Nick Derry - Case Study Component Part 1

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Grand Canyon University *

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504

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Finance

Date

Jan 9, 2024

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docx

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6

Uploaded by NickolaiD

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Disney Financial Goals: The Walt Disney Company, like any publicly traded company, has a primary financial goal: maximizing shareholder value. This translates into several key objectives: 1. Increasing earnings and cash flow: Disney wants to generate as much profit as possible from its various businesses, including parks, movies, streaming services, and consumer products. This involves a combination of strategies like: Growing revenue: This can come from attracting new customers, increasing prices, or expanding into new markets. Cutting costs: Disney constantly strives to streamline operations and find efficiencies to keep expenses under control. Investing in growth initiatives: Disney allocates capital to promising new ventures, like Disney+, theme park expansions, or acquisitions, that have the potential to drive future earnings. 2. Maintaining a strong financial position: Disney wants to be in a good financial position to weather economic downturns and invest in future opportunities. This means: Managing debt effectively: Disney carefully balances debt levels to avoid becoming overburdened while still having access to capital for growth. Maintaining strong credit ratings: High credit ratings allow Disney to borrow money at lower interest rates, saving the company money in the long run. Generating healthy free cash flow: This is the cash left over after operating expenses and taxes are paid, and it gives Disney flexibility to invest, pay dividends, or make acquisitions. 3. Delivering consistent returns to shareholders: Disney wants to reward its investors who have faith in the company. This means: Paying regular dividends: Disney typically pays out a portion of its earnings to shareholders each quarter. Repurchasing shares: Sometimes, Disney buys back its own shares, which can boost the stock price and increase shareholder value. Maintaining a healthy stock price: A high stock price reflects investor confidence and makes it easier for Disney to raise capital in the future. While maximizing shareholder value is the overarching goal, it's important to note that Disney also has a broader mission: to be one of the world's leading producers and providers of entertainment and information. This mission often drives financial decisions, as Disney invests in creative content and experiences that it believes will resonate with audiences and ultimately generate profits. Ultimately, The Walt Disney Company struggles between financial responsibility and creative ambition. By balancing these goals, it strives to deliver both entertainment magic and shareholder satisfaction.
Here are some sources to back up my claims about the Walt Disney Company's financial goals: 1. Investor Relations Website: This is a treasure trove of information directly from the company, including press releases, financial reports, and presentations to investors. You'll find specific references to maximizing shareholder value, managing debt, and returning capital to shareholders. For example: o https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/investor-relations/ o https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disneys-fiscal-full-year-and-q4-2023- earnings- results-webcast/ 2. Annual Reports: These reports provide an overview of the company's financial performance, strategic priorities, and future outlook. Look for sections on "Financial Highlights," "Management's Discussion and Analysis," and "Forward-Looking Statements" for insights into Disney's financial goals. o https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/app/uploads/2023/02/2022-Annual- Report.pdf 3. Earnings Calls: These quarterly and annual calls with analysts offer real-time insights into Disney's financial performance and management's thinking. Pay attention to comments from CEO Bob Iger and CFO Christine McCarthy, as they frequently discuss financial goals and strategies. o https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2022/08/10/walt-disney-dis-q3- 2022-earnings-call-transcript/ 4. News Articles and Analyst Reports: Financial news outlets and industry analysts often provide commentary and analysis of Disney's financial performance and strategic moves. These can offer valuable perspectives on how Disney is approaching its financial goals. o https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/08/disney-dis-earnings-report-q4-2023.html o https://seekingalpha.com/article/4614536-disney-financial-journey-growth- challenges-poor-man-covered-call-strategy
The Walt Disney Company's Overall Financial Performance and Commentary: Financial Highlights: Revenue: Grew 7% year-over-year to $82.7 billion. This indicates continued growth across their diverse business segments, including Parks, Experiences and Products, Media and Entertainment Distribution, and Direct-to-Consumer. Net Income: Decreased 13% to $13.8 billion. While revenue grew, profitability dipped due to factors like increased content investment and higher operating expenses. Earnings per Share (EPS): Diluted EPS from continuing operations decreased from $1.75 to $1.29. This decline reflects the lower net income, although non-GAAP EPS metrics showed improvement. Segment Operating Income: Parks, Experiences and Products saw the highest growth at 12%, driven by strong theme park attendance and merchandise sales. Media and Entertainment Distribution remained flat, while Direct-to-Consumer grew 11% due to Disney+ subscriber additions. Management Commentary: Focus on long-term growth: Despite the dip in net income, management emphasizes their commitment to investing in key growth areas like Disney+, theme park expansions, and content creation. They believe these investments will drive long-term shareholder value. Optimizing cost structure: While acknowledging higher expenses, management highlights ongoing efforts to streamline operations and improve efficiency across the company. This suggests a focus on balancing growth with cost control. Confidence in streaming strategy: Disney+ continues to be a major focus, with management expressing confidence in its potential to reach 230-260 million subscribers by FY24. This indicates their belief that streaming will be a significant contributor to future profitability. Navigating economic uncertainties: Management acknowledges the potential impact of economic headwinds but remains optimistic about their ability to navigate challenges and deliver value to shareholders. They highlight their strong financial position and diverse business portfolio as key strengths. Key Takeaways: The Walt Disney Company delivered solid revenue growth but faced headwinds in net income and EPS. Management remains focused on long-term growth through strategic investments and cost optimization. Disney+ is a central pillar of their growth strategy, with ambitious subscriber targets. The company navigates economic uncertainties with confidence, relying on its financial strength and diversified portfolio. Overall, the SEC Filing document paints a picture of a company prioritizing long-term growth over short-term profitability. While facing challenges, Disney seems confident in its strategic direction and its ability to deliver value to shareholders through continued innovation and expansion.
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