The Walt Disney Company operates as an entertainment company worldwide. It operates through three segments: Entertainment, Sports, and Experiences. The company produces and distributes film and television video streaming content under the ABC Television Network, Disney, Freeform, FX, Fox, National Geographic, and Star brand television channels, as well as ABC television stations and A+E television networks; and produces original content under the ABC Signature, Disney Branded Television, FX Productions, Lucasfilm, Marvel, National Geographic Studios, Pixar, Searchlight Pictures, Twentieth Century Studios, 20th Television, and Walt Disney Pictures banners. It also offers direct-to-consumer streaming services through Disney+, Disney+ Hotstar, Hulu, and Star+; sports-related entertainment services through ESPN, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+ DTC, and Star; sale/licensing of film and episodic content to third-party television and VOD services; theatrical, home entertainment, and music distribution services; DVD and Blu-ray discs, electronic home video licenses, and VOD rental services; staging and licensing of live entertainment events; and post-production services. In addition, the company operates theme parks and resorts comprising Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Shanghai Disney Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, National Geographic Expeditions, and Adventures by Disney, as well as Aulani, a Disney resort and spa in Hawaii. It also licenses its intellectual property to a third party for operations of the Tokyo Disney Resort; licenses trade names, characters, visual, literary, and other IP for use on merchandise, published materials, and games; operates a direct-to-home satellite distribution platform; sells branded merchandise through retail, online, and wholesale businesses; and develops and publishes books, comic books, and magazines. The company was founded in 1923 and is based in Burbank, California.

Disney выглядит финансово крепче, чем подсказывает текущая премия по части мультипликаторов, но не настолько сильно, чтобы оправдать агрессивный пересмотр вверх. Компания торгуется с заметной премией к отрасли по P/S и P/FCF, а также немного выше медианы по P/E и P/B, что ограничивает потенциал переоценки. При этом долговая нагрузка выглядит комфортно: debt/equity низкий и снижается, а long-term debt за год не ухудшается, что поддерживает устойчивость баланса. С другой стороны, ликвидность слабая — current ratio и quick ratio остаются ниже отраслевых ориентиров, поэтому запас прочности по оборотному капиталу ограничен. Рентабельность в целом неплохая: ROA, ROI, net profit margin и return on tangible equity находятся выше медианы и заметно улучшились относительно прошлого года. ROE тоже восстановился по сравнению с 2024 годом, хотя всё ещё не выглядит выдающимся для премиальной оценки. Маржа валовой прибыли ниже отрасли, что намекает на структурно более высокую себестоимость и сдерживает качество прибыли. Выручка, EBITDA и чистая прибыль в годовом сравнении выглядят лучше, чем год назад, а это подтверждает операционное восстановление. Однако динамика квартал к кварталу не идеально ровная, поэтому рынок вряд ли будет закладывать слишком щедрый мультипликатор без дополнительного ускорения. Денежный поток оценивается не дешево, и P/FCF выше отрасли говорит о том, что свободный денежный поток уже частично отражён в цене. Дивидендная доходность низкая и не является сильным аргументом для переоценки, особенно на фоне более привлекательных доходностей у части сектора. В сумме фундаментал указывает на качественный, но уже не дешёвый актив: баланс и прибыльность поддерживают оценку, а завышенные мультипликаторы и слабая ликвидность ограничивают апсайд. Для инвестора это скорее история о стабильности и постепенном улучшении, чем о сильном недооценённом кейсе.

Walt Disney Company (The)

Слабый индекс, значительно упал. Быки продолжают терять уверенность.

Weak index, significantly down. Bulls continue to lose confidence.

Средний индекс, значительно вырос. Рынок на стороне быков.

Medium index, significantly up. The market is on the bulls' side.

Слабый индекс, незначительно вырос. Отток средств из лонгов остается значительным.

Weak index, slightly up. The outflow of funds from longs remains significant.

У Disney сильнее баланс и рентабельность, но премия по P/S и P/FCF, слабая ликвидность и невыдающаяся маржа ограничивают потенциал переоценки.

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLC) where we have detected an approximate $280.2 million dollar outflow -- that's a 1.2% decrease week over week (from 215,500,000 to 213,000,000). Among the largest underlying components of XLC, in trading today Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (Symbol: TTWO) is off about 0.9%, Live Nation Entertainment Inc (Symbol: LYV) is down about 0.2%, and Walt Disney Co. (Symbol: DIS) is lower by about 0.3%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the XLC Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of XLC, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, XLC's low point in its 52 week range is $101.9907 per share, with $120.405 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $111.76. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Further XLC Research:
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

