The “Partners” statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse at Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, photographed on Saturday, June 3, 2023.
Joe Burbank | Tribune News Service | Getty Images
LOS ANGELES – Disney shareholders will be looking for updates on CEO Bob Iger’s plans for the media giant as the company struggles with streaming losses and a falling stock price.
The entertainment giant has suffered from lower advertising revenue and unsuccessful box office blockbusters and is still grappling with the fallout from the writers’ strike and ongoing negotiations with Hollywood actors.
Still, analysts are optimistic that cracking down on password sharing on its streaming services like Netflix has done, potential asset sales and investing in its parking business are the right moves for the company.
Here’s what analysts expect from Disney’s fourth-quarter financial report:
- EPS: According to LSEG, formerly known as Refinitiv, it expects 70 cents per share
- Revenue: According to LSEG, $21.33 billion is expected
Investors will be watching for updates on Disney’s efforts to cut streaming losses after the company cut spending and raised prices on some plans.
In the previous quarter, Disney recorded $2.65 billion in one-time charges and impairment charges, leaving the company with a rare quarterly net loss. Most of those allegations involved what Disney called “content interference,” related to removing content from its streaming platforms and terminating licensing agreements with third-party providers.
Additionally, the company announced last week that it would acquire Comcast’s 33 percent stake in Hulu for at least $8.61 billion. Although there could be a higher payout at the end due to an evaluation process.
Disney is also feeling pressure from activist investor Nelson Peltz, who wants to gain more control over the company’s board. There’s also former Marvel Entertainment chairman Ike Perlmutter, who was fired in March. Perlmutter is one of the company’s largest individual shareholders and has entrusted his stake in Disney to Peltz’s Trian Fund Management.
Tune in: CNBC’s Julia Boorstin will interview Disney CEO Bob Iger on “Closing Bell: Overtime” at 4:05 p.m. ET.
Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal and CNBC.
Source : www.cnbc.com