Walt Disney Co’s stock price (NYSE: DIS) has started 2025 strongly, and recovered well from the 52 week lows of $80.10.
Recent developments, including the full acquisition of Hulu, strong second-quarter financial performance, workforce reductions, analyst upgrades, insider transactions, and shareholder-friendly initiatives, paint a complex yet promising picture for Disney’s future.
YOUR CAPITAL IS AT RISK
The Walt Disney Company Share Price Targets
Analysts have set a 12-month price target for The Walt Disney Company with an average expectation of $223.58, ranging from a high of $148.00 to a low of $79.00.
The current consensus average target suggests a potential increase of 5.04% from the most recent trading price.
Our View: You would be wise to consider the views of the analyst community in conjunction with the fundamentals surrounding the company to properly determine a value for the stock that you feel is appropriate.
At the upper end of analysts estimates it would be easy to get carried away with the potential gains on show, but the flipside is that these targets can shift within the blink of an eye and that the view of analysts is very dynamic.
If you are considering swing trading, or day trading Disney shares that is a separate consideration, but for those planning for the long haul, fundamental analysis is king.
The Walt Disney Company – The Basics Driving The Business
Disney’s core business segments encompass a vast and diverse portfolio: Disney Entertainment (streaming services like Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+; film and television studios), Experiences (theme parks, resorts, cruises, and merchandise), and ESPN (cable and direct-to-consumer sports broadcasting).
The company’s success hinges on its ability to seamlessly integrate these segments, leveraging its iconic intellectual property to create synergistic experiences across platforms.
Disney’s recent acquisition of the remaining 33% stake in Hulu from NBCUniversal for an additional $438.7 million marks a significant milestone in its streaming strategy. This move consolidates Disney’s control over the popular streaming service, boasting 54.7 million subscribers and a rich library of original content such as “The Bear” and “Only Murders in the Building.”
Full ownership of Hulu allows Disney to bundle it more effectively with Disney+ and the upcoming direct-to-consumer ESPN platform, creating a compelling value proposition for consumers and strengthening its competitive position against rivals like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Disney’s Experiences division, encompassing its theme parks, resorts, and cruise lines, has been a consistent revenue driver and a source of brand strength. The second quarter of 2025 saw robust performance in this segment, fueled by thriving domestic theme parks and the box office success of films like “Moana 2” and “Thunderbolts,” which boosted park attendance.
Disney is investing heavily in new attractions, immersive experiences, and expansion projects to maintain its competitive edge. The planned opening of a seventh theme park in Abu Dhabi underscores Disney’s commitment to global expansion and tapping into new markets.
In a move to streamline operations and adapt to changing media consumption patterns, Disney recently announced layoffs affecting several hundred employees across its film, television, and corporate finance divisions. This follows a larger cost-cutting initiative in 2023, which eliminated 7,000 jobs to save $5.5 billion.
These workforce reductions reflect the challenges of transitioning from traditional cable TV to streaming services, requiring Disney to optimize its cost structure and allocate resources to high-growth areas.
