Disney CEO Bob Iger Plans to Step Down, Succession Talks Intensify
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1h ago
0mins
Source: Benzinga
- Succession Talks Heat Up: Disney CEO Bob Iger plans to step down before his contract expires, with the board set to vote on a successor next week, indicating significant governance changes that could impact investor confidence.
- Earnings Outlook Decline: Disney is expected to report Q1 FY2026 earnings of $1.58 per share, down from $1.76 a year ago, reflecting challenges between streaming and traditional TV businesses that may affect stock performance.
- Stock Price Volatility: DIS stock gained about 3% at the start of 2025 but has struggled to maintain momentum from a June high of $124.69, indicating market uncertainty regarding the company's future performance, which could influence investor decisions.
- Potential Successor List: Disney's theme parks chief Josh D'Amaro is seen as a frontrunner for the CEO position, with the board expected to make a decision this quarter, potentially impacting the company's strategic direction and market competitiveness.
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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's Q1 Earnings Expectations Set for Release
- Earnings Announcement: The Walt Disney Company is set to release its Q1 earnings on February 2, with analysts forecasting earnings of $1.58 per share, down from $1.76 in the previous year, indicating potential profitability challenges ahead.
- Revenue Forecast: Analysts estimate Disney's quarterly revenue at $25.6 billion, an increase from $24.69 billion last year, suggesting that despite challenges, the company may still exhibit revenue growth potential.
- Stock Price Target: Citigroup analyst Jason Bazinet has maintained a Buy rating on Disney but lowered the price target from $145 to $140, reflecting a cautious market sentiment regarding Disney's future performance.
- Dividend Yield Focus: With an annual dividend yield of 1.34% and a quarterly dividend of 37.5 cents per share, investors would need approximately 4,000 shares to generate a monthly income of $500, highlighting the importance of dividends for investor returns.
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Disney CEO Bob Iger Plans to Step Down, Succession Talks Intensify
- Succession Talks Heat Up: Disney CEO Bob Iger plans to step down before his contract expires, with the board set to vote on a successor next week, indicating significant governance changes that could impact investor confidence.
- Earnings Outlook Decline: Disney is expected to report Q1 FY2026 earnings of $1.58 per share, down from $1.76 a year ago, reflecting challenges between streaming and traditional TV businesses that may affect stock performance.
- Stock Price Volatility: DIS stock gained about 3% at the start of 2025 but has struggled to maintain momentum from a June high of $124.69, indicating market uncertainty regarding the company's future performance, which could influence investor decisions.
- Potential Successor List: Disney's theme parks chief Josh D'Amaro is seen as a frontrunner for the CEO position, with the board expected to make a decision this quarter, potentially impacting the company's strategic direction and market competitiveness.
Continue Reading