Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) Trading Down 2% – What’s Next?

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)’s share price traded down 2% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $98.30 and last traded at $98.48. 1,585,824 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 83% from the average session volume of 9,450,755 shares. The stock had previously closed at $100.45.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Walt Disney in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. They set a “hold” rating and a $120.00 price target on the stock. Loop Capital increased their target price on shares of Walt Disney from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Walt Disney from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $125.00 price objective on shares of Walt Disney in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, Macquarie reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $110.00 price objective on shares of Walt Disney in a report on Monday, January 6th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Walt Disney presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $125.64.

Walt Disney Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.68 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The stock has a market cap of $177.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $107.31 and a 200-day simple moving average of $105.07.

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Walt Disney

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Mpwm Advisory Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of Walt Disney in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. purchased a new position in Walt Disney in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Tacita Capital Inc lifted its position in Walt Disney by 93.2% in the fourth quarter. Tacita Capital Inc now owns 257 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. Pilgrim Partners Asia Pte Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Walt Disney during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Midwest Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Walt Disney in the fourth quarter worth $34,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.71% of the company’s stock.

About Walt Disney

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.