Sandhill Capital Partners LLC Reduces Stake in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)

Sandhill Capital Partners LLC reduced its position in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) by 1.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 8,597 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock after selling 133 shares during the period. Sandhill Capital Partners LLC’s holdings in Walt Disney were worth $776,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of DIS. Planned Solutions Inc. purchased a new position in Walt Disney during the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Fortis Group Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Walt Disney during the third quarter valued at about $30,000. Stone House Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Walt Disney by 355.3% during the fourth quarter. Stone House Investment Management LLC now owns 346 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 270 shares during the period. Orion Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Walt Disney during the third quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd raised its holdings in Walt Disney by 15,900.0% during the third quarter. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd now owns 480 shares of the entertainment giant’s stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 477 shares during the period. 65.71% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Walt Disney Trading Down 1.0 %

Shares of DIS traded down $1.18 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $112.74. 8,033,218 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 11,853,280. The stock has a market cap of $206.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 69.18, a P/E/G ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.42. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $114.15 and its two-hundred day moving average is $99.37. The Walt Disney Company has a 12 month low of $78.73 and a 12 month high of $123.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.77.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The entertainment giant reported $1.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.97 by $0.25. Walt Disney had a return on equity of 7.88% and a net margin of 3.36%. The company had revenue of $23.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $23.71 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.99 earnings per share. Walt Disney’s revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that The Walt Disney Company will post 4.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Walt Disney Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 25th. Investors of record on Monday, July 8th will be paid a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, July 8th. This represents a yield of 0.5%. Walt Disney’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 18.52%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

DIS has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Walt Disney from $128.00 to $141.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday. Bank of America boosted their target price on Walt Disney from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, April 1st. Daiwa Capital Markets reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $133.00 target price on shares of Walt Disney in a research report on Monday, April 1st. UBS Group boosted their target price on Walt Disney from $120.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 27th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their target price on Walt Disney from $125.00 to $120.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and twenty-two have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $125.08.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Sonia L. Coleman sold 1,857 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.92, for a total value of $226,405.44. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 4,400 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $536,448. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About Walt Disney

The Walt Disney Company operates as an entertainment company worldwide. It operates through three segments: Entertainment, Sports, and Experiences. The company produces and distributes film and television video streaming content under the ABC Television Network, Disney, Freeform, FX, Fox, National Geographic, and Star brand television channels, as well as ABC television stations and A+E television networks; and produces original content under the ABC Signature, Disney Branded Television, FX Productions, Lucasfilm, Marvel, National Geographic Studios, Pixar, Searchlight Pictures, Twentieth Century Studios, 20th Television, and Walt Disney Pictures banners.