Disney | Fundamental Analysis | Long Setup | Must Read ⚡️Walt Disney Company may have a variety of businesses under its corporate aegis, but almost every one of them has been severely affected by the onset of the pandemic. Disney management quickly rebuilt, accelerating the launch of its streaming strategy (led by Disney+) and strengthening its balance sheet.
Investors kept the faith through 2020, believing that tourism and travel would recover and, as a result, the company would have a tiered growth strategy for the future. But now a slowdown in streaming subscriber growth, as well as recent pandemic-related uncertainty, has caused Disney stock to pull back in 2021.
However, a deeper look at the situation will show that this is a great opportunity for investors to get into a company with unparalleled brands and a truly unique franchise.
The company said it expects Disney+ subscriber growth to slow down from the level it reached during the pandemic. But when the company reported Q4 earnings for fiscal 2021 on Nov. 10, investors were still surprised. In the three months ended Oct. 2, 2021, the company had attracted only 2.1 million additional paid subscribers. This accelerated a downtrend that saw the company's stock fall 17% year over year.
For investors who believe in the company's long-term outlook, this presents an opportunity that doesn't often fall to blue-chip stocks.
In addition, let's turn to the subscriber growth situation.
The news that investors paid the most attention to in Disney's recent quarterly report was the slowdown in Disney+ subscriber growth. But that single data point aside, we can see that the streaming service and other direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming options offered by Disney are performing well. Until November 2019, Disney only offered ESPN+ and Hulu services. Last year, the rollout of Disney+ was accelerated, and it grew quickly along with the entire DTC segment.
While the flattening of the growth trend may have spooked investors, Disney itself wasn't embarrassed. In a fourth-quarter earnings call, company executives assured investors that the company was still on track for its overall goal. Disney CEO Bob Chapek said: "We are confident that we are on the right trajectory to achieve the forecast we presented at last year's Investor Day - reaching 230 million to 260 million paid Disney+ subscribers worldwide by the end of the fiscal year 2024 and achieving Disney+ profitability in the same year."
With all the attention on Disney+ and the growing cable TV market, some investors seem to have completely forgotten about Disney's traditional businesses. The company relies heavily on travel, tourism, and consumers' desire for entertainment. Although recovery from the pandemic has been intermittent, there should eventually be a complete resurgence of a desire to visit theme parks, go on cruises, play sports and have fun. U.S. travel data show that air travel is now returning to near pre-pandemic levels, which is nothing short of encouraging.
Disney relies on cross-selling in various areas of its business. Sales of toys and character puppets keep kids interested in movies and television. Kids and parents want to visit theme parks, where the company continues to add new rides and attractions, such as Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.
The Disney brand is unmatched, and its franchisees are also impossible to replicate. The recent stock decline should be seen as a buying opportunity for investors looking to hold onto the stock through 2022 and beyond.
