The Walt Disney Company – Reports increased guest spending

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS). Last Market Price: 37.12, Change: +2.48, % Change: (7.16%). Shares trade in the range of 36.37 – 37.42 dollars. It has a market capitalization of 68.89B dollars, making it a Large Cap Stock and has 1.86B outstanding shares. The company has a beta of 1.21, indicating, the stock to be more volatile than the market. As per the most recent quarterly report, the net income per share (EPS) is 2.52; P/E of 14.74 indicating, that the stock price to be fair valued. It operates in Services sector and belongs to Broadcasting and Cable TV industry. Percentage shares held by institutional investors is 67%. The company has a 52 week Price range (low – high) of $ 28.19 – 44.34. Average volumes of shares traded daily are 11,070,000. Volume traded in the last session was at 10,240,000, 0.93 times the average volume.

• Reports Q4 (Sep)
• EPS of $0.59, better than the market estimates
• Revenues rose 7.0% year on year to $10.43 billion

• Company says: Higher operating income at our domestic parks and resorts was driven by increased guest spending and, to a lesser extent, attendance, partially offset by increased costs. Increased guest spending reflected higher average ticket prices, daily hotel room rates and food, beverage and merchandise spending. Increased costs reflected labor cost inflation, enhancement and expansion costs, including new guest offerings at Disney California Adventure, and investments in our systems infrastructure. Additionally, higher pension and post-retirement medical expenses contributed to increased costs.

For Q3 (Jul ’11), It had a Net profit margin of 15.58%, an Operating margin of 23.49%. Other Key stats and ratios are : Return on average assets of 9.42%, Return on average equity of 15.26%. The organization has an employee strength of 149,000

Consensus Recommendation is a Outperform.

Estimate for sales for the Quarter Ending Dec-11 show a mean of 11,166.70 million dollars, an estimate high of 11,384.00 million dollars and an estimate low of 10,838.00 million dollars. A year ago the figures stood at 10,861.10 million dollars.

Estimate for sales for the Quarter Ending Mar-12 show a mean of 9,583.98 million dollars, an estimate high of 9,906.60 million dollars and an estimate low of 9,330.00 million dollars. A year ago the figures stood at 10,164.30 million dollars.

Estimate for EPS for the Quarter Ending Dec-11 show a mean of 0.71 dollars, an estimate high of 0.78 dollars and an estimate low of 0.63 dollars. A year ago the figures stood at 0.67 dollars.

Estimate for EPS for the Quarter Ending Mar-12 show a mean of 0.61 dollars, an estimate high of 0.69 dollars and an estimate low of 0.55 dollars. A year ago the figures stood at 0.69 dollars.

Sales for Quarter Ending Sep-11 was estimated at 10,359.90 million dollars, however the actual sales figure stood at 10,425.00 million dollars, 65.09 million dollars more than estimates.

Sales for Quarter Ending Jun-11 was estimated at 10,459.30 million dollars, however the actual sales figure stood at 10,675.00 million dollars, 215.73 million dollars more than estimates.

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