Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) Stock

Walt Disney

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. Entertainment includes the ABC broadcast network, several cable television networks, and the Disney+ and Hulu streaming services. Within the segment, Disney also engages in movie and television production and distribution, with content licensed to movie theaters, other content providers, or, increasingly, kept in-house for use on Disney's own streaming platform and television networks. The sports segment houses ESPN and the ESPN+ streaming service. Experiences contains Disney's theme parks and vacation destinations, and also benefits from merchandise licensing.

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Disney names Daria Cercek as president of live-action division. She previously worked at Paramount and will report to David Greenbaum at Disney.

Disney Appoints Former Paramount Exec Daria Cercek to Lead Live-Action Films, Reshaping Studio Leadership

New,York,City,-,September,16,,2019:,Presidential,Candidate,Elizabeth

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FUBO

Disney&#39;s streaming business is under pressure with Senator Elizabeth Warren attacking its proposed deal with Fubo and a class action lawsuit moving forward.

Elizabeth Warren Slams Disney, Fubo Deal In DOJ Letter: &#39;Another Data Point In History Of Anticompetitive Behavior&#39;

6 New Netflix Releases To Look Forward To In August

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Once the home of sports documentaries and reality series, Netflix now has live sports and more could be on the way.

Netflix Wants More NFL Games After Christmas Day Success: Could League Spark Bidding War With CBS, Fox?

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Walt Disney Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/walt-disney-world" rel="noreferrer noopener">Walt&nbsp;Disney&nbsp;Studios</a> tapped Daria Cercek as president of its theatrical live-action division. Cercek will report to David Greenbaum, president of Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios, the Variety <a target="_blank" href="https://variety.com/2025/film/news/disney-live-action-paramount-daria-cercek-1236313183/" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
Cercek is joining Disney from Paramount Global (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARA#NASDAQ">PARA</a>), where she served as co-president of the studio&#8217;s motion picture group.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43879488/taiwan-semiconductor-too-big-for-the-index-regulator-considers-lifting-weight-cap" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taiwan Semiconductor Too Big For The Index, Regulator Considers Lifting Weight Cap</a>
Disney restructured its live-action division in February 2024. Sean Bailey departed after 15 years, and Greenbaum, Searchlight&#8217;s former chief, became the head of Live Action and 20th Century Studios. Disney merged two film divisions, live action, and 20th Century Studios.
Steve Asbell will continue to lead 20th Century Studios, and Vanessa Morrison will continue to lead Disney&#8217;s live-action projects for streaming.
Disney passed the $2 billion <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42603589/disney-hits-2-billion-domestic-box-office-wins-top-honors-global-box-office-2025-to-grow-8-to-33b-analyst-says" rel="noreferrer noopener">domestic box office</a> milestone in 2024, backed by &#8220;Inside Out 2,&#8221; &#8220;Deadpool &amp; Wolverine&#8221; and &#8220;Moana 2.&#8221;
Gower Street Analytics&#8217;&nbsp;Dimitrios Mitsinikos expects the domestic box office to top $10 billion and reach pre-pandemic norms, backed by the Avatar, Mission: Impossible, Jurassic World, John Wick, Zootopia, Superman, and Wicked film franchises.
CNBC&#8217;s Jim Cramer&nbsp;endorsed Disney stock, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43805108/jim-cramer-sees-terrific-buying-opportunity-in-disney-stock-after-strong-quarter-slips-under-the-radar" rel="noreferrer noopener">citing the recent dip</a> as an attractive entry point for investors despite strong fundamentals.
Disney&#8217;s Captain America: Brave New World <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/02/43789321/disney-latest-captain-america-film-opens-with-100m-can-marvel-magic-happen-three-times-in-2025" rel="noreferrer noopener">grossed $100 million</a> domestically and $92.4 million in international markets, for a total of $192.4 million during the President&#8217;s Day holiday weekend.
Disney reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43494650/disney-q1-earnings-powered-by-moana-2-and-mufasa-theme-parks-loses-streaming-subscribers" rel="noreferrer noopener">fiscal first-quarter&nbsp;2025</a> revenue growth of 5% to $24.70 billion, beating the&nbsp;analyst estimate of $24.62 billion. Adjusted EPS of $1.76 beat the&nbsp;consensus estimate of $1.45.
Disney ended the quarter with 178 million Disney+ Core and Hulu subscriptions and 125 million Disney+ Core paid subscribers.
Price Actions: DIS stock is up 0.85% at $111.50 at&nbsp;the last check on Friday.
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Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is targeting Walt Disney Company's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) proposed tie-up with FuboTV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FUBO#NYSE">FUBO</a>) that could change <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/streaming">the streaming sector.</a>
What Happened: In a letter to the Department of Justice, Warren asks for close scrutiny<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42816545/fubotv-and-disney-near-merger-to-create-second-largest-digital-tv-provider-shares-soar-report"> on the deal </a>due to antitrust concerns and fear that consumers will end up paying more for sports streaming content in the long run.
"This proposed acquisition raises significant concerns under antitrust law, would give Disney increased market power and incentives to increase costs for viewers, and should be regarded as another data point in Disney's history of anticompetitive behavior," Warren said in the letter.
Warren highlighted that Disney's deal with Fubo resolves a previous lawsuit Fubo filed against Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery over a joint venture called Venu Sports. Warren previously wrote the DOJ on Venu Sports.
"Disney's proposed acquisition of Fubo appears to allow Disney to simultaneously circumvent the lawsuit while gobbling up a competitor."
Warren said Disney is attempting to "purchase its way around antitrust law."
With the tie-up with Fubo, Disney would dominate the sports streaming market, Warren said.
The Senator said Disney's acquisition will decrease competition and could violate antitrust law.
"Disney has proposed a plan to acquire its competitor, and, in the process become an even more powerful force in an already highly-concentrated market."
Warren said Disney has long forced companies to carry less desirable content in order to get access to the highly coveted ESPN sports network. This practice has led to consumers paying more for streaming and cable content.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/01/43169631/disney-analyst-sees-flat-disney-growth-in-q1-after-netflixs-record-quarter-but-remains-bullish">Disney Analyst Sees Flat Disney+ Growth In Q1 After Netflix&#8217;s Record Quarter, But Remains Bullish</a>
Why It's Important: Warren's letter comes after Disney previously announced it would merge Hulu + Live TV with Fubo and own 70% of the combined company. The deal also ended the pending launch of Venu Sports and saw Fubo and Disney end litigation.
News of Warren's letter to the DOJ comes as a judge declined to dismiss a lawsuit against Disney by investors, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
The investor lawsuit centers on past claims made by former Disney CEO Bob Chapek about the Disney+ streaming platform. Chapek allegedly hid streaming costs and overstated the ability for the unit to grow subscribers and become profitable.
Among the items in the lawsuit, filed in 2023, is Disney&#8217;s plan to grow its Disney+ subscriber total to 230 million by 2024. The company's total stood at 124.6 million Disney+ core subscribers as of December 2024.
The lawsuit also targets Disney's reorganization plans and changes to its original content and the shortened theatrical window for movies to hit streaming platforms.
Bob Iger replaced Chapek as CEO in November 2022. Iger cut streaming content spending and withdrew subscriber guidance when he took over.
The class action lawsuit targets the period of December 2020 to May 2023 when Disney stock dropped by around 55%.  
With news of the case moving forward, along with Warren's letter to the Department of Justice, Disney may see negative headlines in the coming months.
Price Action: Disney stock is down 1.3% to $109.87 on Thursday versus a 52-week trading range of $83.91 to $123.74. Disney stock is up 0.4% over the last year.
Fubo stock is down 1.8% to $3.79 on Thursday versus a 52-week trading range of $1.10 to $6.45. Fubo stock is up 90% over the last year.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/01/42857294/fubo-gets-fairy-tale-outcome-analyst-says-disney-deal-lowers-risks-overhang-on-stock">Fubo Gets &#8216;Fairy Tale Outcome&#8217;: Analyst Says Disney Deal Lowers Risks, Overhang On Stock</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Elizabeth Warren Slams Disney, Fubo Deal In DOJ Letter: 'Another Data Point In History Of Anticompetitive Behavior'

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Walt Disney (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in DIS usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 12 extraordinary options activities for Walt Disney. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 66% leaning bullish and 25% bearish. Among these notable options, 3 are puts, totaling $109,100, and 9 are calls, amounting to $407,377.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $85.0 and $130.0 for Walt Disney, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Walt Disney's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Walt Disney's whale trades within a strike price range from $85.0 to $130.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Walt Disney 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1740065439_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>DIS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$3.1</td>
<td>$3.0</td>
<td>$3.05</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$73.2K</td>
<td>7.3K</td>
<td align="right">558</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DIS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/18/26</td>
<td>$28.05</td>
<td>$27.85</td>
<td>$27.85</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$61.2K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DIS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$3.05</td>
<td>$3.05</td>
<td>$3.05</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$49.1K</td>
<td>7.3K</td>
<td align="right">261</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DIS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$3.9</td>
<td>$3.8</td>
<td>$3.8</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$49.0K</td>
<td>867</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DIS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$3.1</td>
<td>$3.0</td>
<td>$3.05</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$41.4K</td>
<td>7.3K</td>
<td align="right">261</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Walt Disney</h3>
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. Entertainment includes the ABC broadcast network, several cable television networks, and the Disney+ and Hulu streaming services. Within the segment, Disney also engages in movie and television production and distribution, with content licensed to movie theaters, other content providers, or, increasingly, kept in-house for use on Disney's own streaming platform and television networks. The sports segment houses ESPN and the ESPN+ streaming service. Experiences contains Disney's theme parks and vacation destinations, and also benefits from merchandise licensing.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Walt Disney</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 1,065,563, the price of DIS is down by -0.62%, reaching $110.67.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 75 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Walt Disney</h3>
4 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $130.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Rosenblatt keeps a Buy rating on Walt Disney with a target price of $135. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Citigroup has revised its rating downward to Buy, adjusting the price target to $125. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Needham downgraded its action to Buy with a price target of $130. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Morgan Stanley continues to hold a Overweight rating for Walt Disney, targeting a price of $130. 
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Decoding Walt Disney's Options Activity: What's the Big Picture?

