Media Networks, Weaker Film Slate Could Be A Drag On Disney’s Q1 Results

Disney (NYSE: DIS) is scheduled to announce its fiscal first quarter results on Tuesday, February 5. In fiscal 2018, the company’s revenue increased 8% year-over-year (y-o-y) to $59.4 billion, and operating income grew 6% y-o-y to $15.7 billion. In addition, the company’s adjusted EPS rose 24% y-o-y while free cash flow fell marginally to $8.8 billion.

Our $122 price estimate for Disney’s stock is around 10% ahead of the current market price. Our interactive dashboard on What To Expect From Disney’s Q1 outlines our forecasts for the company’s fiscal Q1 and full-year results. You can modify our forecasts to see the impact any changes would have on the company’s earnings and valuation. Disney is primarily focusing on its new online streaming media service Disney+, which is expected to launch in the U.S. market later this year. In addition, the company is also moving ahead with the acquisition of assets from Fox. Going forward, we expect Disney to post relatively flat revenue growth and a decline in EPS in Q1, driven by continued growth at Parks & Resorts, offset by increased expenses at Media Networks and a comparatively weaker film slate.

Media Networks Could Be A Drag In Q1

In Q4, results at ESPN were comparable to the prior-year quarter as affiliate revenue growth was offset by higher programming and production costs, driven by contractual rate increases and lower advertising revenue. This trend is likely to continue into Q1 as well. Further, Disney also expects its Q1 cable programming expenses to be up 9%, driven by the timing shift of the college football semifinals. The continued ramp-up of ESPN+, which includes investments in sports rights, will have an adverse impact on operating income of about $100 million for the first quarter.

Expect Relatively Weak Studio Performance In Q1

Disney could face a challenging y-o-y comparison in the first quarter because of the phenomenal success of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Thor: Ragnarok and Coco in the prior year. Given the significant contributions films made to operating income in Q1 2018, operating income in this quarter could be down by as much as $600 million. The theatrical success of Star Wars: The Last Jedi also resulted in higher licensing results for the first quarter last year, which – in addition to the absence of a comparable franchise title this year – will weigh on the segment’s licensing business in Q1 2019.

Parks And Resorts To Boost Results In Long Run

Disney continues to make enhancements to its parks with the recent opening of the new Toy Story Land at Shanghai Disneyland. The company also plans to open a new Star Wars Land in 2019 at both the Disneyland and Walt Disney World locations. Overall, we expect Disney’s theme parks to be an important driver for its long-term growth due to its international expansion. In fiscal 2018, the segment’s revenues grew 10% y-o-y and operating income increased 18% y-o-y.

Fiscal 2019 Outlook

Fiscal 2018 was the best year in Disney’s Studio history. Consequently, the company may face a difficult year-over-year comparison in the Studio Entertainment segment in fiscal 2019. However, it does have a strong upcoming lineup – including Captain Marvel, Dumbo, the next Avengers film, Aladdin, Toy Story 4 and The Lion King. In Media Networks, the company expects cable programming expenses to be up mid-single digits, driven primarily by contractual rate increases for sports rights at ESPN. It should be noted that Disney’s full-year fiscal 2019 results will be influenced by the timing of the closing of the Fox acquisition as well.

What’s behind Trefis? See How It’s Powering New Collaboration and What-Ifs

For CFOs and Finance Teams | Product, R&D, and Marketing Teams

More Trefis Research

Like our charts? Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own.