Arizona State Retirement System Raises Stock Holdings in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)

Arizona State Retirement System lifted its position in shares of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS - Free Report) by 0.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 525,958 shares of the entertainment giant's stock after purchasing an additional 3,247 shares during the quarter. Arizona State Retirement System's holdings in Walt Disney were worth $58,565,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Walt Disney during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. Tacita Capital Inc raised its position in shares of Walt Disney by 93.2% during the fourth quarter. Tacita Capital Inc now owns 257 shares of the entertainment giant's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares during the period. Midwest Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Walt Disney during the fourth quarter worth approximately $34,000. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Walt Disney during the fourth quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, Hager Investment Management Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Walt Disney during the fourth quarter worth approximately $43,000. 65.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at Walt Disney

In other Walt Disney news, EVP Brent Woodford sold 8,000 shares of Walt Disney 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 owns 44,055 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,054,870.70. The trade was a 15.37 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.16% of the company's stock.

Walt Disney Stock Performance

DIS traded up $0.28 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $109.29. The stock had a trading volume of 9,951,974 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,542,616. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The stock has a market cap of $197.58 billion, a PE ratio of 35.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.41. The Walt Disney Company has a 1 year low of $83.91 and a 1 year high of $123.74. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $110.56 and its 200 day simple moving average is $103.94.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The entertainment giant reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.44 by $0.32. Walt Disney had a return on equity of 9.95% and a net margin of 6.07%. Equities analysts anticipate that The Walt Disney Company will post 5.47 earnings per share for the current year.

Walt Disney Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 23rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, June 24th will be issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 24th. This is a positive change from Walt Disney's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.45. Walt Disney's payout ratio is presently 32.57%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on DIS. Citigroup reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $125.00 target price on shares of Walt Disney in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price target on Walt Disney from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Walt Disney from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Walt Disney from $137.00 to $139.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Bank of America increased their price target on Walt Disney from $120.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $125.64.

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.