<a href="https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/disney-fubo-antitrust-elizabeth-warren-deal-1236313480/">https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/disney-fubo-antitrust-elizabeth-warren-deal-1236313480/</a>
&nbsp;
Sen. Elizabeth Warren has urged the Justice Department to carefully scrutinize <a href="https://variety.com/t/disney/">Disney</a>‘s deal to acquire a controlling stake in Fubo, saying the consolidation presents antitrust concerns.
Disney <a href="https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/disney-hulu-live-tv-fubo-merger-ending-venu-lawsuit-1236266843/">announced</a> in January that it would merge its Hulu + Live TV service with Fubo and take 70% ownership of the combined company. A few days later, Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery dropped their plans to launch Venu Sports, a combined streaming service.
In a <a href="https://www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/warren_letter_to_doj_antitrust_on_disney_fubo_acquisition.pdf">letter to the DOJ's Antitrust Division</a>, Warren argued that the Disney-Fubo deal allows the company to "gobble up a competitor" and could lead to higher prices.

"Disney-Fubo Deal Raises Antitrust Concerns, Senator Says" - Variety

Streaming giant Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) could have its eyes on more National Football League games after the successful debut of the company's Christmas Day games that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/24/12/42711504/lebron-james-vs-nfl-nba-star-says-christmas-is-our-day-2024-ratings-paint-a-different-picture">broke streaming records.</a>
What Happened: For years, Netflix has resisted calls to push further into sports rights, opting instead to do one-off live events or what it called<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/23/07/33308114/netflix-doesnt-want-to-live-sports-and-chill-were-happy-with-sports-adjacent-programming-ce"> "sports adjacent" content.</a>
The company's sports documentaries and reality series like "Drive to Survive" have helped leagues and athletes get more attention with a surge in viewership and increased fans for Liberty Formula One (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FWONA#NASDAQ">FWONA</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FWONK#NASDAQ">FWONK</a>) owned Formula 1 racing league often <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/21/09/23071390/could-a-netflix-formula-one-streaming-partnership-reach-the-finish-line">credited to Netflix.</a>
Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria was asked about the pursuit of more NFL games during an appearance on "The Town" podcast.
"I definitely want the Sunday (afternoon) games," Bajaria said, as reported by <a href="https://frontofficesports.com/netflix-shifts-strategy-pursuing-nfl-sunday-rights/">FrontOfficeSports</a>.
The answer came when asked which NFL media rights Netflix would be interested in. Netflix later acknowledged that the comments were informal ones made by Bajaria and not a new content strategy shift.
As reported by FrontOfficeSports, the current Sunday afternoon NFL games are part of media rights packages with CBS, which is owned by Paramount Global (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARA#NASDAQ">PARA</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARAA#NASDAQ">PARAA</a>) and Fox, which is owned by Fox Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOX#NASDAQ">FOX</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOXA#NASDAQ">FOXA</a>).
Those deals are set to expire after the 2033 NFL season, but the NFL has an opt-out clause that could see it end the deals early after the 2029 season. A deal with The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) for "Monday Night Football" ends after the 2030 season.
Given strong viewership and demand from media companies to land NFL content, the league could choose to end the deals early.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43700767/netflix-stock-attractive-at-all-time-highs-for-analyst-virtuous-circle-of-strong-subscriber-growth-more-revenue-and-growing-profit">Netflix Stock Attractive At All-Time Highs For Analyst: &#8216;Virtuous Circle Of Strong Subscriber Growth, More Revenue, And Growing Profit&#8217;</a>
Why It's Important: While Bajaria's comments were in passing and not an official announcement, they signal interest in adding more NFL content.
Netflix is currently on a three-year deal with the NFL that gets the streaming company at least one game every Christmas Day.
In 2024, Netflix <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/24/12/42711504/lebron-james-vs-nfl-nba-star-says-christmas-is-our-day-2024-ratings-paint-a-different-picture">streamed two games</a> on Christmas with the games having averages of 24.3 million viewers (Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans) and 24.1 million viewers (Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers).
Those games set new NFL streaming records for the regular season, surpassing even the 23.0 million viewers of Peacock's exclusive streaming game during the 2023 NFL playoffs.
Prime Video, which is the streaming platform owned by Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), partnered with the NFL for the rights to "Thursday Night Football." Amazon's weekly broadcast has helped boost the company's streaming subscribers and advertising revenue.
"Thursday Night Football" games averaged 13.2 million viewers during the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/25/01/43013529/amazon-scores-record-with-steelers-ravens-nfl-playoffs-stream-how-game-stacks-up-with-other-media-streamers"> 2024 NFL season</a>, up 11% year-over-year.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has often shied away from saying the company wants full sports seasons. In January, he told investors that the economics didn't work and the "live events business" was where the company wanted to be.
Previously, Sarandos said the company wasn't "anti-sports," but rather "pro-profit."
The Netflix Christmas Day games saw huge advertising demand and likely broke even on revenue for the company, not counting the additional subscribers the company gained along the way.
Over the past year, Netflix has launched a live boxing event headlined by Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, had two NFL games on Christmas and launched its new partnership with WWE, which is a unit of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TKO#NYSE">TKO</a>).
Netflix <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/24/12/42628116/netflix-adds-womens-world-cup-media-rights-from-football-to-futbol-streamer-all-in-on-live-sports">landed the U.S. rights </a>to the Women's World Cup in 2027 and 2031. The company is also said<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43570574/netflix-eyes-formula-one-us-broadcast-rights-starting-in-2026-report"> to be exploring</a> a bid for the U.S. rights to Formula 1. ESPN has had the rights to Formula 1 since 2018 and its deal expires after the 2025 season.
While Netflix previously avoided live sports and full seasons, its new strategy seems focused on acquiring as much sports content as possible to drive advertising and subscriber revenue.
Netflix ended<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43114866/netflix-q4-earnings-record-subscribers-nfl-squid-game-push-past-highest-expectations"> the fourth quarter</a> with 301.63 million global paid subscribers, adding a record 18.91 million in the quarter. The company will no longer break out subscriber figures, which means more attention will be placed on revenue and the company's content.
NFLX Price Action: Netflix stock was down 0.1% to $1,033.66 on Wednesday, compared to a 52-week trading range of $542.01 to $1,064.50. However, Netflix stock has increased 79% over the last year.
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Photo: Shutterstock

Jim Cramer is advocating for The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) stock, suggesting the entertainment giant&#8217;s recent dip has created an attractive entry point for investors despite strong fundamentals.
What Happened: &#8220;Disney reported an excellent quarter a couple weeks ago, but didn&#8217;t get any credit for it,&#8221; CNBC&#8217;s Cramer <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/18/disney-stock-is-a-bargain-on-the-dip-jim-cramer-says.html">said</a> on Tuesday, noting that management&#8217;s conservative approach to full-year guidance contributed to the stock&#8217;s recent weakness. 
&#8220;The dip here has created a terrific buying opportunity for you, with the stock now trading at bargain levels relative to the kind of valuation it used to get,&#8221; Cramer said. 
The entertainment giant&#8217;s latest earnings report exceeded both revenue and profit expectations, though concerns emerged over Disney+ subscriber losses and unchanged guidance. CFO Hugh Johnston cited a &#8220;rapidly evolving macro environment&#8221; in defending the company&#8217;s cautious outlook.
Cramer, whose CNBC Investing Club&#8217;s Charitable Trust has held Disney since 2018, pointed to several encouraging developments. The company&#8217;s direct-to-consumer segment achieved profitability, boosted by Hulu&#8217;s performance. Additionally, Disney&#8217;s parks and cruise division demonstrated resilience despite weather-related challenges, while its sports segment outperformed expectations ahead of a new ESPN platform launch.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43802574/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-slide-further-while-stocks-rally-analyst-spots-a-good-sign-for-eths-mid-term-and-long-term-price-outlooks">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Slide As Stocks Rally: Analyst Spots &#8216;Good Sign&#8217; For ETH&#8217;s Mid-Term And Long-Term Price Outlooks</a>
Why It Matters: The bullish stance comes as Disney&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/02/43789321/disney-latest-captain-america-film-opens-with-100m-can-marvel-magic-happen-three-times-in-2025">film division maintains momentum</a>, with &#8220;Captain America: Brave New World&#8221; generating $192.4 million globally in its opening weekend. This performance suggests continued strength in Disney&#8217;s content pipeline, though the film&#8217;s mixed critical reception (50% on Rotten Tomatoes) raises questions about long-term box office potential.
&#8220;After looking into the reasons why people sold Disney after the quarter, I&#8217;ve got to tell you. I think the bear case: thin,&#8221; Cramer concluded, reinforcing his optimistic outlook on the stock&#8217;s prospects.
Recent analyst coverage remains largely positive, with Rosenblatt, Morgan Stanley, and Needham assigning an average price target of $131.67 in February, implying nearly 20% upside potential.
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/18232005/Screenshot-2025-02-19-at-9.49.26%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-787977" style="width:726px;height:auto" /></figure>
Price Action: Disney stock closed on Tuesday at $109.56, well below the consensus analyst price target of $123.32. The stock has seen an all-time high of $197.16 in March 2021, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/02/43802341/elon-musk-says-spacex-created-history-by-blasting-off-a-rocket-from-one-country-and-landing-it-another-this-is-the-first-time">Elon Musk Says SpaceX Created History By Blasting Off A Rocket From One Country And Landing It Another: &#8216;This is The First Time…&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Equities

