South Dakota Investment Council Reduces Stake in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)

South Dakota Investment Council reduced its stake in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) by 1.8% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 238,999 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock after selling 4,300 shares during the period. South Dakota Investment Council’s holdings in Walt Disney were worth $26,613,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA purchased a new stake in Walt Disney in the 4th quarter valued at $1,621,000. World Equity Group Inc. grew its holdings in Walt Disney by 37.7% in the 4th quarter. World Equity Group Inc. now owns 7,778 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $866,000 after buying an additional 2,131 shares in the last quarter. Delta Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Walt Disney in the 4th quarter valued at $1,615,000. Summit Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Walt Disney in the 4th quarter valued at $212,000. Finally, Cabot Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Walt Disney by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Cabot Wealth Management Inc. now owns 97,192 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock worth $10,822,000 after purchasing an additional 2,842 shares during the period. 65.71% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Brent Woodford sold 8,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.74, for a total transaction of $917,920.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 44,055 shares in the company, valued at $5,054,870.70. This trade represents a 15.37 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.16% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on DIS shares. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Walt Disney from $137.00 to $139.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Guggenheim raised their target price on Walt Disney from $110.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Loop Capital raised their target price on Walt Disney from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Redburn Atlantic upgraded Walt Disney from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their target price for the company from $100.00 to $147.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Bank of America raised their target price on Walt Disney from $120.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $125.44.

Walt Disney Price Performance

Shares of NYSE DIS opened at $108.62 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.68. The Walt Disney Company has a fifty-two week low of $83.91 and a fifty-two week high of $123.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $196.37 billion, a PE ratio of 35.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.42. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $110.70 and its 200-day simple moving average is $102.49.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The entertainment giant reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.44 by $0.32. Walt Disney had a return on equity of 9.95% and a net margin of 6.07%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that The Walt Disney Company will post 5.47 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Walt Disney Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 16th. Investors of record on Monday, December 16th were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 16th. This is an increase from Walt Disney’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.45. Walt Disney’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 32.57%.

Walt Disney Company Profile

The Walt Disney Company operates as an entertainment company worldwide. It operates through three segments: Entertainment, Sports, and Experiences. The company produces and distributes film and television video streaming content under the ABC Television Network, Disney, Freeform, FX, Fox, National Geographic, and Star brand television channels, as well as ABC television stations and A+E television networks; and produces original content under the ABC Signature, Disney Branded Television, FX Productions, Lucasfilm, Marvel, National Geographic Studios, Pixar, Searchlight Pictures, Twentieth Century Studios, 20th Television, and Walt Disney Pictures banners.