XLC, TTWO, LYV, DIS: ETF Outflow Alert

Walt Disney (DIS) closed at $100.34 in the latest trading session, marking a +1.75% move from the prior day. The stock performed in line with S&P 500. On the other hand, the Dow registered a gain of 1.86%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq increased by 2.54%.
Prior to today's trading, shares of the entertainment company had lost 6% lagged the Consumer Discretionary sector's loss of 1.28% and the S&P 500's loss of 1.63%.
The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Walt Disney in its upcoming release. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $1.89, signifying a 17.39% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $25.47 billion, up 7.68% from the year-ago period.
In terms of the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $6.85 per share and a revenue of $101.81 billion, indicating changes of +15.51% and +7.82%, respectively, from the former year.
Any recent changes to analyst estimates for Walt Disney should also be noted by investors. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the business and profitability.
Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, stretching from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has a noteworthy track record of outperforming, validated by third-party audits, with stocks rated #1 producing an average annual return of +25% since the year 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.5% higher. Right now, Walt Disney possesses a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Looking at valuation, Walt Disney is presently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 14.39. This valuation marks a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 17.44.
It's also important to note that DIS currently trades at a PEG ratio of 1.29. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. The average PEG ratio for the Media Conglomerates industry stood at 0.67 at the close of the market yesterday.
The Media Conglomerates industry is part of the Consumer Discretionary sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 87, this industry ranks in the top 36% of all industries, numbering over 250.
The Zacks Industry Rank is ordered from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Don't forget to use Zacks.com to keep track of all these stock-moving metrics, and others, in the upcoming trading sessions.
7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days
Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops."
Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +23.7% per year. So be sure to give these hand picked 7 your immediate attention.
See them now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Walt Disney (DIS) Stock Moves 1.75%: What You Should Know

Key Points
Epic Universe has won critical acclaim since opening in May of last year, but it has also attracted negative reviews on TripAdvisor, Google, and Yelp.
Theme parks make up roughly 8% Comcast's business, but account for a larger chunk of its growth.
There are some great things about Epic Universe, but the clock is ticking on capacity and operational improvements.
It's now been a year since Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) officially opened Epic Universe, the first major theme park to open in the U.S. since 2001. The new gated attraction opened with hope, hype, and a dash of hubris. For all that is great at Epic Universe -- and when it does excel, it's next-level fantastic -- it still feels incomplete.
It will get there. Comcast has gone too far to not commit to correcting the shortcomings at Epic Universe. Meanwhile, Disney (NYSE: DIS) can rest easy. Fears that the media stock giant would suffer a decline in turnstile clicks or have to sacrifice margins to keep its Florida resort from fading against Comcast's spotlight haven't materialized.
Curse of the werewolf
With a full year under its belt, Comcast has a good feel for what has to happen at its newest theme park. Epic Universe is now up against the cruel summer of highs and lows that ultimately crashed the gated attraction's honeymoon.
The uptime and reliability of some of its flagship rides have to get better. It was also exposed for having too many of its experiences at the mercy of shutdowns for heavy downpours or nearby lightning strikes. It's Florida. It's summer. Universal should've known better.
When it's not the foul weather shutting down most of the rides, the hot sun with the park's poor shade profile, and the vast number of stairways to get through can wear down guests. There are more steps at Epic Universe than an IKEA assembly manual.
After a half-dozen visits through the first few months of the park's public-facing existence, I haven't felt the urge to return since September. I'm not the only one with mixed feelings about Epic Universe. It is the worst-rated attraction on Trip Advisor between the seven theme parks operated by Disney and Comcast in Florida. It isn't even close.
Universal Islands of Adventure: 4.6 of 5 stars
Magic Kingdom: 4.4 stars
Animal Kingdom: 4.4 stars
Universal Studios Florida: 4.3 stars
Epcot: 4.3 stars
Animal Kingdom: 4.3 stars
Epic Universe: 2.4 stars
Monsters unleashed
The gap between Epic Universe reviews and the rest of Central Florida's top draws is wide. It's narrower, but still substantial on other review portals, including Google Reviews and Yelp. Financially speaking, it doesn't matter in the near term. Comcast got what it needed. For a company whose flagship cable television and broadband connectivity businesses are in a perpetual state of decline, it's been a beacon of growth.
Revenue for its theme parks business has posted year-over-year growth of 19%, 22%, and 24% in the first three quarters of Epic Universe's full operations, respectively. Even more impressively, adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) have risen 13%, 24%, and 33%, respectively. The growth has accelerated in every subsequent quarter, with the business's profitability outpacing top-line jumps in back-to-back reports.
The comparisons will naturally get harder as we lap the first year of operations, but the early results are promising. It's not moving the needle just yet. Theme park revenue accounts for less than 8% of Comcast's overall results in its latest quarter. Disney's experiences segment -- consisting of its theme parks, cruise ships, and smaller consumer products business -- accounted for 38% of the top-line results at the House of Mouse. Comcast's theme parks delivered 7% of the quarter's adjusted EBITDA, compared to Disney's experience business at 57%.
It's still a big step for a company whose larger businesses are standing still (or worse). Comcast knows Disney's playbook. Does anyone remember when it tried to buy Disney in a failed hostile bid 22 years ago? A thriving theme park business is a key piece in the flywheel for its studio and streaming operations.
Mine-cart madness
Will the financial success stick if the overall reviews don't follow? Investing in Comcast didn't pay off last year. The shares fell 20% in 2025. This year has been kind to high-yielding stocks as a safety haven, but Comcast, with its 5.5% yield, has tumbled another 15% in 2026. Disney stock hasn't been a winner either, but over the past year, it has fallen by roughly half of Comcast's 27% slide.
The silver lining is that it's currently panning for gold. It's the only major theme park in Central Florida that doesn't currently offer an annual pass. Revenue per capita is much higher than its peers', largely because the capacity isn't there to accommodate the influx of visitors on cheaper daily admissions if annual passes or discounted one-day tickets were widely available. If lines are long and reviews aren't glowing now, the obvious fix is to build out more weather-resistant E-ticket attractions before those less-lucrative floodgates open, to drive incremental revenue. This appears to be in the works.
There is activity taking place on the park's expansion pads. Nothing has been announced, and it will realistically be at least a year or two before a major addition arrives. However, the reinforcements that should have been there all along are coming. With Disney World planning major ride additions to open annually for the foreseeable future, tourists continue arriving in Central Florida. Both fierce rivals can still win, but Comcast needs to step up its expansion game at Epic Universe and offer details and target opening dates. It's one way to turn sour reviews into sweet expectations.
Should you buy stock in Comcast right now?
Before you buy stock in Comcast, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Comcast wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $443,191!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,258,838!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 941% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 206% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 8, 2026.
Rick Munarriz has positions in Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Walt Disney. The Motley Fool recommends Comcast. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Disney World's Top Rival Needs a Better Sophomore Season