Jim Cramer Sees 'Terrific Buying Opportunity' In Disney Stock After Strong Quarter Slips Under The Radar

Less than two weeks after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43494650/disney-q1-earnings-powered-by-moana-2-and-mufasa-theme-parks-loses-streaming-subscribers">reporting quarterly financials,</a> Walt Disney Company's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) stock is back in the spotlight with its latest Marvel Cinematic Universe film hitting theaters.
What Happened: "Captain America: Brave New World" grossed $100 million domestically and $92.4 million in international markets for a $192.4 million global tally during the President's Day holiday weekend, as reported by <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/box-office/captain-america-brave-new-world-box-office-staying-power-marvel-cinematic-universe-1236310075/">Variety</a>.
The box office milestone adds excitement to the expanding slate of content <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/07/40021651/disneys-magical-marvel-weekend-robert-downey-jr-russo-brothers-steal-comic-con-spotlight-as">from the company</a>, but is nothing new for a Marvel Cinematic Universe film and neither is opening number one at the box office. 
The big question for Disney will be if the film has staying power and can start a streak of successful Marvel movies in 2025.
The film is the fourth in the Captain America series, while the character has also played a pivotal role in Avengers films. Here is the box office <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/">history </a>of the past Captain America movies.
<ul>
<li>"Captain America: The First Avenger" (2011): $65.1 million domestic opening, $176.7 million domestic, $370.6 million global</li>
<li>"Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (2014): $95.0 million domestic opening, $259.8 million domestic, $714.4 million global</li>
<li>"Captain America: Civil War" (2016): $179.1 million domestic opening, $408.1 million domestic, $1.16 billion global</li>
</ul>
&#8220;Brave New World" will likely rank second for domestic box office when it&#8217;s finished; "Civil War" acted more like an Avengers ensemble film and had a huge opening to kick things off.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/01/43169631/disney-analyst-sees-flat-disney-growth-in-q1-after-netflixs-record-quarter-but-remains-bullish">Disney Analyst Sees Flat Disney+ Growth In Q1 After Netflix&#8217;s Record Quarter, But Remains Bullish</a>
Why It's Important: The latest Marvel film has a 50% critic <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/captain_america_brave_new_world">rating </a>on Rotten Tomatoes and an 80% audience score. On <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14513804/">IMDb</a>, the film has a 6.1 rating (out of 10). That&#8217;s among the lower ratings for a Marvel film.
Movie theater companies like AMC Entertainment Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMC#NYSE">AMC</a>) and Cinemark Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNK#NYSE">CNK</a>) will be hoping, like Disney, that the film has staying power at the box office and sees a lower drop-off than normal for a Marvel film in its second weekend.
"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" opened with $118.4 million domestically in 2023 and saw a 47% drop in its second weekend, which was one of the smaller drops for superhero films in recent years. The film went on to gross $359 million domestically and $845.6 million globally.
The third Guardians film could also be comparable to the fourth Captain America thanks to both 2023 and 2025 having three Marvel movies on the release schedule.
Guardians was the second movie released by Disney in 2023 and went on to be the highest-grossing of the three. Here were the three films:
<ul>
<li>"Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania": $106.1 million domestic opening, $214.5 million domestic, $476.1 million global</li>
<li>"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3": $118.4 million domestic opening, $359.0 million domestic, $845.6 million global</li>
<li>"The Marvels": $46.1 million domestic opening, $84.5 million domestic, $206.1 million global</li>
</ul>
In total, the three films raked in $658.0 million in domestic box office revenue and $1.53 billion globally. The Guardians film enjoyed a stronghold in theaters. The Ant-Man sequel, however, saw a 70% drop in domestic box office in its second weekend with poor reviews. "The Marvels" went on to be Disney's biggest Marvel Cinematic Universe flop.
While other movie studios would be excited with those overall figures, it's important to remember that Disney varies the number of Marvel films released each year. Last year, the company had only one Marvel release: "Deadpool &amp; Wolverine." That film broke records and grossed $636.7 million domestically and $1.34 billion worldwide. It nearly eclipsed the total of the three films released in 2023 combined.
Disney, its shareholders and movie theater companies will be hoping Marvel has three blockbuster films in 2025. "Thunderbolts" and "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" will open on May 2 and July 25, respectively.
DIS Price Action: Disney stock is down 1% to $109.21 on Tuesday versus a 52-week trading range of $83.91 to $123.74. Disney stock is down 0.3% over the past year.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/12/42750888/top-anticipated-2025-movies-for-big-screen-success-and-stocks-investors-should-watch">Top Anticipated 2025 Movies For Big Screen Success And Stocks Investors Should Watch</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Disney's Latest 'Captain America' Film Opens With $100M: Can Marvel Magic Happen Three Times In 2025?

The launch of Bath &amp; Body Works Inc's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBWI#NYSE">BBWI</a>) new collaboration with Walt Disney Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) may lead to an inflection on both revenues and profits in fiscal 2025, according to JPMorgan.
The Bath &amp; Body Works Analyst: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/586bcbd9351b9b0001ab738c/matthew-boss">Analyst Matthew Boss</a> upgraded the rating for Bath &amp; Body Works from Neutral to Overweight, while raising the price target from $41 to $47.
The Bath &amp; Body Works Thesis: The company has launched a Disney Princess-inspired collection in stores and online, which includes 85 products spread across all categories, Boss said in the upgrade note.
Check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">other analyst stock ratings</a>.
The 85-piece product collection marks the largest collaboration in Bath &amp; Body Works' history and is 3X the size of the Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:&nbsp;NFLX) collaborations throughout 2024, the analyst stated.
The Disney collaboration also spans "the widest price range to date," he added.
This could help the company generate 3% revenue growth in fiscal 2025, compared to the trailing three-year contraction of 2.5%, Boss commented.
Other drivers of revenue growth include management's guidance of low-single-digit square footage growth into 2025 and the combination of "product innovation, marketing, and technology collectively working together to support growth within the "core" categories of Home Fragrance, Body Care, and Hand Soaps/Sanitizers forecasted to grow +3% at an industry level the next 4 years," he further wrote.
Price Action: Shares of Bath &amp; Body Workshad risen by7.21% to $39.10 at the time of publication on Tuesday.
Read More: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/43138493/hutchinson-maintains-buy-rating-on-bath-body-works-sees-continued-growth">Hutchinson Maintains Buy Rating On Bath &amp; Body Works, Sees Continued Growth</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Long Ideas

Upgrades

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Movers

BBWI

Bath & Body Works: New Disney Collaboration Offers Top- And Bottom-Line Inflection Opportunity: Analyst

Hedge Funds

General

Valueact Holdings Cuts Share Stake In Salesforce Inc By 26% To 2.9M Shares, Cuts Share Stake In Disney Walt Co By 12% To 6.6M Shares

Global

Reliance-Disney Joint Venture To Stop Completely Free IPL Cricket Streaming; Joint Venture To Offer Limited Free Viewing Before Offering Subscription Models; To Price Streaming Offering Starting 149 Rupees Per Quarter

Walt Disney's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) short percent of float has fallen 9.35% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 17.61 million shares sold short, which is 0.97% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.23 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Walt Disney Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739455384_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Walt Disney has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Walt Disney's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Walt Disney's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 7.94%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

