by Ray Keating
Analysis
DisneyBizJournal.com
January 22, 2022
Disney’s stock price dropped by $10.24 – or by 6.94 percent – on Friday, January 21, to $137.38. That was the worst closing price for a week since early November 2020. (Full disclosure: I own Disney stock.)
So, what happened? Netflix happened.
Specifically, Netflix missed on market expectations for subscriber growth. The company projected subscriber growth of 2.5 million in the current quarter (first quarter 2022), which compares to 4 million in the same quarter last year. Also, subscribers came in at 8.3 million in the fourth quarter, slightly below projections of 8.5 million. Netflix tumbled by 22 percent on Friday.
Of course, Disney also had missed market expectations for Disney+ subscriber growth that was announced in November, with 2.1 million quarterly net adds coming in far below market expectations that topped 10 million. And since early November, the Disney stock price has dropped by nearly $40 per share, or by 22 percent.
Having said all of this, Disney differs from Netflix in that it is not only a streaming play. While CEO Bob Chapek has made it clear that Disney’s main emphasis moving forward will in fact be direct-to-consumer, streaming efforts, that doesn’t mean that the rest of this vast entertainment company, such as theme parks, the cruise line, resorts, merchandise, and so on, will somehow be neglected. Indeed, since the days of Walt Disney himself, Disney has been known for brand synergy, with one part of the company fueling growth and revenues in other parts.
Given the various sectors covered by Disney, few entertainment companies seem better positioned to take full advantage of a post-pandemic, post-supply-chain-challenges, post-inflation environment. The only real question is the same one that all other businesses are trying to continue to figure out: Just when exactly will we be clear of this pandemic and its related problems?
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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.
The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?
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Keating has three new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13th thriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Again, get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com. And order the 15th book in the series What’s Lost? A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story – grab it at Amazon.com or signed editions at www.raykeatingonline.com.
Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.
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