The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) Shares Bought by Arizona State Retirement System

Arizona State Retirement System lifted its holdings in shares of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) by 0.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 525,958 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,247 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System’s holdings in Walt Disney were worth $58,565,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. purchased a new position in Walt Disney in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Tacita Capital Inc raised its stake in shares of Walt Disney by 93.2% during the 4th quarter. Tacita Capital Inc now owns 257 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. Midwest Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Walt Disney during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Walt Disney in the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, Hager Investment Management Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Walt Disney during the 4th quarter worth approximately $43,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.71% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related 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 transaction of $917,920.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 44,055 shares in the company, 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 this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.16% of the company’s stock.

Walt Disney Stock Down 3.5 %

Shares of NYSE:DIS opened at $108.87 on Wednesday. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $110.63 and its 200-day simple moving average is $103.80. The Walt Disney Company has a fifty-two week low of $83.91 and a fifty-two week high of $123.74. The company has a market cap of $196.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.46, a PEG ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) last announced its 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 net margin of 6.07% and a return on equity of 9.95%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that The Walt Disney Company will post 5.47 earnings per share for the current year.

Walt Disney Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 23rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 24th will be issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 24th. This is an increase from Walt Disney’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.45. This represents a dividend yield of 0.6%. Walt Disney’s payout ratio is 32.57%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on DIS. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price target on shares of Walt Disney from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Prescient Securities dropped their target price on Walt Disney from $130.00 to $115.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on shares of Walt Disney from $115.00 to $131.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Rosenblatt Securities reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $135.00 price objective on shares of Walt Disney in a research note on Monday, February 10th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Walt Disney in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $120.00 price target on the stock. Six research 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. According to MarketBeat, Walt Disney presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $125.64.

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.