Key Points
Disney's most recent financial results showed strength in experiences, even with inflation rising.
The company’s non-sports streaming operations, anchored by Disney+ and Hulu, benefited from price hikes implemented last year.
It's hard to know what valuation Disney stock will command in five years, but the current setup is favorable for investors looking to put money to work.
Thanks to its long-standing leadership position in the media and entertainment landscape, Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS) is a highly regarded business. But owning it hasn't worked out well for investors. The share price has fallen by 44% over the past half-decade (as of June 3).
And this entertainment stock trades 51% below its all-time record. The underlying business is performing well, though.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Five years from now, will Disney be a boom, a bust, or quietly crushing it for shareholders?
Strong financials amid macro uncertainty
The macro and consumer backdrop isn't exactly the strongest today, but Disney's latest financial results were encouraging. Total revenue increased 7% year over year in the second quarter 2026 (ended March 28) to $25.2 billion.
This gain was driven by 7% growth in experiences. At a time of ongoing inflationary pressure, households are still finding it worthwhile to spend on a trip to a Disney theme park.
Revenue from Disney+ and Hulu, the company's two top streaming platforms, jumped 13%. Price increases implemented last October played a role here.
Management also mentioned that the ESPN flagship streaming service, launched last August, is making strides. "Revenue generated by our digital subscribers in Q2 more than offset secular declines in the linear subscriber universe," the earnings report read.
Disney's profit trajectory continues to impress. The leadership team believes adjusted earnings per share will rise 12% for the full fiscal year before posting double-digit growth in fiscal 2027.
Figuring out the right valuation is tricky
Assuming the global economy isn't in the middle of a severe recession in five years, Disney should continue to operate from a position of fundamental strength. Its invaluable intellectual property will still be core to its operations. And success will be achieved in streaming and experiences, as investors are witnessing today.
However, it's difficult to come up with the correct valuation. Market sentiment is incredibly challenging to forecast.
Disney shares currently trade at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 13.8. I view this as a compelling valuation that justifies buying the stock.
But that doesn't mean shares will receive a higher multiple. This is a capital-intensive business that's not directly in the middle of the artificial intelligence boom and so doesn't support excessive market enthusiasm. Boom investments often come from hypergrowth opportunities. Disney doesn't fall into that bucket.
On the other hand, stocks usually end up going bust if the company in question starts to see its fundamentals deteriorate significantly. Again, it's unlikely Disney fits this category.
Therefore, I think the most likely scenario is that Disney is quietly crushing it in five years. Solid growth in both revenue and earnings, coupled with an upward valuation multiple re-rating, seems like a reasonable outcome.
Should you buy stock in Walt Disney right now?
Before you buy stock in Walt Disney, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Walt Disney wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $439,847!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,342,065!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 968% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 211% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 6, 2026.
Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Walt Disney in 5 Years: Boom, Bust, or Quietly Crushing It?

Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD), global media and entertainment company with film, television, and streaming services, closed Friday at $26.24, down 2.81%. The stock moved lower during Friday’s regular session as investors reacted to reports that multiple U.S. states are preparing antitrust lawsuits to block its planned Paramount Global acquisition. Investors are now watching how growing legal challenges could reshape the deal’s terms and timing.
The company’s trading volume reached 48.1 million shares, about 122% above its three-month average of 21.6 million shares.
How the markets moved today
The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) fell 2.63% to 7,383.74 on Friday, while the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) dropped 4.18% to 25,709. Within entertainment, industry peer Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) closed at $99.71, up 0.37%, underscoring how deal-specific regulatory risk is distinguishing individual media stocks.
What this means for investors
Warner Bros. Discovery shares fell following reports that several U.S. states, led by California and New York, are preparing to sue to block Paramount Skydance’s planned $110 billion acquisition. