finance
Disney Shares Rise 8% After New CEO Outlines Growth Strategy
Walt Disney’s new Chief Executive Josh D’Amaro presented the company’s strategy during its first-quarter earnings call, emphasizing creative excellence, streaming expansion, live sports and theme park investment. The company reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.57 on revenue of $25.2 billion, beating analyst estimates. Shares rose nearly 8 percent in early trading.
May 6, 11:18 AM·2m read1 source
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Walt Disney’s new Chief Executive Josh D’Amaro laid out the company’s strategy during its first-quarter earnings call on Wednesday. He said the entertainment company would remain committed to creative excellence, strengthen its streaming business, capitalize on the power of live sports and continue to invest in its theme parks and cruise lines.
“Our focus remains consistent — improve the consumer experience, deepen engagement, and continue building a healthy and more durable growth business,” D’Amaro said during the company’s first-quarter earnings call, his first at the helm of Disney. Investors responded by sending Disney’s stock up nearly 8 percent in early trading.
D’Amaro succeeded Bob Iger as Disney CEO in mid-March. He is steering the company through a consumer shift to streaming, the advent of artificial intelligence tools and a challenging economy affected by higher oil prices.
In a 10-page letter to shareholders, D’Amaro said he expected adjusted EPS growth for fiscal 2026, which ends in early October, to reach about 12 percent. He reiterated that Disney expects double-digit adjusted EPS growth for fiscal 2027. The entertainment giant reported adjusted earnings-per-share of $1.57 and revenue of $25.2 billion for the quarter ending in March.
Analysts on average had expected adjusted EPS of $1.49 and revenue of $24.78 billion.
The experiences division, which includes parks, cruise ships and consumer products, reported a 5 percent increase in operating income for the quarter. Guests spent more at US theme parks and cruise ships saw higher volume compared with the same period a year earlier.
