Stock price when the opinion was issued
Spike in stock is due to fears of an economic slowdown being put at bay. Theme parks are expanding, but will depend on macro environment. ESPN is more challenged. Disney+ is challenged because NFLX is beating everybody. Paying 20x PE for 12-13% growth. Doesn't dislike the name, but some segments are having a tough go.
Mixed feelings. On the positive side, doing exceptionally well in streaming with a great library and great branding. Cross-sells better than anyone. Worried about the parks in the short term -- consumer slowdown, expecting global backlash against the US. Hard to bet against its 6-decade growth story for the long term. Balance sheet in fine shape, decent cashflow. Yield is 0.8%.
Streaming turned profitable by end of 2024, finally, after a reorganization, and is now a major growth driver. Theme parks have been the largest profit generator and they keep coming out with new parks; people are paying high amounts to enjoy them. He expects healthy earnings to come. They will announce a deal between their ESPN and the NFL--sports drives huge profits. Everything is going right, but they need to appoint a successor to Bob Iger.
Buy at these levels? He thinks it’s a buy. A classic juggernaut. Thinks the acquisitions of the FOX assets is going to go through. He’s seen good enough operations in the last 5 or 6 years and so consistent. The results are really good; 12-13% return year in year out. It is stretched on valuation, but he will pay for a good company over a lousy or one that looks super cheap. He is not too concerned about the ESPN situation with people cutting their cable subscription and going to Netflix. He thinks they will figure out a solution either stream it or whatever, the content is still there, it’s just a different platform, they will figure a way to monetize it.