(DIS) - Analyzing Walt Disney's Short Interest

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Walt Disney.
Looking at options history for Walt Disney (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) we detected 35 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 51% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 40% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 19 are puts, for a total amount of $958,121 and 16, calls, for a total amount of $924,268.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $85.0 and $140.0 for Walt Disney, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Walt Disney options trades today is 1833.07 with a total volume of 6,753.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Walt Disney's big money trades within a strike price range of $85.0 to $140.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Walt Disney Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739304029_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>DIS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$9.2</td>
<td>$9.0</td>
<td>$9.0</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
<td>$180.0K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
<td align="right">239</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DIS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$12.0</td>
<td>$11.85</td>
<td>$11.85</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
<td>$152.8K</td>
<td>732</td>
<td align="right">130</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DIS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$5.25</td>
<td>$5.2</td>
<td>$5.2</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
<td>$118.3K</td>
<td>6.2K</td>
<td align="right">418</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DIS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$13.0</td>
<td>$12.85</td>
<td>$12.9</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$92.8K</td>
<td>544</td>
<td align="right">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DIS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/18/26</td>
<td>$26.4</td>
<td>$26.2</td>
<td>$26.2</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$83.8K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td align="right">33</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Walt Disney</h3>
The Walt Disney Co 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. Entertainment includes the ABC broadcast network, several cable television networks, and the Disney+ and Hulu streaming services. Within the segment, Disney also engages in movie and television production and distribution, with content licensed to movie theaters, other content providers, or, increasingly, kept in-house for use on Disney's own streaming platform and television networks. The sports segment houses ESPN and the ESPN+ streaming service. Experiences contain Disney's theme parks and vacation destinations and also benefit from merchandise licensing.
In light of the recent options history for Walt Disney, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Walt Disney's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 5,016,535, the price of DIS is down by -0.27%, reaching $108.99.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 84 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Walt Disney</h3>
In the last month, 4 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $130.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Needham has revised its rating downward to Buy, adjusting the price target to $130. 
&#x2A; In a cautious move, an analyst from Citigroup downgraded its rating to Buy, setting a price target of $125. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley persists with their Overweight rating on Walt Disney, maintaining a target price of $130. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Rosenblatt continues to hold a Buy rating for Walt Disney, targeting a price of $135. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Walt Disney options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Check Out What Whales Are Doing With DIS

Rosenblatt analyst Barton Crockett maintains Walt Disney (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) with a Buy and maintains $135 price target.

Rosenblatt Maintains Buy on Walt Disney, Maintains $135 Price Target

Super Bowl LIX aired on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025 and the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22, ending the Chiefs' attempt to be the first three-peat <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/25/02/43583513/eagles-fly-over-chiefs-40-22-as-super-bowl-lix-tests-potential-137-million-viewership-for-fox">Super Bowl winners.</a>
The game also featured dozens of commercials advertising products and showcasing new movies and television shows. They also featured many celebrity cameos.
What Happened: Super Bowl LIX commercials were <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/25/02/43560232/super-bowl-lix-commercials-ai-celebs-muppets-warren-buffett-linked-brand-take-the-spotlight">priced between $7 million and $8 million</a> for a 30-second slot by Fox Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOX#NASDAQ">FOX</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOXA#NASDAQ">FOXA</a>), which had the media rights to the game.
Fox was able to secure $8 million or more for some last-second advertising inventory ahead of Sunday's game.
This author tracked all the commercials, from the singing of the National Anthem to the final round of ads after the Eagles won the Super Bowl. View the 2024 and 2023 Super Bowl commercials <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/24/02/37076429/super-bowl-commercials-2024-complete-list-of-super-bowl-lviii-ads-and-companies-behind-them">here </a>and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/23/02/30883140/super-bowl-commercials-2023-the-complete-list-of-super-bowl-lvii-ads-and-the-companies-behi">here</a>. 
The tweet below shows the Super Bowl LIX commercial tracking in real time during the big game.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Super Bowl LIX Commercial Thread. Feel free to retweet. After National Anthem: Misson: Impossible The Final Reckoning Trailer <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24PARA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$PARA</a> Sketches <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24SKX&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$SKX</a> TurboTax <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24INTU&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$INTU</a> NASCAR on Fox <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24FOX&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$FOX</a> After Con Toss: Lilo &amp; Stitch Live Action Spot <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24DIS&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$DIS</a> YouTubeTV <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24GOOG&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$GOOG</a>
&mdash; Chris Katje (@chriskatje) <a href="https://twitter.com/chriskatje/status/1888740049883173010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Here&#8217;s a list of the Super Bowl LIX commercials and the companies behind them.
After National Anthem:
<ul>
<li>"Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning" Trailer, Paramount (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARA#NASDAQ">PARA</a>)(NASDA:PARAA)</li>
<li>Skechers (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SKX#NYSE">SKX</a>)</li>
<li>TurboTax, brand of Intuit Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTU#NASDAQ">INTU</a>)</li>
<li>NASCAR on Fox</li>
</ul>
After Coin Toss:
<ul>
<li>Lilo &amp; Stitch live action movie teaser for Disney (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>)</li>
<li>YouTube TV, brand of Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>)</li>
</ul>
After Kickoff, During First Quarter:
<ul>
<li>Dunkin'</li>
<li>"How to Train Your Dragon" live action movie trailer, Comcast (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>)</li>
<li>Pfizer Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>)</li>
<li>"Thunderbolts" trailer, Marvel film from Disney</li>
<li>MSC Cruises</li>
<li>Little Caesars</li>
<li>Fox News</li>
<li>T-Mobile (NASDA:TMUS) with Starlink</li>
<li>Homes.com, brand of CoStar Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSGP#NASDAQ">CSGP</a>)</li>
<li>Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) with Ray-Ban</li>
<li>IndyCar racing on Fox</li>
<li>Doritos, brand of PepsiCo (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NASDAQ">PEP</a>)</li>
<li>Cirkul</li>
<li>Michelob Ultra, brand of Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BUD#NYSE">BUD</a>)</li>
</ul>
After End of First Quarter, During Second Quarter:
<ul>
<li>Disney+ and Hulu streaming platforms</li>
<li>Ritz, brand of Mondelez International (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDLZ#NASDAQ">MDLZ</a>)</li>
<li>Red Bull</li>
<li>Squarespace</li>
<li>"The Floor" on Fox</li>
<li>Local Ad</li>
<li>Mountain Dew Baja Blast, brand of PepsiCo</li>
<li>Instacart, brand of Maplebear (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CART#NASDAQ">CART</a>)</li>
<li>Coors Light, brand of Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TAP#NYSE">TAP</a>)</li>
<li>Stand Up to Hate</li>
<li>FanDuel Kick of Destiny challenge, brand of Flutter Entertainment (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FLUT#NYSE">FLUT</a>)</li>
<li>"Extracted" on Fox</li>
<li>Uber Eats, brand of Uber Technologies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>)</li>
<li>WeatherTech</li>
<li>TurboTax, brand of Intuit</li>
<li>NASCAR on Fox</li>
<li>Google Pixel phone with Gemini AI</li>
<li>UFL on Fox</li>
<li>Rocket Companies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>)</li>
<li>He Gets Us</li>
<li>Liquid Death</li>
<li>HexClad</li>
<li>Duracell, brand of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>)(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>)</li>
<li>OpenAI</li>
<li>CoffeeMate, brand of Nestle (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NSRGY#OTC">NSRGY</a>)</li>
<li>NFL youth organizations</li>
<li>Ram Truck, brand of Stellantis (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLA#NYSE">STLA</a>)</li>
<li>Hellmann's, brand of Unilever (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UL#NYSE">UL</a>)</li>
<li>Pringles, brand of Kellanova (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/K#NYSE">K</a>)</li>
<li>Budweiser, brand of Anheuser-Busch InBev</li>
<li>Nike Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>)</li>
<li>NYU Langone Health</li>
<li>Novartis Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVS#NYSE">NVS</a>)</li>
</ul>
After End of Second Quarter, During Halftime, During Third Quarter:
<ul>
<li>IndyCar on Fox</li>
<li>MyFitnessPal</li>
<li>Yahoo!, brand of Apollo Global (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APO#NYSE">APO</a>) and Verizon Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>)</li>
<li>Southwest Airlines (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUV#NYSE">LUV</a>)</li>
<li>Jewel-Osco, brand of Albertsons (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACI#NYSE">ACI</a>)</li>
<li>Bayer Aspirin</li>
<li>"The Masked Singer" on Fox</li>
<li>Fox Nation streaming platform</li>
<li>On Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ONON#NYSE">ONON</a>)</li>
<li>Angel Soft, brand of Georgia-Pacific</li>
<li>Reese's Lava Cup, brand of The Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>)</li>
<li>NFL ad</li>
<li>Tubi streaming platform, brand of Fox</li>
<li>Fox shows</li>
<li>Local ad</li>
<li>Local ad</li>
<li>Salesforce Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>)</li>
<li>DoorDash Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DASH#NASDAQ">DASH</a>)</li>
<li>Meta Platforms</li>
<li>Stand Up to Hate</li>
<li>Nerds</li>
<li>Lay's, brand of PepsiCo</li>
<li>"M3gan 2.0" trailer, distributed by Comcast</li>
<li>Taco Bell, brand of Yum! Brands (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/YUM#NYSE">YUM</a>)</li>
<li>Nerdwallet</li>
<li>Häagen-Dazs</li>
<li>Tubi</li>
<li>Fox Nation</li>
<li>Bud Light, brand of Anheuser-Busch InBev</li>
<li>Hims &amp; Hers Health Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HIMS#NYSE">HIMS</a>)</li>
<li>Poppi</li>
<li>TV shows on Fox</li>
</ul>
After End of Third Quarter, During Fourth Quarter:
<ul>
<li>Salesforce Inc</li>
<li>Ramp</li>
<li>Tullamore Dew whiskey</li>
<li>Toyota (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TM#NYSE">TM</a>)</li>
<li>Sandals Resorts</li>
<li>Local Ad</li>
<li>Jeep, brand of Stellantis</li>
<li>Tubi streaming platform</li>
<li>Fox News</li>
<li>Stella Artois, brand of Anheuser-Busch InBev</li>
<li>Dove, brand of Unilever</li>
<li>Booking.com (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKNG#NASDAQ">BKNG</a>)</li>
<li>UFL on Fox</li>
<li>Bosch</li>
<li>Totino's Pizza Rolls, brand of General Mills (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>)</li>
<li>GoDaddy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GDDY#NYSE">GDDY</a>)</li>
<li>Fetch</li>
<li>TV shows on Fox</li>
</ul>
End of Game, Eagles win 40-22, Final Ad Spot After Game:
<ul>
<li>Progressive (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGR#NYSE">PGR</a>)</li>
<li>Adidas (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADDYY#OTC">ADDYY</a>)</li>
<li>Cirkul</li>
<li>Vrbo, brand of Expedia Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXPE#NASDAQ">EXPE</a>)</li>
<li>Universal Resorts</li>
<li>Energy Transfer (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ET#NYSE">ET</a>)</li>
</ul>
The list includes all the Super Bowl LIX commercials that aired from the playing of the national anthem to the first ad break after the Eagles won.
Read Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/25/02/43578857/if-you-invested-in-bitcoin-instead-of-buying-super-bowl-tickets-each-year-since-2012-heres-how-much-youd-have-today"> If You Invested in Bitcoin Instead of Buying Super Bowl Tickets Each Year Since 2012, Here&#8217;s How Much You&#8217;d Have Today</a>
Winners and Losers: While everyone will have their own favorites and ads they wish they'd never seen, here's a look at some of the winners and losers.
USA Today asks consumers to <a href="https://admeter.usatoday.com/2025">vote </a>on their favorite Super Bowl commercials each year via the Ad Meter.
Here are the top 10 highest rated ads as of Monday morning:
<ol>
<li>Budweiser – "First Delivery"</li>
<li>Lay's – "The Little Farmer"</li>
<li>Michelob Ultra – "The ULTRA Hustle"</li>
<li>Stella Artois – "David and Dave</li>
<li>NFL – "Somebody"</li>
<li>NFL – "Flag 50"</li>
<li>Bud Light – "Big Men on Cul-De-Sac"</li>
<li>Uber Eats – "Century of Cravings"</li>
<li>Hellmann's – "When Sally Met Hellmann's"</li>
<li>Pfizer – "Knock Out"</li>
</ol>
Here are the 10 lowest rated ads as of Monday morning:
<ol>
<li>Tubi – "The Z Suite"</li>
<li>Fetch – "The Big Reward"</li>
<li>CoffeeMate – "Foam Diva"</li>
<li>Cirkul – "You Got Cirkul"</li>
<li>OpenAI – "ChatGPT: The Intelligence Age"</li>
<li>Squarespace – "A Tale As Old As Websites"</li>
<li>T-Mobile – "A New Era in Connectivity"</li>
<li>DoorDash – "DashPass Math"</li>
<li>Hims &amp; Hers – "Sick of the System"</li>
<li>GoDaddy – "Act Like You Know"</li>
</ol>
The list of winners shows that Anheuser-Busch InBev continues the tradition of unforgettable Super Bowl beer ads once again, taking four places on the top 10 list.
The list of losers shows that companies like CoffeeMate and Hims &amp; Hers, which had their first ever Super Bowl commercials may not have hit the mark with consumers watching.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="EXCLUSIVE: Is Super Bowl $7M Ad Cost Worth It? 61% Say No, 18% Say They Looked Up Companies After Last Year's NFL Championship">EXCLUSIVE: Is Super Bowl $7M Ad Cost Worth It? 61% Say No, 18% Say They Looked Up Companies After Last Year&#8217;s NFL Championship</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

