IFP Advisors Inc Increases Stake in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)

IFP Advisors Inc lifted its stake in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS - Free Report) by 83.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 39,427 shares of the entertainment giant's stock after purchasing an additional 17,910 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc's holdings in Walt Disney were worth $4,390,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. bought a new stake in Walt Disney during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Midwest Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Walt Disney during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Walt Disney during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Hager Investment Management Services LLC bought a new position in Walt Disney in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Finally, Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC increased its position in Walt Disney by 38.1% during the 4th quarter. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC now owns 399 shares of the entertainment giant's stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 65.71% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Brent Woodford sold 8,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.74, for a total value of $917,920.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 44,055 shares in the company, valued at $5,054,870.70. This represents a 15.37 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.16% of the company's stock.

Walt Disney Trading Up 1.6 %

DIS stock traded up $1.72 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $112.25. The company's stock had a trading volume of 5,016,208 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,097,874. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.68. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $110.63 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $102.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $202.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.51, a PEG ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.42. The Walt Disney Company has a 1 year low of $83.91 and a 1 year high of $123.74.

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

Walt Disney Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 16th were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. This is a boost from Walt Disney's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.45. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 16th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.6%. Walt Disney's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.57%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently weighed in on DIS. Rosenblatt Securities reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $135.00 price target on shares of Walt Disney in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Citigroup reissued a "buy" rating and set a $125.00 price objective on shares of Walt Disney in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on shares of Walt Disney from $115.00 to $131.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Walt Disney from $116.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Finally, Loop Capital lifted their target price on Walt Disney from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Six 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 MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $125.44.

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.