The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) Short Interest Down 8.9% in January

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) was the target of a large drop in short interest in the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 17,610,000 shares, a drop of 8.9% from the January 15th total of 19,340,000 shares. Currently, 1.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 9,640,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.8 days.

Walt Disney Trading Down 0.8 %

NYSE:DIS opened at $109.48 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $111.06 and a 200-day moving average price of $102.02. The stock has a market cap of $197.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.66, a P/E/G ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a current ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. Walt Disney has a 12 month low of $83.91 and a 12 month high of $123.74.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 net margin of 6.07% and a return on equity of 9.95%. Equities analysts predict that Walt Disney will post 5.43 EPS for the current year.

Walt Disney Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on DIS shares. Rosenblatt Securities restated a “buy” rating and issued a $135.00 target price on shares of Walt Disney in a research note on Monday, February 10th. Loop Capital upped their price objective on shares of Walt Disney from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of Walt Disney from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their target price for the company from $100.00 to $147.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. 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. Finally, Guggenheim lifted their price objective on shares of Walt Disney from $110.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $125.85.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Robert A. Iger sold 372,412 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.57, for a total value of $42,667,242.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 226,767 shares in the company, valued at approximately $25,980,695.19. This trade represents a 62.15 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Brent Woodford sold 8,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.74, for a total transaction of $917,920.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 44,055 shares in the company, valued at $5,054,870.70. This trade represents a 15.37 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.16% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Walt Disney

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Mpwm Advisory Solutions LLC purchased a new position in Walt Disney during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Walt Disney during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Tacita Capital Inc boosted its position in shares of Walt Disney by 93.2% in the 4th quarter. Tacita Capital Inc now owns 257 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Pilgrim Partners Asia Pte Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Walt Disney in the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Midwest Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Walt Disney during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Institutional investors own 65.71% of the company’s stock.

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.