stocks Face Increased Short Selling Pressure
- Short Selling Landscape: As of the end of March, Sphere Entertainment leads the communications services sector with a short interest of 24.60%, indicating significant market skepticism about its future performance, which could lead to further stock price declines.
- EchoStar's Position: EchoStar follows closely with a short interest of 19.96%, ranking second among communication services stocks with a market cap over $2 billion, reflecting investor concerns about its financial health and potentially impacting its ability to raise capital.
- Sector Performance: The communications services sector (XLC) has fallen over 6% year-to-date, compared to a nearly 4% decline in the broader market, suggesting greater market pressures on this sector that could affect the investment appeal of related companies.
- Divergent Ratings: While Sphere Entertainment receives a Strong Buy rating from Seeking Alpha (4.96 score), EchoStar is rated as Hold, yet both stocks are rated Buy by Wall Street analysts, indicating differing perspectives on their potential for recovery.
See More
Analysis of Market Impact from Iran War
- Surging Oil Prices: The ongoing Iran war has led to a significant increase in global oil prices, with approximately 20% of the world's oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in an overall market decline and expected long-term economic impacts.
- Extended Rebuilding Timeline: The reconstruction of LNG assets is projected to take 3-5 years, and if the conflict persists, this timeline may extend further, posing greater challenges to the global economy.
- Supply Chain Complexity: The current issues are more complex than mere supply shortages, particularly with Qatar's LNG facilities damaged, leading to uncertain recovery times that could affect production across multiple industries.
- Investor Sentiment Deterioration: The S&P 500 has dropped about 4% year-to-date, with the fear and greed index falling to 17, indicating a heightened fear among investors regarding future market conditions, which may lead to increased market volatility.
See More
Tiger Woods Steps Back from Golf Following Car Accident
- Health Comes First: Tiger Woods has decided to step back from golf following a rollover car accident, stating he will focus on recovery without providing a specific timeline for his return, a move that could impact his standing in professional golf.
- Career Reflection: Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee suggested that Woods should consider retirement, questioning the necessity of continuing to compete after multiple injuries, which has sparked widespread discussion about his future in the sport.
- Event Support: Although Woods will miss the upcoming Masters Tournament, Chairman Fred Ridley emphasized the tournament's full support for Woods, highlighting that his influence extends beyond his achievements on the course, showcasing the golf community's concern for his well-being.
- Brand and Foundation Support: Woods' education foundation and apparel brand Sun Day Red both expressed their support for him, emphasizing their commitment to serving students and communities while he focuses on his health, reflecting Woods' impact beyond the golf realm.
See More
Communication Services ETF Faces Tough Q1 Amid Geopolitical Tensions
- Market Sentiment Turmoil: The Communication Services ETF (XLC) declined by 5.17% in Q1 due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, closely mirroring the S&P 500's 4.8% drop, indicating a significant hit to investor confidence.
- Sector Performance Disparity: The Media & Entertainment sector lost over 13% in Q1, while the Telecommunication Services sector gained nearly 15%, highlighting the varying resilience of different sub-industries amid market volatility.
- Outflow Situation: XLC experienced a net outflow of $1.53 billion during the quarter, reflecting diminished investor confidence in the sector, which could impact future capital allocation and investment strategies.
- Analyst Cautious Outlook: Despite a buy rating of 3.66 for XLC, analysts express caution regarding its future performance, citing high concentration and emerging technical weaknesses that may lead to a downward price movement towards $106, presenting a potential buying opportunity.
See More
Disney Ends Partnership with OpenAI as Sora Model Shuts Down
- Partnership Termination: Disney's collaboration with OpenAI has ended due to the shutdown of the Sora text-to-video AI model, which also cancels a planned $1 billion investment, highlighting uncertainty in Disney's tech investment strategy.
- Market Valuation: OpenAI's current valuation stands at $852 billion, enough to acquire five Disneys, indicating that while Disney may miss out on participating in OpenAI's IPO funding, it could refocus on internal growth opportunities.
- Theme Park Investment: Disney plans to invest $60 billion over the next decade to upgrade its theme parks and expand its cruise fleet, emphasizing its commitment to enhancing guest experiences, which is expected to attract more visitors and boost revenue.
- Content Production Focus: With its streaming business now profitable, Disney will increase investments in high-budget films, including Toy Story 5 and Avengers: Doomsday, further solidifying its leadership position in the entertainment industry.