ADDYY

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EXPE

FLUT

GDDY

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Hims & Hers Health, Inc. Class A Common Stock

HIMS

INTU

MDLZ

NSRGY

ONON

STLA

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UBER

Super Bowl Commercials 2025: Complete List of Super Bowl LIX Ads And Companies Behind Them

Subscription video-on-demand over-the-top streaming service provider Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) is considering bidding for the U.S. live broadcasting rights for Formula One, with the rights set to begin in 2026.
ESPN has held the rights since 2017 and will see its agreement end after the 2025 season. ESPN is a unit of&nbsp;The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>).
The rising appeal of Formula One in the U.S., partly driven by the success of Netflix&#8217;s &#8220;Drive to Survive&#8221; series, has led to a resurgence of interest in airing the sport, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6120990/2025/02/07/formula-1-netflix-tv-espn/" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Athletic</a> reports.
ESPN&#8217;s existing agreement, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/22/06/27850945/espn-beats-out-amazon-comcast-and-netflix-for-formula-1-rights-here-are-the-details" rel="noreferrer noopener">extended in 2022, grants them the F1 broadcasting </a>rights until 2025. Now that ESPN&#8217;s exclusive period has ended, other broadcasters, including major streaming services, are competing for the rights.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43563232/software-company-solarwinds-to-go-private-in-44b-deal-stocks-skyrocket" rel="noreferrer noopener">Software Company SolarWinds Agrees To Go Private In $4.4B Deal</a>
Netflix&#8217;s expansion into sports and live programming is gaining momentum, highlighted by the high demand for the recently aired <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42653325/exclusive-netflix-to-have-merry-christmas-with-nfl-games-will-viewers-tune-in-60-say" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul boxing match</a>.
The streaming service recently announced that it will exclusively broadcast the 2027 and 2031 Women&#8217;s World Cups for American audiences.
Last December, Netflix streamed two NFL games, marking the beginning of a multi-year agreement. Under this deal, the streaming platform will air at least one game each Christmas in 2024, 2025, and 2026, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/12/42701434/netflixs-nfl-debut-brings-record-streams-but-lags-traditional-tv-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">valued at $150 million annually</a>.
The games attracted an average viewership of more than 26 million U.S. viewers. Nielsen reported that these games were the<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/42783613/65-million-nfl-views-propel-netflix-toward-long-term-growth" rel="noreferrer noopener"> most-streamed in NFL history</a>.
The success of these games has further strengthened Netflix&#8217;s reputation as a live-streaming platform and propelled interest in increasing sports content.
The pursuit is not without competition, though. Netflix&#8217;s rival Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), in partnership with Walt Disney Co. and Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>), secured an 11-year, $77 billion agreement to air NBA games last July.
Amazon dedicates around $3 billion each year to sports content, covering broadcasting rights for major leagues such as the NBA and NFL.
Historically, Formula One has collaborated with network broadcasters in the U.S., having previously worked with Fox and NBC before ESPN acquired the broadcasting rights.
Apparently, Netflix&#8217;s market value now surpasses the combined worth of the media firms owning the four major U.S. broadcast networks, including CBS, owned by&nbsp;Paramount Global (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARA#NASDAQ">PARA</a>), NBC owned by&nbsp;Comcast Corporation, FOX owned by&nbsp;Fox Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOX#NASDAQ">FOX</a>) and ABC, owned by&nbsp;The Walt Disney Company.
In the fourth quarter, Netflix added 18.9 million new paid subscribers, setting a company milestone. By the end of the quarter, the company reached 301.6 million global paid subscribers, solidifying its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/25/01/43145703/netflix-worth-more-than-disney-paramount-comcast-fox-combined" rel="noreferrer noopener">lead in the streaming industry</a>.
Price Action: NFLX shares are trading higher by 0.23% at $1,018.11 at the last check Friday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43536368/whats-going-on-with-ride-hailing-company-lyfts-stocks-today" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ride-Hailing Company Lyft Partners With AI Firm Anthropic</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Netflix Eyes Formula One US Broadcast Rights Starting In 2026

