Stock Traders Buy Large Volume of Walt Disney Call Options (NYSE:DIS)

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) was the target of unusually large options trading on Monday. Stock traders acquired 47,181 call options on the stock. This is an increase of 21% compared to the average daily volume of 38,855 call options.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Brent Woodford sold 7,238 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.31, for a total value of $762,233.78. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 62,323 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,563,235.13. The trade was a 10.41% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Paul M. Roeder sold 3,596 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.32, for a total value of $382,326.72. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.17% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Highland Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Walt Disney during the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Swiss RE Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Walt Disney during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Curio Wealth LLC increased its holdings in shares of Walt Disney by 110.4% in the fourth quarter. Curio Wealth LLC now owns 223 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares during the period. Osbon Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Walt Disney during the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Finally, Sfam LLC bought a new position in Walt Disney in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.71% of the company’s stock.

Walt Disney Stock Performance

Shares of DIS traded up $2.51 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $110.29. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 6,734,796 shares, compared to its average volume of 10,547,905. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $99.95 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $101.44. Walt Disney has a 52-week low of $92.18 and a 52-week high of $119.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.71 and a quick ratio of 0.65. The company has a market cap of $190.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.74, a PEG ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 1.39.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 5th. The entertainment giant reported $2.06 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.86 by $0.20. Walt Disney had a net margin of 8.70% and a return on equity of 9.90%. The company had revenue of $25.25 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.39 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.61 EPS. Walt Disney’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. Walt Disney has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.642-6.642 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Walt Disney will post 6.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

More Walt Disney News

Here are the key news stories impacting Walt Disney this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Formula E expands Disney+’s live-sports lineup. Disney secured a multiyear agreement to stream Formula E across 144 territories beginning with the 2026–27 season. Live races, qualifying, replays, and related programming could improve Disney+’s subscriber retention and strengthen its sports offering. Disney Adds Formula E to Disney+: Can Live Sports Strengthen its Streaming Business?
• Positive Sentiment: Theme-park collectibles are attracting strong demand. A Disney auction reportedly generated more than $100,000 for certain collectibles, highlighting the monetization potential of the company’s intellectual property and fan base, though the direct financial impact is limited. Disney Auction Sends Theme Park Collectibles Soaring Past $100K
• Neutral Sentiment: New theme-park merchandise and attractions maintain engagement. Star Wars apparel, a Polar Mouse Droid, and a planned reimagining of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress may support guest interest and per-capita spending, but are unlikely to materially affect near-term earnings. Polar Mouse Droid and Star Wars Shirts Available at Walt Disney World
• Neutral Sentiment: Jim Cramer commentary offers limited new information. Coverage notes Cramer’s interest in Disney’s cruise business while also highlighting that DIS has underperformed over the past year. The remarks may influence sentiment but do not change Disney’s fundamentals. Jim Cramer Wanted to Own The Walt Disney Company
• Negative Sentiment: Allegations involving a former film production create reputational and legal risk. An actress alleges Disney knew about rapes connected with the 2001 film The Poof Point. The claims could lead to litigation, costs, and renewed scrutiny, although the reports do not establish liability. Disney Knew About Rapes on 2001’s Poof Point Film, Actress Alleges
• Negative Sentiment: Cost reductions and customer-service complaints weigh on sentiment. Reports of job cuts and reduced employee benefits point to higher healthcare costs and ongoing expense pressure. Separately, an alleged failure to accommodate a solo disabled guest could create reputational and potential compliance concerns. Disney to Cut Employee Benefits
• Negative Sentiment: Snow White’s reported flop underscores film-studio execution risk. The film’s weak performance and resulting losses reinforce concerns about costly content bets, even as Disney’s broader streaming and experiences businesses remain important earnings drivers. Disney’s Snow White Flop Explained

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

DIS has been the subject of a number of research reports. Phillip Securities upgraded Walt Disney from a “moderate buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, May 11th. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $115.00 target price on shares of Walt Disney in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. Wolfe Research set a $131.00 price target on shares of Walt Disney in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. Needham & Company LLC reissued a “buy” rating and set a $125.00 target price on shares of Walt Disney in a research report on Friday, June 12th. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of Walt Disney from $145.00 to $135.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $127.61.

About Walt Disney

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), commonly known as Disney, is a diversified global entertainment and media conglomerate headquartered in Burbank, California. Founded in 1923 by Walt and Roy O. Disney, the company grew from an animation studio into a multi?national entertainment enterprise known for iconic intellectual property and family?oriented storytelling. Disney’s operations span film and television production, streaming services, theme parks and resorts, consumer products, and live entertainment.

On the content side, Disney produces and distributes feature films and television programming through a portfolio of studios and labels that includes Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm and 20th Century Studios, along with broadcast and cable networks such as ABC, FX and National Geographic.