Sabal Trust CO Raises Stock Holdings in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)

Sabal Trust CO lifted its holdings in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) by 2,432.6% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 139,772 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock after purchasing an additional 134,253 shares during the quarter. Sabal Trust CO’s holdings in Walt Disney were worth $15,564,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of DIS. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Walt Disney in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Midwest Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Walt Disney during the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Walt Disney during the fourth quarter worth $35,000. Hager Investment Management Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Walt Disney in the fourth quarter valued at $43,000. Finally, Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Walt Disney by 38.1% in the 4th quarter. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC now owns 399 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 65.71% of the company’s stock.

Walt Disney Stock Performance

NYSE:DIS opened at $110.57 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $199.89 billion, a PE ratio of 36.02, a P/E/G ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a fifty day moving average of $110.63 and a two-hundred day moving average of $102.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.68. The Walt Disney Company has a fifty-two week low of $83.91 and a fifty-two week high of $123.74.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The entertainment giant reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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%. As a group, research analysts forecast that The Walt Disney Company will post 5.47 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 issued a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 16th. This is a boost from Walt Disney’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.45. This represents a yield of 0.6%. Walt Disney’s dividend payout ratio is currently 32.57%.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Brent Woodford sold 8,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.74, for a total transaction of $917,920.00. Following the completion of the transaction, 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 sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.16% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

DIS has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on Walt Disney from $137.00 to $139.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Walt Disney from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of Walt Disney from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price target for the stock from $100.00 to $147.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Macquarie reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $110.00 price objective on shares of Walt Disney in a report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Walt Disney in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $120.00 target price on the stock. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $125.44.

About Walt Disney

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.