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New On The Block</h2>
PharmChem, Inc. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PCHM#OTC">PCHM</a>), the go-to name for drug-detecting sweat patches, is officially exploring strategic alternatives (i.e., mergers, acquisitions, or an outright sale). So far, the board of directors expressed confidence that it can handle things solo as opposed to hiring a banker. For interested suitors, a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mergers-and-acquisitions">data room officially opened</a>.
Other auction block items this week:
<ul>
<li>Ontario Teachers&#8217; Pension Plan tapped Lazard to run a sale process for compliance software firm Mitratech. Reuters estimates that the transaction could hover around $4 billion.</li>
<li>Recall how Paysafe (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSFE#NYSE">PSFE</a>) went public <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/20/12/18678982/paysafe-goes-public-again-in-spac-deal-what-investors-should-know">via a SPAC in 2020</a>. Today, it&#8217;s for sale, according to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-06/paysafe-is-said-to-weigh-sale-after-getting-takeover-interest?srnd=phx-deals">Bloomberg</a>. The firm, backed by billionaire Bill Foley, is receiving takeover interest.</li>
<li>Switzerland-based Bank J. Safra Sarasin is weighing a takeover offer for Denmark&#8217;s Saxo Bank, per <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-03/safra-sarasin-is-said-to-explore-deal-for-denmark-s-saxo-bank?srnd=phx-deals">Bloomberg</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Updates From The Block</h2>
<ul>
<li>Veritas Capital is circling Wall Street data provider Dun &amp; Bradstreet (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DNB#NYSE">DNB</a>), per <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-07/veritas-is-said-in-talks-to-acquire-data-firm-dun-bradstreet?srnd=phx-deals">Bloomberg</a>. Dun &amp; Bradstreet boasts a $4.9 billion market cap.</li>
<li>Bausch + Lomb (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLCO#NYSE">BLCO</a>) considered &#8220;a full separation&#8221; from Bausch Health Companies Inc. After engaging with potential buyers, that process did not result in a deal. Full separation remains the goal, the company confirmed. Full-year 2024 earnings will be posted on Feb. 19.</li>
<li>KKR &amp; Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>) is adamant about buying Japanese tech group Fuji Soft. The private equity firm upped its offer to around $4.3 billion to outbid a rival firm, Bain Capital.</li>
<li>Bain has another deal in the works, should the Fuji Soft one not work out. The firm is close to buying the pharma unit of Mitsubishi Chemical Group (TYO:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TYO:4188#TYO">4188</a>). The price tag is expected to be north of $3.3 billion, according <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-06/bain-is-said-to-near-3-billion-deal-for-mitsubishi-pharma-unit?srnd=phx-deals">to</a> Bloomberg.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Off The Block</h2>
<ul>
<li>Meanwhile, Bain Capital <a href="https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/hillenbrand-sells-majority-stake-milacron-bain-capital-287m">agreed</a> to buy a 51% stake in Milacron, a provider of plastic processing equipment and services. Hillenbrand (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HI#NYSE">HI</a>) sold the stake for $287 million. </li>
<li>Riverwood Capital agreed to <a href="https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-riverwood-capital-buys-israeli-ai-pricing-co-quicklizard-1001501462">buy</a> Munich-based Quicklizard (TASE: QLRD), a pricing platform for retailers and brands, for roughly $52 million.</li>
<li>TPG <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43537313/why-altus-power-stock-is-gaining-today">agreed to buy</a> Altus Power (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMPS#NYSE">AMPS</a>), an owner of commercial-scale solar in the U.S., for around $2.2 billion.</li>
<li>Another solar-related deal: Turn/River Capital agreed to buy Austin, Texas-based SolarWinds (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SWI#NYSE">SWI</a>) for $4.4 billion — a 35% premium to the stock&#8217;s closing price on Thursday, Feb. 6.</li>
<li>Montreal-basedValsoft, a software firm backed by Coatue Management and Viking Global Investors, acquired VHL Sistemas, a Brazilian provider of cloud-based notary management software.</li>
<li>BCI, a Canadian asset management, agreed to buy Luxembourg-based investment BBGI Global Infrastructure (LSE: BBGIB). Reuters reported that the deal cost around 1 billion pounds ($1.24 billion).</li>
<li>EP Global Commerce, backed by billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-06/czech-billionaire-kretinsky-seeks-to-take-metro-private-again?srnd=phx-deals">purchased</a> Düsseldorf, Germany-based Metro at a 2 billion euro ($2.76 billion) valuation. </li>
<li>Databricks, valued at $62 billion, <a href="https://www.infoworld.com/article/3817328/databricks-acquires-bladebridge-to-aid-data-warehouse-migrations.html">acquired</a> BladeBridge and its talent to bolster enterprise data warehouse migrations.</li>
<li>JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>) reportedly revived its interest in buying Düsseldorf, Germany-based Ceconomy AG. The Chinese e-commerce giant last showed interest in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/02/43496221/jd-coms-stock-dips-as-ceconomy-deal-heats-up-in-germany-is-the-e-commerce-king-eyeing-expansion">German retailer in 2023</a>.</li>
<li>Nissan Motor Co. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NSANY#OTC">NSANY</a>) CEO Makoto Uchida informed Honda Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HMC#NYSE">HMC</a>) CEO Toshihiro Mibe of his intention to terminate discussions <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/02/43517930/nissan-ceo-seeks-to-end-honda-merger-talks-report">on a potential merger</a>.</li>
<li>Brookfield completed its $1.7 billion acquisition of Houston-based Chemelex, a provider of electric thermal and sensing solutions. Goldman Sachs advised nVent Electric (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVT#NYSE">NVT</a>) on the sell side.</li>
<li>Court Square Capital Partners and WindRose Health Investors completed a $1.1 billion buyout of Frisco, Texas-based infusion company Soleo Health. H.I.G. Capital.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bankruptcy Block</h2>
Judge Christopher Lopez has rejected a deal that would have facilitated a second auction attempt for Alex Jones&#8216; media company, Infowars. This ruling, as reported by <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/02/05/g-s1-46738/infowars-alex-jones-onion-bankruptcy-judge-sandy-hook">NPR</a>, provides another temporary reprieve for Jones, but delays the Sandy Hook families' efforts to collect the $1.3 billion in defamation damages awarded nearly seven years ago.
Lopez explained he couldn&#8217;t approve the deal because Infowars&#8217; parent company, Free Speech Systems (FSS), is no longer in bankruptcy. That means, he rules, its assets cannot be sold—only Jones&#8217; ownership stake in the company can be auctioned. And yet, the judge also blocked <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/11/41982446/jokes-on-jones-onion-backed-by-families-of-sandy-hook-victims-buys-info-wars">a previous offer</a> from satirical website The Onion, which had partnered with the Connecticut families to bid on Infowars. 
Moving forward, Lopez emphasized that any asset sale must be a straightforward cash deal. With this latest decision, the path to recovering damages—and potentially dismantling Jones' platform—remains uncertain.
TGI Fridays has sold 19 more restaurants as part of its ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.&nbsp;Fremont, California-based Yadav Enterprises, an operator of 340 restaurants across six brands, is <a href="https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/tgi-fridays-sells-19-restaurants-out-bankruptcy">buying</a> 16 stores for $3 million in debt. Sugarloaf Hospitality, a firm owned by former TGI Fridays CEO Ray Blanchette, is acquiring three locations for $100,000.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Notes From The Block</h2>
Scale Vs. Scope: This week, Bain Capital pointed out a trend in the media sector.
Media deals are becoming &#8220;predominantly cross-industry.&#8221; According to Bain&#8217;s <a href="https://www.bain.com/insights/media-and-entertainment-m-and-a-report-2025/">analysis</a>, using data from Dealogic, more than half of all media industry M&amp;A for the first three quarters of 2024 involved either a target or acquirer outside of their industry.
Here are a few callouts, cited by Bain partners Nicole Magoon, Matt Keith and Alex Egan:
<ul>
<li>The majority of Walt Disney Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) transactions used to be &#8220;scale&#8221; (i.e., Pixar in 2006 and 21st Century Fox in 2019); today, there&#8217;s an &#8220;increasing emphasis on scope deals.&#8221; For example, last year, Disney invested in Epic Games, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/41052867/disneys-streaming-surge-epic-games-deal-among-key-growth-drivers-says-analyst">the maker of Fortnite</a>.</li>
<li>Sony Group Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SONY#NYSE">SONY</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/06/39313096/sony-steps-into-theater-business-with-alamo-drafthouse-purchase">purchased the theater-dinner chain</a> Alamo Drafthouse.</li>
<li>Companies are also doing deals for evergreen IP: Sony Music bought half of Michael Jackson's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/08/40515995/michael-jacksons-1-5b-catalog-lands-court-approval-for-sale-thriller-for-sony">publishing and recorded music catalog</a>.</li>
<li>Pophouse Entertainment acquired Kiss's catalog as well as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/04/38116031/sealed-with-a-kiss-rock-band-sells-legacy-for-300m-who-did-gene-simmons-get-into-bed-with">the band members' likenesses</a>. </li>
<li>Private equity funds have invested in smaller production studios with a track record of quality IP. For example, Redbird bought All3Media, seeking an enduring advantage in the video space.</li>
</ul>
Is there risk? &#8220;Acquirers in cross-sector media M&amp;A quickly learn that such deals require a different type of diligence,&#8221; the Bain partners say. &#8220;For one thing, an acquirer is likely to be less familiar with the target's industry. Also, the revenue synergies inherent in scope deals are harder to realize and underwrite than cost synergies.&#8221;
For last week&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/43402048/deal-dispatch-sage-and-silvus-are-up-for-sale-mrbeast-secures-20b-for-tiktok">Deal Dispatch, click here</a>.
Now Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/25/02/43535187/gwyneth-paltrow-sells-la-home-for-22m-heres-a-look-at-actor-turned-business-moguls-pricy-property-portfolio">Gwyneth Paltrow Sells LA Home For $22M. Here&#8217;s A Look At Actor-Turned-Business-Mogul&#8217;s Pricy Property Portfolio</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using a photo from Shutterstock.

