Empirical Finance LLC Reduces Stock Position in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)

Empirical Finance LLC lessened its position in shares of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) by 1.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 62,233 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock after selling 880 shares during the quarter. Empirical Finance LLC’s holdings in Walt Disney were worth $6,930,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in DIS. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt lifted its holdings in shares of Walt Disney by 347.8% in the 3rd quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt now owns 14,541 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $1,398,000 after buying an additional 11,294 shares during the period. Wynn Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Walt Disney by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Wynn Capital LLC now owns 16,793 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $1,615,000 after buying an additional 119 shares during the period. Asio Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Walt Disney by 4.3% in the 3rd quarter. Asio Capital LLC now owns 29,792 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $2,866,000 after buying an additional 1,234 shares during the period. Covea Finance lifted its holdings in shares of Walt Disney by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Covea Finance now owns 566,016 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $54,445,000 after buying an additional 5,700 shares during the period. Finally, Cox Capital Mgt LLC acquired a new position in shares of Walt Disney in the 3rd quarter valued at about $2,231,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.71% of the company’s stock.

Walt Disney Price Performance

DIS stock opened at $110.83 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.68 and a quick ratio of 0.67. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $111.87 and a 200-day simple moving average of $101.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $200.36 billion, a PE ratio of 36.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 1.42. The Walt Disney Company has a 1 year low of $83.91 and a 1 year high of $123.74.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The entertainment giant reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.32. Walt Disney had a return on equity of 9.95% and a net margin of 6.07%. Equities research analysts anticipate that The Walt Disney Company will post 5.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Walt Disney Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 16th. Investors of record on Monday, December 16th were given a $0.50 dividend. This represents a yield of 0.6%. This is a positive change 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%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Robert A. Iger sold 372,412 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 22nd. The stock was 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 represents a 62.15 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Brent Woodford sold 8,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.74, for a total value of $917,920.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 44,055 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,054,870.70. The trade was a 15.37 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 385,412 shares of company stock worth $44,153,263. Company insiders own 0.16% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on DIS shares. Needham & Company LLC reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $130.00 price objective on shares of Walt Disney in a report on Wednesday. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Walt Disney in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $120.00 price target for the company. Macquarie reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $110.00 price target on shares of Walt Disney in a report on Monday, January 6th. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price target on Walt Disney from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Walt Disney from $116.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $125.85.

Walt Disney 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.