So, you’re looking at your portfolio and wondering if the "House of Mouse" is ever going to stop being a house of headaches. Honestly, I get it. For a while there, holding Disney stock felt like watching a movie where the hero keeps tripping over their own shoelaces. But if you're hunting for DIS stock news today, things are actually starting to look—dare I say—optimistic?
The stock has been hovering around that $111 mark lately, which is a far cry from the post-pandemic highs but also a healthy jump from the $80 lows we saw not too long ago.
Investors are basically holding their breath for February 2, 2026. That’s when Disney drops its fiscal Q1 earnings. It’s the "holiday quarter," and for Disney, that’s the big one. We’re talking about every kid getting a Moana doll for Christmas and every family braving the Florida humidity in December.
The Big Succession Mystery (And Why It Matters)
There is one name you’re going to hear constantly this month: James Gorman. He just took over as the Chairman of the Board. He’s the guy who ran Morgan Stanley and, more importantly, he’s the guy tasked with finding someone to replace Bob Iger.
Again.
We all remember the Bob Chapek era. It was... messy. The board has publicly stated they want to name a successor by early 2026. Since we are officially in early 2026, the clock is ticking.
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Rumor has it there are two internal favorites: Dana Walden and Josh D’Amaro. Dana is the "content queen" from the TV and film side, while Josh is the guy who runs the Parks. Some analysts, like the folks at Wells Fargo, are even whispering about a "co-CEO" situation. Whether that works or just creates twice the drama remains to be seen, but a clear name will finally remove the "leadership cloud" that's been hanging over the stock price.
Streaming Isn't Just a Money Pit Anymore
For years, Disney+ was like a boat with a hole in the bottom. They kept pouring money in, and it just disappeared. But guess what? They finally patched the hole.
The Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) segment is actually profitable now. In 2025, they saw operating income jump to $1.3 billion, which is a massive swing from the losses they were posting. For 2026, management is aiming for double-digit margins.
How are they doing it?
- The Bundle: Combining Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ is basically the new cable package. It keeps people from canceling.
- Ad Tiers: Honestly, people are tired of paying $20 a month for no ads. The cheaper ad-supported tier is growing like crazy and advertisers are paying a premium to be there.
- Password Crackdowns: Yeah, we all hate it, but it worked for Netflix and it’s working for Disney.
Parks, Cruises, and the "Construction Wall" Problem
If you’ve been to Disney World lately, you’ve probably noticed it looks a bit like a construction site. They’re calling it "WALL Disney World" for a reason.
The Experiences segment—which includes the parks and the cruise lines—is the company's real ATM. It accounts for over half of their operating profit. But there's a catch for 2026. Because of all the construction for new lands (like the Villains land at Magic Kingdom), some people are actually putting off their trips until 2027.
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To fight this, Disney is getting aggressive with discounts. We’re seeing $109-a-day ticket deals for Disney+ subscribers. It’s a smart move to keep the turnstiles moving while they wait for the big "Epic Universe" competition from Universal to open its doors.
Also, don't sleep on the cruises. The Disney Destiny just launched, and the Disney Adventure is hitting Asia in March. These ships are basically floating money-printing machines with much higher margins than the land-based parks.
The 2026 Movie Slate: Desperation or Genius?
Let's look at the box office. Disney had a rough 2023 and 2024, but 2026 is looking like a "greatest hits" tour.
- The Mandalorian & Grogu (May): The first Star Wars movie in theaters since 2019.
- Toy Story 5 (June): Because Pixar knows we’ll always show up for Buzz and Woody.
- Moana (July): The live-action version.
- Avengers: Doomsday (December): This is the big one. They brought back Robert Downey Jr. and the Russo brothers. It smells like a $2 billion movie.
Wall Street loves predictable hits. Original movies are risky; sequels are safe. Right now, Disney is playing it very, very safe.
The Numbers You Need to Know
According to the latest DIS stock news today, analysts have a median price target of around $131. Some of the more bullish ones, like Citi and Wells Fargo, are even looking at $140 to $150.
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If they hit their projected earnings of $6.61 per share for the 2026 fiscal year, the stock is currently trading at a forward P/E of about 17. Compare that to the rest of the market, and Disney actually looks... cheap? It’s trading at a discount compared to its historical average and its peers in the media space.
Why the Bears are Still Grumpy
It's not all pixie dust. The "linear" side of the business—basically ABC and the traditional cable channels—is dying. People are cutting the cord faster than Disney can move them to streaming. Plus, there’s no more "political ad money" this year compared to an election year, which means a $140 million hole in the budget for the first quarter.
Actionable Insights for Investors
If you're looking at DIS right now, you have to decide if you believe in the "quality reset." Bob Iger has spent the last two years cutting $8 billion in costs. The company is leaner, the streaming business is actually making money, and the movie slate is packed with guaranteed hits.
What you can do next:
- Watch the February 2nd Earnings: Look specifically at the "Experience" margins. If people are still spending money at the parks despite the inflation and construction, that’s a huge green light.
- Monitor the CEO Announcement: The second a name is announced, the stock will likely move. Markets hate uncertainty; they’ll take a "decent" CEO over "no" CEO any day.
- Check the Valuation: If the stock dips toward $100 again, many analysts view that as a high-value entry point given the projected 11% earnings growth for the year.
Disney is no longer just a "legacy" media company. It’s a tech-heavy, data-driven entertainment giant that finally figured out how to stop bleeding cash. It might not be a "to the moon" stock overnight, but for a long-term play, the "Magic" seems to be coming back to the balance sheet.