Impax Asset Management Group plc Trims Stock Holdings in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)

Impax Asset Management Group plc trimmed its holdings in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) by 19.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 517,461 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock after selling 126,556 shares during the period. Impax Asset Management Group plc’s holdings in Walt Disney were worth $57,619,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in DIS. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its stake in Walt Disney by 4.7% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 107,880 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $10,377,000 after buying an additional 4,878 shares in the last quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Walt Disney by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 66,531 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock worth $6,400,000 after buying an additional 1,782 shares during the last quarter. Modera Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Walt Disney by 2.6% in the third quarter. Modera Wealth Management LLC now owns 105,663 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock worth $10,164,000 after buying an additional 2,657 shares during the period. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale lifted its stake in Walt Disney by 5.3% in the third quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 1,416,537 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $135,398,000 after buying an additional 71,908 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bristlecone Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Walt Disney by 3.0% during the third quarter. Bristlecone Advisors LLC now owns 42,462 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock worth $4,084,000 after acquiring an additional 1,233 shares during the last quarter. 65.71% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Walt Disney Trading Down 1.7 %

Shares of Walt Disney stock opened at $108.62 on Monday. 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 company’s fifty day moving average price is $110.70 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $102.58. The Walt Disney Company has a 52-week low of $83.91 and a 52-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.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The entertainment giant reported $1.76 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, analysts expect that The Walt Disney Company will post 5.47 EPS for the current year.

Walt Disney Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 16th. Investors of record on Monday, December 16th were issued a $0.50 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 0.6%. This is a boost from Walt Disney’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.45. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 16th. Walt Disney’s payout ratio is currently 32.57%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Walt Disney

In other Walt Disney news, EVP Brent Woodford sold 8,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.74, for a total value of $917,920.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 44,055 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,054,870.70. This represents a 15.37 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.16% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have weighed in on DIS. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Walt Disney in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $120.00 target price for the company. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Walt Disney from $120.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Walt Disney from $116.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Prescient Securities cut their target price on shares of Walt Disney from $130.00 to $115.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Loop Capital upped their price target on Walt Disney from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $125.44.

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.