Disney vs. Netflix: A Dividend Hunter’s Dilemma

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Right. So, the portfolio. It’s a bit of a mess, honestly. I keep telling myself I’m a sophisticated investor, a discerning selector of income-generating assets. The reality? I spend approximately 70% of my time refreshing stock tickers and the other 30% panicking. This week’s obsession? Disney versus Netflix. Both are, theoretically, media empires. Both, potentially, capable of showering me with dividends. But which one will actually deliver? It’s enough to make a girl need a very large cup of tea.

Netflix, of course, has been everywhere. It’s the streaming pioneer, the disruptor, the reason I haven’t left the sofa in three days. Shares are up something ridiculous – 732% in the last decade, apparently. Which is… impressive. Though, let’s be honest, a lot of things were impressive in the last decade that turned out to be bubbles. I’m cautiously optimistic, but I’ve learned to distrust anything that sounds too good to be true. It’s a rule I break approximately every other Tuesday.

Then there’s Disney. The House of Mouse. The childhood memories. The slightly terrifying mascot. And currently, a stock trading 44% below its peak. Which is… concerning. But also, potentially, an opportunity. I’ve always believed in a bit of value investing. Buy low, hold on for dear life, and hope it eventually goes up. It’s a strategy that requires a level of patience I do not naturally possess.

The Numbers Game (and My Anxiety Levels)

Okay, let’s talk numbers. Disney is currently trading at a forward P/E ratio of 17.2. Netflix? A rather lofty 27.3. That’s a significant difference. It means Disney is, on paper, cheaper. Which is good. Though, of course, cheap isn’t always good. Sometimes it’s cheap for a reason. Like that slightly dented handbag I bought last week. Seemed like a bargain, turned out to be a structural flaw. Lessons are hard-won, people.

What’s particularly interesting is Disney’s direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming profits. They jumped almost tenfold in the last fiscal year. Tenfold. That’s… a lot. And they’re expected to keep climbing. It suggests Disney is actually figuring out this whole streaming thing. Which is reassuring. I’ve been nervously checking their subscriber numbers every hour. It’s a compulsion, I swear.

So, valuation expansion and growing DTC earnings. That’s a potent combination. It could lift Disney stock to new heights. Or it could all come crashing down. Honestly, the possibilities are endless. And terrifying.

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The Netflix Question (and My Impatience)

Netflix stock has taken a bit of a tumble from its all-time high. Which, admittedly, is slightly encouraging. If the share price were to fall further, bringing that forward P/E ratio down to around 20, then maybe we’d have a proper conversation about which stock is the better investment. But honestly, I don’t have the emotional bandwidth to wait for a pullback. I need answers now. Or at least by lunchtime.

Units of Cryptocurrency Lost: 12. Hours Spent Watching Charts: 9. Number of Panicked Texts to Friends: 24. Will become disciplined long-term investor: Unlikely. Still, a girl can dream. And occasionally, invest in a slightly undervalued media empire.

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2026-01-17 08:42