New York, Jan 20, 2026, 15:29 EST — Regular session
Walt Disney Co (DIS) shares slipped roughly 1% to $110.08 in afternoon trading Tuesday, after fluctuating between $108.85 and $111.07 earlier in the day.
The sell-off hit after President Donald Trump reignited tariff threats against European allies over a spat involving Greenland, stirring fresh concerns about a new trade battle right as markets reopened following a U.S. holiday. 1
This hits Disney hard since its parks and cruises depend on discretionary spending, while its media arms count on ad demand — areas investors typically cut back on first when markets grow cautious.
The broader backdrop remained weak. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell to roughly their lowest points in a month. Charlie Ripley, strategist at Allianz Investment Management, described the move as “a contained version” of last year’s selloff around the “Liberation Day” tariff shock. Netflix is set to report earnings after the closing bell, one of several key updates investors are eyeing this week. 2
Volatility surged across markets. The Cboe Volatility Index, a key measure of demand for U.S. equity protection, hit an eight-week peak earlier. Jim Carroll of Ballast Rock Private Wealth called it “a very significant shift,” but stopped short of calling it “hair on fire.” 3
Disney is gearing up for its next major event: the company will report fiscal first-quarter results before the market opens on Feb. 2 and hold a webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET. 4
For now, investors are sizing up Disney much like other media and consumer companies: focusing on ad prices, streaming subscriber numbers, and signs of rising costs or weaker travel demand hitting bookings.
But the threat runs both ways. Wasif Latif, chief investment officer at Sarmaya Partners, flagged that geopolitical tensions are “re-emerging,” triggering a “significant risk off day.” He noted past selloffs eased when “the Trump administration and the powers that be walk things back.” EU leaders are scheduled to debate potential countermeasures at an emergency summit in Brussels Thursday. 5
Investors face a busy week ahead, balancing incoming earnings reports with new U.S. economic data. The key question remains whether the tariff dispute will fade as just a headline or deal a real blow to growth forecasts.
Disney holders have Feb. 2 marked on their calendars. Investors will be watching closely for any updates on park attendance and the direction of the streaming segment, which could dictate the stock’s next move.
