The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) shares are up during premarket trading on Tuesday following the announcement that Josh D’Amaro has been elected as the next CEO of the company.
This leadership change comes as the company prepares for its Annual Meeting on March 18, and is seen as a strategic move to enhance its growth trajectory.
The Walt Disney Board of Directors unanimously voted for D’Amaro, who has been with Disney for 28 years and has led significant expansions in the company’s Experiences segment.
Disney reported its first quarter earnings report on Monday.
D’Amaro Elected Disney CEO Ahead Of 2026 Meeting
D’Amaro’s appointment is set to take effect at the upcoming Annual Meeting, where he will succeed Robert A. Iger, the long-time CEO.
Under D’Amaro’s leadership, the Experiences segment generated $36 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2025 and has been pivotal in driving guest satisfaction and financial performance.
In conjunction with D’Amaro’s promotion, Dana Walden has been named President and Chief Creative Officer, effective the same day.
Disney’s Strategic Leadership and Market Position
Disney operates in three global business segments: entertainment, sports, and experiences. Entertainment and experiences both benefit from the firm’s ownership of iconic franchises and characters.
The company includes the ABC broadcast network, several cable television networks, and the Disney+ and Hulu streaming services, engaging in movie and television production and distribution.
Disney Earnings Forecast and Analyst Sentiment
Investors are looking ahead to the next earnings report on May 6.
- EPS Estimate: $1.57 (Up from $1.45 YoY)
- Revenue Estimate: $25.76 billion (Up from $23.62 billion YoY)
- Valuation: P/E of 15.4x (Indicates fair valuation)
Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions
The stock carries a Buy Rating with an average price target of $131.48. Recent analyst moves include:
- Jefferies: Buy (Lowers Target to $132.00) (Feb. 3)
- Needham: Buy (Maintains Target to $125.00) (Feb. 2)
- Citigroup: Buy (Lowers Target to $140.00) (Jan. 16)
Disney’s Benzinga Edge Scorecard Analysis
Below is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for The Walt Disney, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:
- Value Rank: 63.2 — Indicates fair valuation relative to peers.
- Growth Rank: 99.13 — Suggests strong growth potential.
- Quality Rank: 56.16 — Balance sheet remains healthy.
- Momentum Rank: 15.39 — Stock is underperforming the broader market.
DIS Price Action: Walt Disney shares were up 1.23% at $105.73 during premarket trading on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Photo by Piotr Swat via Shutterstock
