The Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS) is nearing a pivotal leadership transition as its board weighs elevating theme-park chief Josh D'Amaro to CEO, while analysts stay upbeat on the company's long-term growth outlook.
Board Weighs Josh D'Amaro as Next CEO
The board is moving toward promoting theme-park chief Josh D'Amaro to CEO and could vote on the decision, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the process.
D'Amaro, 54, has led Disney's theme-park and experiences business since 2020, a division that generates the majority of the company's profits.
If approved, he would succeed Bob Iger, who led Disney from 2005 to 2020 and returned as CEO in 2022.
Iger Signals Exit, Transition Timeline Takes Shape
Iger has told associates he plans to step down as Disney CEO and scale back from day-to-day management before his contract ends on December 31, with Disney's board expected to meet to vote on a successor.
In recent months, Iger has privately said he is ready to move on from the demands of the role and has expressed frustration over internal conflicts at Disney's ABC network tied to the brief suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Iger is expected to stay on for several months after Disney names a new CEO to help mentor the successor and could continue to hold a role at the company and on its board following the transition, the report said.
D'Amaro joined Disney in 1998 after working at Gillette.
Disney Earnings
Disney is set to report fiscal first-quarter earnings on Monday.
In a regulatory filing in January, the company reiterated plans to name a CEO successor in early 2026 and scheduled its annual shareholder meeting for March 18.
When Iger previously stepped aside in 2020, Disney announced Chapek as CEO roughly two weeks before the annual meeting.
What Have Analysts Said
Analysts remain largely optimistic about Disney's future prospects despite near-term volatility, pointing to long-term growth drivers across parks, cruises, and streaming.
Rosenblatt Securities analyst Barton Crockett said Disney's durable parks business continues to anchor the company, highlighting accelerating growth at international parks even as U.S. parks moderate.
Needham analyst Laura Martin said Disney's growth is increasingly tied to expansion in theme parks and cruise ships, which raises capital intensity but also opens the door to new revenue from upcoming ship launches and higher bookings.
Guggenheim Securities analyst Michael Morris said management's outlook for double-digit earnings growth in fiscal 2026 and 2027 supports a constructive long-term view, even as near-term costs rise.
Goldman Sachs analyst Michael Ng added that while Disney may need to invest more heavily in content and streaming, those investments position the company to drive future growth as its direct-to-consumer business matures.
DIS Price Action: Walt Disney shares closed 1.09% higher to $112.80 on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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