Disney stock ticks up as BofA says don’t dump DIS ahead of February earnings

Disney stock ticks up as BofA says don’t dump DIS ahead of February earnings

New York, January 6, 2026, 15:45 EST — Regular session

  • Disney shares up about 0.3% in afternoon trading, hovering near $114
  • BofA analyst keeps a Buy and a $140 target, flags a “mixed” near-term setup
  • Investors eye the Jan. 15 dividend and an early-February earnings update

Walt Disney shares rose 0.3% to $114.40 in late afternoon trading on Tuesday as a BofA Securities analyst reiterated a buy rating ahead of the company’s next earnings report. The stock traded between $113.11 and $114.75, with volume around 4.8 million shares.

The subdued move still matters for Disney holders because the next quarter will test whether higher streaming prices translate into fatter profits without driving cancellations. Investors are also watching whether the parks and cruises business can hold up as consumers become more selective on big-ticket spending.

BofA Securities analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich kept a buy rating and a $140 price target, saying Disney’s first-quarter results could be “mixed,” Barron’s reported on Monday. She cited a strong quarter for animated film “Zootopia 2,” which she said grossed $337.9 million domestically, alongside weaker live-action releases such as “Tron: Ares” at $73.2 million, and pointed to softer international park attendance and pre-opening cruise ship costs as near-term drags. Ehrlich said Disney looked undervalued at about 17 times forward earnings — a valuation based on analysts’ profit forecasts — versus Netflix at 28 times, Barron’s reported. Barron’s

A regulatory filing also showed fresh insider share activity tied to board compensation. Disney director Mary T. Barra acquired 906.9 shares at $113.02 on Dec. 31 through stock units and deferred stock units under the company’s incentive plan, a Form 4 filing showed.

On the tape, Disney has yet to clear $115 so far this session, while it remains about 8% below its 52-week high and roughly 43% above its 52-week low, based on MarketWatch data.

Income-focused investors also have a near-term date to watch. Disney is set to pay the first installment of its $1.50-a-share dividend on Jan. 15 — a $0.75 payment to shareholders of record on Dec. 15 — according to the company’s investor-relations website.

Disney has not confirmed the date for its next results, but Wall Street Horizon lists an unconfirmed earnings date of Feb. 4, before the open, based on prior reporting patterns. That report will be a key check on streaming operating profit and any shift in parks demand as the company moves deeper into fiscal 2026.

But the setup cuts both ways. If price increases push more subscribers to cancel, or if a weaker travel backdrop crimps park attendance and cruise pricing, investors could reset expectations quickly, especially if the ad market stays soft for Disney’s TV networks.

The next hard catalyst is Disney’s fiscal first-quarter report, listed on market calendars for Feb. 4, where guidance on streaming margins and parks bookings will likely drive the next move in DIS.

Khadija Saeed

Khadija Saeed is a financial markets reporter at TS2.tech, specializing in stocks, technology and emerging industries. She studied economics and finance at the London School of Economics and previously worked in market research before moving into financial journalism. Her coverage focuses on the companies, innovations and economic trends influencing global investors. Follow Khadija Saeed on Google News.

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