Disney’s Untouchable Moat: A $1.7B Zootopia Revelation

Right, let’s talk Disney. Bob Iger, bless him, casually dropped a statistic during the earnings call on Monday that basically confirms what we all suspected: they’re operating on a different plane of existence. Sixty films have cracked the billion-dollar mark at the box office. Disney owns 37 of them. Thirty-seven. That’s…a lot. More than 60%, four times their nearest competitor. Honestly, it’s less a business and more a carefully curated, emotionally manipulative empire. And I’m here for it. Mostly.

The latest evidence? Zootopia 2. Another $1.7 billion in the bank. It’s the top-grossing animated film of all time. Which, let’s be honest, is a bit terrifying. We’re handing over our disposable income to a cartoon bunny and fox. But hey, who am I to judge? It’s a solid investment, apparently. Disney’s 2025 total? $6.5 billion. Their third-best year ever. They’re practically printing money while the rest of us are debating avocado toast.

And the pipeline? Toy Story 5 and Avengers: Doomsday. Seriously? Doomsday. They’re not even trying to be subtle anymore. It’s all just…relentless. But here’s the kicker. It’s not just about the ticket sales. That’s what everyone misses. It’s the flywheel, darling. The beautiful, terrifying flywheel.

See, Zootopia 2 and the latest Avatar aren’t on Disney+ yet, but people are still streaming the originals. The 2016 Zootopia, the 2009 Avatar. Ancient history, practically. But the new films are driving traffic. Iger mentioned it, all nonchalant. Streaming revenue up 11% year over year. They’re not telling us subscriber numbers anymore, which is always a red flag, but the money’s still rolling in. Clever, really. It’s like they’re mining nostalgia.

And then there’s the parks. Shanghai has Zootopia Land. Apparently, a “significant percentage” of visitors are going solely for the bunny and the fox. Just…wow. They’re building entire worlds based on intellectual property. It’s unsettling, but also…brilliant. World of Frozen is launching in Paris in March. And Frozen 3 is coming in 2027. Prepare for a tidal wave of Elsa merchandise. I’m starting to feel a little breathless just thinking about it.

Disney doesn’t just make movies; they build ecosystems. They monetize joy, sadness, and everything in between. Other companies try, but none of them do it with quite the same…ruthlessness. Or, shall we say, efficiency. It’s not a business; it’s a carefully constructed reality.

Is it time to buy Disney stock?

Shares dipped on Monday despite the solid earnings. Which, frankly, feels like a gift. A slightly bruised gift, but a gift nonetheless. Look, Disney’s navigating some choppy waters – the decline of linear TV, the uncertainty surrounding movie theaters. It’s not all sunshine and sparkly castles. But their ability to leverage content across multiple platforms is…remarkable. And let’s be honest, a little scary.

Disney’s shares are down nearly 50% from their all-time high. It’s a long game, obviously. But for long-term investors, it’s worth a serious look. They’re not just selling stories; they’re selling a feeling. And people will always pay for a feeling. Even if that feeling is slightly manufactured and aggressively marketed. Don’t tell anyone I said that. I have a reputation to maintain.

2026-02-04 14:22

Is it time to buy Disney stock?

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