Asset Sales

AMPS

BLCO

GRAB

NSANY

PCHM

PSFE

Sony Group Corporation American Depositary Shares

SONY

TYO:4188

Deal Dispatch: PharmChem Forgoes Banker To Run Sale, TGI Fridays Sells 19 Restaurants For $3.1 Million

The Kansas City Chiefs are attempting to win a third straight Super Bowl on Sunday with a matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. While millions of NFL fans will tune in for the big game, millions will also tune in to see the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/super-bowl">Super Bowl commercials.</a>
What Happened: NFL media partner Fox Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOX#NASDAQ">FOX</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOXA#NASDAQ">FOXA</a>) has the rights to Super Bowl LIX and set its sights on charging $7 million for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/25/01/43324031/super-bowl-lix-commercials-hit-record-8-million-how-fox-corporation-can-win-from-nfl-championship">30-second commercial slots.</a>
The media company was able to secure the majority of its ad slots in the $7 million to $7.5 million range and some last-minute availability came with a price tag of $8 million. Fox also saw strong demand and price increases compared to last year for the pre-game and post-game slots.
While some companies are skeptical to advertise during the Super Bowl due to the high cost, last year's record viewership could lure major brands back, as the game remains one of the most-watched events in the U.S. annually.
Here is a look at the companies that are airing Super Bowl commercials in Super Bowl LIX, as <a href="https://adage.com/article/special-report-super-bowl/super-bowl-2025-commercials-ads-brands-and-agencies/2584221">reported </a>by AdAge.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/24/02/37076429/super-bowl-commercials-2024-complete-list-of-super-bowl-lviii-ads-and-companies-behind-them">Super Bowl Commercials 2024: Complete List Of Super Bowl LVIII Ads And Companies Behind Them</a>
The Public Companies: Here are the companies that are public or tied to a public company that are airing Super Bowl commercials. With strong reception, the ads could have an impact on the company's financials and likewise its stock.
<ul>
<li>The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>): Disney+ streaming ad.</li>
<li>Totino's, brand of General Mills (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>): Pizza Rolls makes Super Bowl debut.</li>
<li>GoDaddy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GDDY#NYSE">GDDY</a>): Focus on AI tool Airo with actor Walton Goggins.</li>
<li>Mountain Dew, unit of PepsiCo (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NASDAQ">PEP</a>): Musician Seal voices a seal.</li>
<li>Skechers (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SKX#NYSE">SKX</a>): Was first company to announce a Super Bowl ad way back in May, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid stars.</li>
<li>Stella Artois, brand of Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BUD#NYSE">BUD</a>): Brand's fourth Super Bowl ad and first since 2019, David Beckham meets his American twin Dave Beckham (Matt Damon).</li>
<li>Uber Eats, unit of Uber Technologies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>): Company's fifth straight year with a Super Bow ad, features Matthew McConaughey, Kevin Bacon, Sean Evans, Martha Stewart, Greta Gerwig and Charli XCX.</li>
<li>Coffee mate, brand of Nestle (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NSRGY#OTC">NSRGY</a>): Coffee creamer makes Super Bowl debut.</li>
<li>Dove, brand of Unilever (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UL#NYSE">UL</a>): Brand's second straight Super Bowl ad.</li>
<li>Lay's, brand of PepsiCo: Ad for the All-dressed flavor that combines multiple flavors, Lay's first Super Bowl ad in three years.</li>
<li>DoorDash (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DASH#NASDAQ">DASH</a>): Focus on DashPass subscriptions with comedian Nate Bargatze.</li>
<li>Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>): Tech giant returns for first time since 2022 with a focus on its Ray-Ban glasses featuring actors Chris Hemsworth and Chris Pratt.</li>
<li>Pringles, brand of Kellanova (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/K#NYSE">K</a>): Eighth consecutive Super Bowl ad from snack brand features actor Adam Brody along with the mustaches of Nick Offerman, James Harden and Andy Reid.</li>
<li>Coors Light, brand of Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TAP#NYSE">TAP</a>): Brand's third straight year with Super Bowl ad, centers on campaign of "Case of the Mondays" for the day after Super Bowl.</li>
<li>Doritos, brand of PepsiCo: Snack brand features a fan-made ad that won a contest.</li>
<li>Salesforce (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>): Two Super Bowl ads will feature Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson with a focus on AI.</li>
<li>Booking.com (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKNG#NASDAQ">BKNG</a>): Travel company back for a fourth straight Super Bowl and features Muppets Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog and Animal.</li>
<li>Bud Light, brand of Anheuser-Busch InBev: Cul-de-sac party featuring Bud Lights with comedian Shane Gillis, musician Post Malone and NFL great Peyton Manning.</li>
<li>Ram, brand of Stellantis (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLA#NYSE">STLA</a>): Automotive company is back with an ad for its truck with actor Glen Powell.</li>
<li>Reese's, brand of The Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>): Focus on the Chocolate Lava Big Cup.</li>
<li>Google, brand of Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>): No details on the spot.</li>
<li>Instacart, brand of Maplebear (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CART#NASDAQ">CART</a>): Delivery company makes Super Bowl debut, features mascots of iconic packaged goods companies.</li>
<li>TurboTax, brand of Intuit (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTU#NASDAQ">INTU</a>): Company's 12th consecutive Super Bowl ad, promotes expert-assisted tax filing business.</li>
<li>Hellmann's, brand of Unilever: Likely one of the most talked about ads, Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan reunite at Katz's Delicatessen in New York to create a famous scene from "When Harry Met Sally."</li>
<li>Hims &amp; Hers Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HIMS#NYSE">HIMS</a>): Super Bowl debut, focus on the company's GLP-1 weight loss treatments.</li>
<li>Michelob Ultra, brand of Anheuser-Busch InBev: Actors William Dafoe and Catherine O'Hara hustle people playing pickleball.</li>
<li>Novartis (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVS#NYSE">NVS</a>): Pharmaceutical giant makes Super Bowl debut with a 60-second ad on breast cancer.</li>
<li>Rocket Companies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>): Fintech returns to Super Bowl for first time since 2022.</li>
<li>Tubi, brand of Fox Corporation: Streaming platform will be featured in several spots as Fox promotes one of its own products.</li>
<li>Budweiser, brand of Anheuser-Busch InBev: Beer company planned a spot with the famous Clydesdale horses as a regional ad, but bumped up to a national spot after strong reception.</li>
<li>Homes.com, brand of CoStar Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSGP#NASDAQ">CSGP</a>): Real estate company features celebrities in multiple Super Bowl ads.</li>
<li>Taco Bell, brand of Yum! Brands (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/YUM#NYSE">YUM</a>): First Super Bowl ad for restaurant brand in three years, features photos of real customers from drive-thru cameras.</li>
<li>Duracell, brand of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>): Battery company makes Super Bowl debut with commercial featuring "The Duracell Scientist" showing people's bad battery decisions.</li>
<li>FanDuel, brand of Flutter Entertainment (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FLUT#NYSE">FLUT</a>): Sports betting company features Peyton Manning and Eli Manning in its now annual celebrity field goal kick during the Super Bowl.</li>
<li>Ritz, brand of Mondelez (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDLZ#NASDAQ">MDLZ</a>): Super Bowl debut.</li>
</ul>
The Private Companies: Here are the private companies that are airing Super Bowl commercials.
<ul>
<li>NerdWallet: Company's first Super Bowl ad, beluga whale mascot voiced by actor Kieran Culkin.</li>
<li>WeatherTech: Company's 13th Super Bowl ad in 12 years, comes after sitting last year's game out.</li>
<li>NFL: The National Football League will have several commercials in the game.</li>
<li>Come Near: "He Gets Us" religious ads as in past Super Bowls.</li>
<li>Little Caesars: First Super Bowl ad since 2020 and comes as the new official pizza of the NFL, Eugene Levy stars.</li>
<li>Nerds: Candy brand is back for a second-straight year with singer Shaboozey.</li>
<li>Squarespace: Former public website building company is back for 11th Super Bowl ad with actor Barry Keoghan.</li>
<li>Foundation to Combat Antisemitism: Patriots owner Robert Kraft is back with his foundation featuring Tom Brady and Snoop Dogg.</li>
<li>Dunkin': Coffee and donut company is back with Ben Affleck.</li>
<li>Häagen-Dazs: Ice cream brand's first ever Super Bowl ad features Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and Ludacris, all from the "Fast and Furious" franchise.</li>
<li>Poppi: Small soda makes second straight Super Bowl ad appearance with new "Soda Thoughts" campaign.</li>
<li>HexClad: Cookware company makes Super Bowl debut with actor Pete Davidson and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, who is a part owner of the company.</li>
<li>Bosch: German company makes Super Bowl debut.</li>
<li>Angel Soft, brand of Georgia-Pacific: Toilet paper brand makes Super Bowl debut.</li>
<li>Liquid Death: Water in a can company makes Super Bowl debut.</li>
<li>Cirkul: Water bottle brand makes Super Bowl debut.</li>
<li>Fetch: Company that rewards shoppers makes Super Bowl debut with a $1.2 million giveaway.</li>
<li>MSC Cruises: European cruise company's Super Bowl debut featuring actors Drew Barrymore and Orlando Bloom.</li>
<li>OpenAI: AI company to make Super Bowl debut, as <a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/openai-set-to-make-super-bowl-ad-debut-8fa1aff5">reported </a>by the Wall Street Journal Thursday.</li>
</ul>
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/25/02/43542456/14-dot-com-companies-had-super-bowl-commercials-in-2000-heres-how-many-still-exist-today">14 Dot-Com Companies Had Super Bowl Commercials In 2000, Here&#8217;s How Many Still Exist Today</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: kovop/Shutterstock.com

