Disney: Still Magical, Still Making Money

Alright, folks, settle in. You wanna know where to put your money? Forget tulip bulbs, forget Beanie Babies. We’re talkin’ Disney. Yes, that Disney. The one with the mouse. The one that somehow convinced generations that princesses just happen to befriend woodland creatures. It’s a racket, I tell ya, a beautiful, profitable racket. And, surprisingly, it’s still workin’.

Now, I’m a market watcher, see? I’ve seen empires rise and fall faster than a Goofy pratfall. But this Mouse House? It’s got staying power. And recently, it gave investors a nice little ten billion-dollar reason to cheer. A ten billion! That’s a lot of churros, let me tell ya.

Bringing Valuable Intellectual Property to Life (Or, How They Sell Dreams)

So, what’s the secret sauce? It’s not the magic wands, folks. It’s the “Experiences” segment. During their latest quarter (ended Dec. 27th, if you’re keepin’ track), Disney raked in a cool ten billion dollars in revenue. Ten billion! That’s like… well, it’s a lot. Up 6% year over year, mind you. They’re practically printing money. It represented 38% of their total sales. And they’re doin’ it both here and abroad. They’re world conquerors, I tell ya, but with theme parks instead of armies.

This “Experiences” thing? That’s where they turn all that cartoon magic into actual, physical stuff. Theme parks, cruise lines, merchandise…it’s a genius operation. They take characters and storylines and, poof, suddenly you’re spendin’ a fortune on a foam ear hat. It’s a wide moat, alright. A moat filled with screaming children and overpriced souvenirs. And it’s profitable. Very profitable.

They pulled in $3.3 billion in operating income – a whopping 72% of Disney’s total! That’s like… most of the money! The rest is probably tied up in animated penguin contracts. This division isn’t just makin’ money, it’s got staying power. And, crucially, they can charge you whatever they want for a Mickey Pretzel. That’s what I call pricing power!

And they’re not stoppin’ there. They’re expandin’ like a runaway balloon animal. CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston are plannin’ to pour another $60 billion into this operation over the next decade. They’re buildin’ new rides, addin’ new ships, and generally spreadin’ the Disney magic across the globe. It’s an empire, I tell ya, an empire built on dreams and… well, let’s be honest, clever marketing.

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Promoting the Head of Experiences (Or, Who’s Gonna Run the Show When the Mouse Gets Old?)

Now, here’s a bit of news that’ll make investors breathe a little easier. They’ve finally picked someone to take over from Bob Iger. It’s Josh D’Amaro, the guy who’s been runnin’ the “Experiences” segment for the last five years. The guy knows how to extract money from tourists, that’s for sure. He’s been with the company for 28 years, so he’s seen it all – the triumphs, the disasters, the endless parade of costumed characters.

He took the helm during the pandemic, which, let’s face it, was a tough time for theme parks. But he managed to keep the magic alive, even when everyone was wearin’ masks and standin’ six feet apart. That’s a sign of a good leader. And it gives investors confidence. This isn’t a company that’s afraid to make bold moves. They’re still buildin’ castles, folks. And that’s a good sign for your portfolio. So, you can own this company with confidence. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to buy a pair of mouse ears. For research purposes, of course.

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2026-02-07 11:22