Raymond James Financial Upgrades Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) to “Outperform”

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) was upgraded by research analysts at Raymond James Financial from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research report issued on Wednesday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The brokerage currently has a $115.00 price target on the entertainment giant’s stock. Raymond James Financial’s price objective would suggest a potential upside of 18.94% from the stock’s previous close.

DIS has been the topic of several other reports. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $125.00 target price on shares of Walt Disney in a research note on Tuesday. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Walt Disney from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Walt Disney from $150.00 to $148.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 27th. Guggenheim cut their price objective on Walt Disney from $140.00 to $115.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 18th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on Walt Disney from $136.00 to $132.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Eighteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $132.81.

Walt Disney Stock Performance

NYSE DIS opened at $96.69 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $171.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.22, a P/E/G ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.67 and a quick ratio of 0.61. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $103.24 and a two-hundred day moving average of $108.38. Walt Disney has a 1-year low of $80.10 and a 1-year high of $124.69.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 2nd. The entertainment giant reported $1.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.57 by $0.06. Walt Disney had a net margin of 12.80% and a return on equity of 8.90%. The company had revenue of $25.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.54 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.40 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that Walt Disney will post 5.47 EPS for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Walt Disney

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Copeland Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Walt Disney during the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. Swiss RE Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Walt Disney during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Curio Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Walt Disney by 110.4% in the 4th quarter. Curio Wealth LLC now owns 223 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 117 shares in the last quarter. Osbon Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Walt Disney in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Finally, Sfam LLC purchased a new position in shares of Walt Disney in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. 65.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Walt Disney News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Walt Disney this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Raymond James upgraded DIS to Outperform and raised its thesis on valuation and improving streaming profitability, supporting upside at current prices. Disney Stock Gets an Upgrade. Why Analysts Say It Looks Cheap.
• Positive Sentiment: Needham reiterated a Buy on Disney, reinforcing analyst conviction that the shares look attractive after recent weakness. Needham & Company LLC Reiterates “Buy” Rating for Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS)
• Positive Sentiment: Disney’s Experiences business is receiving a boost from big investments — Disneyland Paris opened a $2.2B World of Frozen expansion, which supports long-term park growth and monetization. Should Disneyland Paris’ $2.2 Billion World of Frozen Expansion Require Action From Walt Disney (DIS) Investors?
• Positive Sentiment: Promotions targeting Disney+ members (summer hotel rates from ~$99/night) and new ticketing options aim to drive incremental park occupancy and ancillary revenue this summer. Disney+ Subscribers Can Save on Walt Disney World Hotel Rooms This Summer, As Low As $99/Night
• Neutral Sentiment: Disney launched “after 2 PM” summer ticket options — could increase day-part pricing flexibility and attract budget-conscious visitors, but revenue impact is uncertain. Disney World rolls out tickets for park entry after 2 p.m.
• Neutral Sentiment: D23 2026 logistics and ticketing were disclosed (including pricing teasers) — positive for fan engagement but mostly a long‑lead events driver rather than immediate revenue. Disney Reveals D23 2026 Details, Including Ticket Prices, When Tickets Go on Sale, and a Tease of the ‘Largest and Most Innovative D23 Show Floor’
• Neutral Sentiment: Disney’s potential OpenAI partnership appears to have stalled; management is redirecting AI efforts — strategic implications remain mixed and longer-term. Disney’s OpenAI Investment Is Over. Here’s Where the Company Is Focusing Its Efforts in 2026.
• Negative Sentiment: Operational issues: shuttle shutdowns, new transport rules and a crackdown on parking “hacks” are generating guest friction and negative press — potential short-term headwinds to guest satisfaction and park throughput. DISNEY TRANSPORT TROUBLES: Shuttle Shutdown & New Rules Snarl Guest Access
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst target trims from Wells Fargo and Deutsche Bank (and a slight fair‑value haircut by some shops) signal cautious views on near-term fundamentals, weighing on upside. Wells Fargo Trims PT on The Walt Disney Company (DIS) Amid Softer Growth Narrative
• Negative Sentiment: Governance/legal and dividend talk: coverage flagged a $50M settlement and questions around dividend sustainability under new leadership — a potential negative for income-focused investors. Is Disney’s Dividend Safe? A $50M Settlement and a New CEO Put It to the Test

About Walt Disney

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), commonly known as Disney, is a diversified global entertainment and media conglomerate headquartered in Burbank, California. Founded in 1923 by Walt and Roy O. Disney, the company grew from an animation studio into a multi‑national entertainment enterprise known for iconic intellectual property and family‑oriented storytelling. Disney’s operations span film and television production, streaming services, theme parks and resorts, consumer products, and live entertainment.

On the content side, Disney produces and distributes feature films and television programming through a portfolio of studios and labels that includes Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm and 20th Century Studios, along with broadcast and cable networks such as ABC, FX and National Geographic.