Media

Disney shares lose ground this week after Q1 earnings, succession announcement

Key Points
  • Disney announced its next CEO Tuesday.
  • Shares of the media giant are down this week as analysts say the leadership transition amounts to an "overhang" on the stock.

In this article

CFOTO | Future Publishing | Getty Images

Disney shares have fallen 7% this week after the company reported fiscal first-quarter earnings and announced that parks boss Josh D'Amaro will succeed CEO Bob Iger.

The media giant on Monday said its experiences division, which includes theme parks, resorts, and cruises and is led by D'Amaro, crossed $10 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time.

Disney CFO Hugh Johnston on Q1 results: The company has a lot of momentum right now
VIDEO7:1807:18
Disney CFO Hugh Johnston on Q1 results: The company has a lot of momentum right now

The company's overall revenue was roughly $26 billion, up 5% yearly, and beating Wall Street's expectations of $25.7 billion.

CEO transition is an 'overhang' on shares

The company's CEO announcement marks the second time it's appointed a successor for Iger. His first stint as CEO ended in 2020 when Disney picked Bob Chapek to take the top position. But Chapek was fired in late 2022, prompting Iger to return.

Jefferies analysts said in a note Monday, before Disney tapped D'Amaro as its next CEO, that the "leadership transition remains an overhang on shares."

In a Monday note, BofA analysts also said succession had "been an overhang on the shares recently."

Disney shares slip after earnings
VIDEO2:3202:32
Disney shares slip after earnings

Iger said Monday his successor will be "handed, I think, a good hand in terms of the strength of the company, a number of opportunities to grow and also the expectation that in a world that changes, you also have to continue to change and evolve as well."

The BofA analysts said Monday that, given the value of the experiences division to the company's earnings, the appointment of D'Amaro would be "well received by the investment community."

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