Last week The Walt Disney Company ( NYSE:DIS ) released fourth quarter results which disappointed the market. The stock price has been under pressure since March, and has now broken below the $167 level that had previously acted as support. The stocks appear reasonably valued, but sentiment may take time to improve.
Fourth quarter highlights:
For the full year:
Overall, Disney’s recovery is on track, but the market appears focussed on the lower than expected and slowing subscriber growth at Disney+. Disney’s management also indicated that the net loss at Disney+ is expected to widen in the coming quarters as the company invests in new content.
According to our estimate of the valuation, the intrinsic value for the stock is $264.01, but it is currently trading 40% below this level at US$160. But, there may be another chance to buy again in the future. This is because Walt Disney’s beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the company’s shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity.
NYSE:DIS Earnings and Revenue Growth November 15th 2021
Future outlook is an important aspect when you’re looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Although value investors would argue that it’s the intrinsic value relative to the price that matters the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. Walt Disney’s earnings over the next few years are expected to double, indicating a very optimistic future ahead. This should lead to stronger cash flows, feeding into a higher share value.
The addition of new content in 2022 should help the company increase subscriber numbers. In addition, the net loss is expected to peak in 2022. This suggests there should be an inflection point in sentiment in the next year. There is also potential for margin improvements in the rest of the business – the net income margin is now 3% vs a 5 year average of 11.4%.
With the share price below technical support there may be some more downside until a positive catalyst develops. However, the current discount to fair value implies that downside may be limited. $153 is a key level to keep an eye on as it would close the gap formed in December last year and also coincides with a previous high.