Skylands Capital LLC Lowers Stock Position in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)

Skylands Capital LLC decreased its position in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) by 75.5% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 14,925 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock after selling 45,925 shares during the period. Skylands Capital LLC’s holdings in Walt Disney were worth $1,662,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of DIS. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. purchased a new position in Walt Disney during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. Midwest Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Walt Disney in the 4th quarter worth $34,000. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Walt Disney during the fourth quarter valued at $35,000. Hager Investment Management Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Walt Disney in the fourth quarter valued at about $43,000. Finally, Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Walt Disney by 38.1% during the fourth quarter. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC now owns 399 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares in the last quarter. 65.71% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Walt Disney Stock Performance

Shares of DIS stock opened at $108.62 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The Walt Disney Company has a 12-month low of $83.91 and a 12-month high of $123.74. The company has a market cap of $196.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.42. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $110.70 and a 200-day simple moving average of $102.58.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The entertainment giant reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) 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%. On average, equities analysts forecast that The Walt Disney Company will post 5.47 EPS for the current year.

Walt Disney Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 16th. Investors of record on Monday, December 16th were issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 16th. This represents a yield of 0.6%. This is an increase from Walt Disney’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.45. Walt Disney’s payout ratio is currently 32.57%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

DIS has been the subject of several research reports. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Walt Disney in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. They set a “hold” rating and a $120.00 price objective for the company. Loop Capital lifted their target price on shares of Walt Disney from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th. TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of Walt Disney from $108.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on shares of Walt Disney from $128.00 to $134.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, November 18th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of Walt Disney from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their target price for the company from $100.00 to $147.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $125.44.

Insider Buying and Selling at Walt Disney

In related news, EVP Brent Woodford sold 8,000 shares of Walt Disney stock in a transaction on 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 of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,054,870.70. The trade was a 15.37 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.16% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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.