New York, January 26, 2026, 15:04 ET — Regular session
- Disney shares climbed roughly 0.7% during afternoon trading in New York
- Traders are gearing up for a Fed decision ahead of a packed week of U.S. earnings reports
- Disney is set to release its results on Feb. 2, with forecasts indicating a dip in profit despite an uptick in sales
Shares of The Walt Disney Company climbed roughly 0.7% to $111.81 in Monday afternoon trading, buoyed by a stronger broader market. Investors are gearing up for a packed week of earnings reports and central bank announcements.
U.S. stocks climbed as investors awaited earnings from several megacap tech giants, the largest players in the market, along with a Federal Reserve decision due later this week. Chris Larkin of E*Trade at Morgan Stanley noted that the batch of reports “should help shape sentiment” on the artificial intelligence (AI) trade. (Reuters)
Disney’s next big event is looming ahead of the Fed meeting. According to Zacks, Wall Street forecasts earnings per share (EPS) of $1.56 for the quarter ending December 2025, marking an 11.4% drop from last year. Revenue is expected to rise 5% to $25.93 billion. (Nasdaq)
That’s important since Disney now serves as a key indicator for two major forces shaking U.S. markets: consumer spending on experiences and the complicated shift from traditional TV to streaming.
Investors are set to focus on Disney’s direct-to-consumer segment, with particular attention on Disney+ and Hulu. ESPN’s performance will draw scrutiny amid rising sports rights fees industry-wide. Demand for parks and cruises will also be closely watched following a volatile year for discretionary spending.
Media stocks showed a mixed picture on Monday. Netflix dipped roughly 0.2%, Comcast edged up around 0.6%, while Warner Bros. Discovery dropped close to 1.1% during afternoon trading.
Disney’s price action was muted today, though the stock often swings significantly around guidance updates — particularly on streaming margins, advertising demand, and how quickly profits are declining in its legacy TV networks.
Bulls face a clear threat: falling short of expectations or cautious remarks on subscriber numbers and ad rates could swiftly erase recent gains, shifting attention back to cost control. Sports content holds viewers, but comes with a high price tag, and investors have reacted sharply to any hint that expenses are outpacing revenue growth.
Disney plans to release its results ahead of the market open on Monday, Feb. 2, followed by a webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET. (Financialcontent)