Super Bowl LIX Commercials: AI, Celebs, Muppets, Warren Buffett-Linked Brand Take The Spotlight

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bearish move on Walt Disney. Our analysis of options history for Walt Disney (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) revealed 27 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 33% of traders were bullish, while 51% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 10 were puts, with a value of $610,832, and 17 were calls, valued at $908,378.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $85.0 to $120.0 for Walt Disney over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Walt Disney's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Walt Disney's significant trades, within a strike price range of $85.0 to $120.0, over the past month.
<h3>Walt Disney Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738874722_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>DIS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$8.4</td>
<td>$8.2</td>
<td>$8.4</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$162.9K</td>
<td>6.0K</td>
<td>367</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DIS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$0.87</td>
<td>$0.81</td>
<td>$0.81</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$112.7K</td>
<td>10.5K</td>
<td>11.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DIS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$20.25</td>
<td>$20.0</td>
<td>$20.25</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$101.2K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
<td>50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DIS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$4.4</td>
<td>$4.3</td>
<td>$4.37</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$87.4K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td>326</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DIS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$0.82</td>
<td>$0.76</td>
<td>$0.76</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$76.0K</td>
<td>10.5K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Walt Disney</h3>
The Walt Disney Co 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. Entertainment includes the ABC broadcast network, several cable television networks, and the Disney+ and Hulu streaming services. Within the segment, Disney also engages in movie and television production and distribution, with content licensed to movie theaters, other content providers, or, increasingly, kept in-house for use on Disney's own streaming platform and television networks. The sports segment houses ESPN and the ESPN+ streaming service. Experiences contain Disney's theme parks and vacation destinations and also benefit from merchandise licensing.
<h3>Walt Disney's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 8,447,157, the price of DIS is up 1.17% at $111.83. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 89 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Walt Disney</h3>
Over the past month, 3 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $128.33333333333334.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Citigroup has revised its rating downward to Buy, adjusting the price target to $125. 
&#x2A; In a cautious move, an analyst from Needham downgraded its rating to Buy, setting a price target of $130. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley persists with their Overweight rating on Walt Disney, maintaining a target price of $130. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Walt Disney, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

This Is What Whales Are Betting On Walt Disney

Shares of Walt Disney Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) remained volatile in early trading on Thursday, despite the company reporting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43494650/disney-q1-earnings-powered-by-moana-2-and-mufasa-theme-parks-loses-streaming-subscribers">upbeat quarterly results</a>.
The company reported its quarterly results amid an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">exciting earnings season</a>. Here are some key analyst takeaways.
Goldman Sachs On Walt Disney
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/5a1c4e20efacff00015a984c/michael-ng">Analyst Michael Ng</a> maintained a Buy rating, while lifting the price target from $139 to $140.
Walt Disney's direct-to-consumer (DTC) business generated EBIT that beat consensus by $293 million and grew by $431 million year-on-year, "putting DIS well on track to exceed its $1.0 bn F2025 DTC EBIT guidance," Ng said in a note.
Experiences EBIT beat of $3.1 billion, with domestic attendance down 2% but international up 4%, the analyst stated. Although management reiterated their full-year guidance of high single-digit percentage earnings growth, they expressed "greater confidence in the forecast," he added.
Piper Sandler On Walt Disney
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/6228915026d7930001218ee4/matt-farrell">Analyst Matt Farrell</a> reiterated a Neutral rating and price target of $115.
Walt Disney's fiscal first quarter revenues came in marginally ahead of expectations, "with operating income nicely ahead of consensus," Farrell said. Despite the strong start to the year, management reiterated their EPS growth guidance for the year, he added.
The company also projected a sequential decline in Disney+ subscribers in the March quarter, the analyst stated. Walt Disney seems to be "largely executing to plan," but needs to demonstrate "continued execution," he further wrote.
BofA Securities On Walt Disney
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/6422c89f5ce4fa00014ff23b/jessica-reif%20ehrlich">Analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich</a> reaffirmed a Buy rating and price target of $140.
Walt Disney's revenues grew 5% to $24.7 billion, while operating income climbed 31% to $5.1 billion, Ehrlich said. Adjusted earnings of $1.76 per share came in "well above our forecast of $1.40," she added.
The latest results have given management "incremental confidence in its ability to hit the full-year targets," she stated. In the Experiences segment, the fiscal first-quarter results, easier comps in the back half, the launch of a new cruise ship and a stronger consumer "underpin its 6-8% operating income target," Ehrlich further wrote.
Check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">other analyst stock ratings</a>.
Needham On Walt Disney
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/580607ae846faa000106ab43/laura-martin">Analyst Laura Martin</a> maintained a Buy rating and price target of $130.
The impact of Walt Disney's softening linear TV business was more than offset by higher operating income from its DTC business, Martin said. The company trimmed its fiscal 2025 content budget to $23 billion, from $24 billion, "which they attributed to ongoing cost structure discipline," she added.
Walt Disney expects DTC's operating profit to cross $1 billion in fiscal 2025, the analyst stated. "This strong profit growth suggests that Disney+ and Hulu are on track to achieve long-term sustainable profitability," Martin further wrote.
Raymond James On Walt Disney
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/588b3f4d77f9dd0001460896/ric-prentiss">Analyst Ric Prentiss</a> reiterated a Market Perform rating.
Walt Disney reported non-GAAP adjusted earnings of $1.76 per share, beating consensus of $1.46 per share, Prentiss said. The outperformance was "driven by big beats in the DTC and Sports segments," he added.
"We still believe Disney is the best positioned Traditional Media company for the continued transition from Linear TV to Streaming given its ownership of two scaled streaming services, large exposure to the strong-performing sports segment, significant Parks cash flows, and in our opinion the best portfolio of franchise IP in Media," the analyst wrote.
KeyBanc Capital Markets On Walt Disney
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst/59f8cd40efacff000111b43b/brandon-nispel">Analyst Brandon Nispel</a> reaffirmed a Sector Weight rating on the stock.
While DTC's profitability improved and Disney+ grew subscriptions in the fiscal first quarter, management reiterated their guidance, which suggests "either conservatism or 2H pressure," Nispel said. The guidance implies negative subscriptions at Disney+ in the fiscal second quarter and "profitability for the year doesn&#8217;t improve q/q," he added.
"Further, we&#8217;re expecting Disney+ to become DIS main DTC platform, which makes us question the future of Hulu," the analyst wrote. With subscription trends remaining stable, the company is reliant on pricing, "for which we question the value being delivered as content spend isn&#8217;t expect to increase in &#8217;25," he added.
DIS Price Action: Shares of Walt Disney had risen by 0.62% to $111.23 at the time of publication on Thursday.
Read More:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43485175/amd-alphabet-snap-chipotle-and-tesla-why-these-5-stocks-are-on-investors-radars-today"> Disney Cuts Content Budget By $1 Billion As It Pushes For Efficiency: House Of Mouse Says Too Early To Revise Guidance Despite Earnings Beat</a>
Photo: Shutterstock
&nbsp; &nbsp;

Earnings

Reiteration

Walt Disney's DTC Business Outshined, Analysts Expect Momentum To Continue

Morgan Stanley analyst Benjamin Swinburne maintains Walt Disney (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $125 to $130.

Morgan Stanley Maintains Overweight on Walt Disney, Raises Price Target to $130

Press Releases

The Walt Disney Company Executives Share Commentary on Fiscal Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Reliance and Disney Announce Completion of Transaction to Form Joint Venture to Bring Together the Most Iconic and Engaging Entertainment Brands in India

The Walt Disney Company to Participate in the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference

The Walt Disney Company Declares Cash Dividend of $1.00 Per Share

The Walt Disney Company Executives to Discuss Fiscal First Quarter 2025 Financial Results via Q&A Webcast

Fubo and Disney's Hulu + Live TV Virtual MVPD Businesses to Combine

FUBOTV INVESTOR ALERT by the Former Attorney General of Louisiana: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates Merger of FuboTV Inc. - FUBO

Disney Experiences Announces Key Leadership Appointments

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The Walt Disney Company Reports First Quarter Earnings for Fiscal 2025

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