7 months ago
Disney's Roadmap for Next CEO
Disney has had a tough time over the past decade, with its stock not growing much compared to other companies.
The current CEO, Bob Iger, is leaving at the end of 2026, and Disney needs to find a new leader to help it do better.
The new CEO will have four main jobs: make Disney's streaming service grow faster, create more successful movies, improve the sports network ESPN, and keep making Disney's theme parks and cruises the best.
If the new CEO can do these things well, Disney might start doing better and make investors happy again.
Disney shares have grown only 17% in the past decade, lagging behind Netflix and the S&P 500.
The next CEO will focus on accelerating streaming growth, delivering box-office hits, improving ESPN, and building on the success of theme parks.
Disney's streaming operating margin is expected to rise from 7% to 11% by the end of the fiscal year.
The content slate for the next two years includes new Toy Story, Star Wars, Avengers, Ice Age, and The Simpsons movies.
Disney's experiences division, including theme parks and cruise lines, is the company's biggest earnings driver.
- Who
- Disney's next CEO (expected to be announced soon)
- What
- A roadmap for the next CEO to turn around Disney's performance
- Where
- Walt Disney Company
- When
- CEO transition expected by the end of 2026
- Why
- To address a lost decade for Disney shares and improve investor confidence
Key facts
- Current Disney Share Price
- $110
- Disney Share Price Growth (10 Years)
- 17%
- Netflix Share Price Growth (10 Years)
- 832%
- S&P 500 Growth (10 Years)
- 271%
- Expected CEO Announcement
- Within a few weeks
- Current CEO Departure Date
- End of 2026
- Leading CEO Candidates
- Josh D’Amaro, Dana Walden
- Streaming Operating Margin (2024)
- 7%
- Target Streaming Operating Margin
- 11%
- Disney's Biggest Earnings Driver
- Experiences division (theme parks and cruise lines)
Quotes
Matt Dolgin
Analyst at Morningstar
“This is the most important business to drive value for the firm, and it’s set up for durable growth”
livemint.com
“The CEO just 'needs to execute on the foundation that is in place'”
livemint.com
Bob Iger
CEO of Walt Disney
“The ESPN streaming launch had been 'a real success'”
livemint.com
Robert Fishman
Analyst at MoffettNathanson
“Investors 'need renewed confidence that [streaming] revenue growth and profitability still have meaningful runway'”
livemint.com
Hugh Johnston
Chief Financial Officer of Walt Disney
“We’re certainly looking to gain margin in chunks, not in basis points, as we think beyond 2026 and into the future”
livemint.com
Sources
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