TLDR:
- Disney reported Q2 earnings of $1.45 per share on revenue of $23.6 billion, beating analyst expectations
- The company raised its full-year profit outlook to $5.75 per share, up 16% from fiscal 2024
- Theme parks division saw 6% revenue growth to $8.9 billion, with domestic parks posting a 13% rise in operating income
- Streaming services added 1.4 million Disney+ subscribers and achieved $336 million in operating profit
- International parks underperformed with a 23% drop in operating income due to lower attendance in Shanghai and Hong Kong
Disney (DIS) delivered a strong quarterly earnings report on Wednesday that exceeded Wall Street expectations. The entertainment giant reported adjusted earnings of $1.45 per share and revenue of $23.6 billion, representing a 7% increase from the previous year.
Investors responded positively to the news. Disney stock jumped as much as 8.5% in premarket trading before settling around a 6% gain.
The company’s theme parks division, which had faced investor concerns, showed resilience with revenue rising 6% to $8.9 billion. This performance helped ease worries about potential impacts from President Trump’s tariffs on consumer vacation spending.
Domestic parks were the standout performer. Operating income at U.S. parks increased by 13%, rebounding from a 5% decline in the previous quarter.
Higher attendance and guest spending contributed to the domestic parks’ success. The successful launch of the Disney Treasure cruise ship also boosted results.
Streaming Success Continues
Disney’s streaming division posted its fourth consecutive profitable quarter. The direct-to-consumer unit, which includes Disney+ and Hulu, reported an operating profit of $336 million.
This represents a substantial improvement from the $47 million profit reported in the same quarter last year.
Disney+ added 1.4 million subscribers during the quarter. This was particularly impressive considering analysts had expected a loss of 1.25 million subscribers due to recent price increases.
The streaming profit came despite ongoing efforts to improve profitability through price hikes and password sharing crackdowns. Disney has set a streaming profit target of approximately $875 million for fiscal 2025.
International Challenges
Not all segments performed equally well. International parks faced greater headwinds, with operating income dropping 23%.
Lower attendance at Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland drove much of this decline. These locations also experienced increased operational costs.
The international parks’ performance raises questions about the global strength of the Disney brand in certain markets. Some analysts view these results as a proxy for Disney’s international appeal.
Disney acknowledged broader economic uncertainty in its earnings release. The company stated it “continues to monitor macroeconomic developments for potential impacts” and recognizes “uncertainty remains regarding the operating environment for the balance of the fiscal year.”
Despite these challenges, Disney raised its full-year profit outlook. The company now forecasts adjusted earnings of $5.75 per share for its fiscal year ending in September.
This represents a 16% increase from fiscal 2024 and is substantially higher than the average analyst estimate of $5.44 per share.
The improved outlook reflects confidence in Disney’s ability to navigate economic uncertainties while continuing to grow its core businesses.
In other financial details, Disney reported taking a $109 million content impairment charge during the quarter. This follows a roughly $50 million charge in the previous quarter related to its exit from the Venu Sports joint venture.
The earnings report comes at a time when Disney stock had been underperforming. Prior to the earnings announcement, Disney shares were down 17% year-to-date, compared to a 4.7% drop for the S&P 500.
The positive quarterly results may help reverse this trend. Disney’s performance contrasts with mixed results from industry competitors, with Netflix up 28% and Comcast down 8.1% in 2025.
Disney’s earnings were released against the backdrop of increasing competition in the theme park industry. The upcoming launch of NBCUniversal’s Epic Universe could potentially draw visitors away from Disney’s Florida attractions.
Nevertheless, Disney’s current theme park performance suggests the company maintains strong consumer appeal and pricing power. The company previously indicated it expects 6% to 8% operating income growth in its parks segment for fiscal year 2025.
Disney reported the quarterly results covered the period ending March 31, 2025.
