Disney Board to Appoint New CEO Josh D'Amaro
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1h ago
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Source: seekingalpha
- New CEO Candidate: Disney's board plans to vote next week to appoint theme park unit chairman Josh D'Amaro as the new CEO, and if approved, he will succeed Bob Iger, indicating a strategic shift in leadership during a critical transition period for the company.
- Iger's Resignation Intent: Bob Iger wishes to resign before his contract expires on December 31, a decision that could significantly impact Disney's future strategic direction, especially ahead of the upcoming earnings report.
- D'Amaro's Career Background: Having joined Disney in 1998, D'Amaro has held key roles in theme parks across California, Florida, and Hong Kong, and his internal promotion reflects the company's emphasis on leveraging existing talent for leadership roles.
- Upcoming Earnings Report: Disney is set to report its FQ1 earnings on February 2 and will hold its annual shareholder meeting on March 18, events that will provide crucial market context and performance benchmarks for the new CEO's tenure.
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Analyst Views on DIS
Wall Street analysts forecast DIS stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for DIS is 137.29 USD with a low forecast of 123.00 USD and a high forecast of 152.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
19 Analyst Rating
16 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 111.580
Low
123.00
Averages
137.29
High
152.00
Current: 111.580
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 Earnings Preview: Streaming and Traditional TV Challenges
- Streaming Profitability: Disney's streaming segment, led by Disney+, has recently turned profitable, although the decline in traditional TV subscribers has weighed on overall performance, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in the company's transformation.
- Earnings Expectations: Wall Street anticipates Disney's first fiscal quarter earnings per share to be $1.57 adjusted, with revenue expected to reach $25.74 billion, reflecting investor focus on its streaming and theme park businesses.
- Theme Park Investment: Disney has committed to investing $60 billion in its theme parks over the next decade; despite potential economic pressures on consumer spending, its cruise business remains strong, demonstrating resilience in its experiences segment.
- CEO Succession Race: Amid Bob Iger's impending retirement, Disney is facing a competitive race for CEO succession, expected to select a new chief in early 2026, likely either Josh D'Amaro or Dana Walden, which will have significant implications for the company's strategic direction.
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Disney's Upcoming Financial Report and Strategic Moves
- Financial Report Date: Disney is set to release its financial results on February 2, with analysts predicting a 4% revenue increase but a 10% decline in earnings per share, which could directly impact investor confidence and lead to stock price fluctuations.
- CEO Succession: The Disney board is expected to announce a new CEO soon, with internal candidates like Josh D'Amaro and Dana Walden, a decision that will have profound implications for the company's strategic direction.
- Theme Park Expansion Plans: Disney may disclose timelines for theme park expansions, particularly after the opening of Epic Universe, which could affect visitor numbers and revenue at Disney parks.
- Muppet Show Return: Disney will relaunch The Muppet Show on February 4, which could attract a new generation of viewers, enhance brand influence, and boost merchandise sales.
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