See More
OpenAI Shuts Down Sora, Ending Disney's $1 Billion Investment
- Sora Shutdown: OpenAI's decision to shut down its text-to-video model Sora not only jeopardizes its financial health but also nullifies Disney's planned $1 billion investment, which was aimed at integrating iconic characters into AI outputs.
- Lost Investment Opportunity: The collaboration was expected to provide Disney access to classic characters, but with Sora's closure, this potential market expansion opportunity is lost, impacting Disney's strategic positioning in the AI landscape.
- Future Investment Focus: Despite the setback with OpenAI, Disney plans to invest $60 billion over the next decade in expanding its theme parks and cruise lines, indicating a strategic pivot back to its core business to remain competitive in the entertainment sector.
- Content Production Emphasis: Disney is set to increase its investment in content production, with major releases like Toy Story 5 and Avengers: Doomsday planned for this year, aiming to enhance its competitiveness in the streaming market and ensure long-term profitability.
See More
Media Stocks Face Increased Short Selling Pressure
- Short Selling Landscape: As of the end of March, Sphere Entertainment leads the communications services sector with a short interest of 24.60%, indicating significant market skepticism about its future performance, which could lead to further stock price declines.
- EchoStar's Position: EchoStar follows closely with a short interest of 19.96%, ranking second among communication services stocks with a market cap over $2 billion, reflecting investor concerns about its financial health and potentially impacting its ability to raise capital.
- Sector Performance: The communications services sector (XLC) has fallen over 6% year-to-date, compared to a nearly 4% decline in the broader market, suggesting greater market pressures on this sector that could affect the investment appeal of related companies.
- Divergent Ratings: While Sphere Entertainment receives a Strong Buy rating from Seeking Alpha (4.96 score), EchoStar is rated as Hold, yet both stocks are rated Buy by Wall Street analysts, indicating differing perspectives on their potential for recovery.
See More
Analysis of Market Impact from Iran War
- Surging Oil Prices: The ongoing Iran war has led to a significant increase in global oil prices, with approximately 20% of the world's oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in an overall market decline and expected long-term economic impacts.
- Extended Rebuilding Timeline: The reconstruction of LNG assets is projected to take 3-5 years, and if the conflict persists, this timeline may extend further, posing greater challenges to the global economy.
- Supply Chain Complexity: The current issues are more complex than mere supply shortages, particularly with Qatar's LNG facilities damaged, leading to uncertain recovery times that could affect production across multiple industries.
- Investor Sentiment Deterioration: The S&P 500 has dropped about 4% year-to-date, with the fear and greed index falling to 17, indicating a heightened fear among investors regarding future market conditions, which may lead to increased market volatility.
See More
Tiger Woods Steps Back from Golf Following Car Accident
- Health Comes First: Tiger Woods has decided to step back from golf following a rollover car accident, stating he will focus on recovery without providing a specific timeline for his return, a move that could impact his standing in professional golf.
- Career Reflection: Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee suggested that Woods should consider retirement, questioning the necessity of continuing to compete after multiple injuries, which has sparked widespread discussion about his future in the sport.
- Event Support: Although Woods will miss the upcoming Masters Tournament, Chairman Fred Ridley emphasized the tournament's full support for Woods, highlighting that his influence extends beyond his achievements on the course, showcasing the golf community's concern for his well-being.
- Brand and Foundation Support: Woods' education foundation and apparel brand Sun Day Red both expressed their support for him, emphasizing their commitment to serving students and communities while he focuses on his health, reflecting Woods' impact beyond the golf realm.
See More
Communication Services ETF Faces Tough Q1 Amid Geopolitical Tensions
- Market Sentiment Turmoil: The Communication Services ETF (XLC) declined by 5.17% in Q1 due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, closely mirroring the S&P 500's 4.8% drop, indicating a significant hit to investor confidence.
- Sector Performance Disparity: The Media & Entertainment sector lost over 13% in Q1, while the Telecommunication Services sector gained nearly 15%, highlighting the varying resilience of different sub-industries amid market volatility.
- Outflow Situation: XLC experienced a net outflow of $1.53 billion during the quarter, reflecting diminished investor confidence in the sector, which could impact future capital allocation and investment strategies.
- Analyst Cautious Outlook: Despite a buy rating of 3.66 for XLC, analysts express caution regarding its future performance, citing high concentration and emerging technical weaknesses that may lead to a downward price movement towards $106, presenting a potential buying opportunity.
See More
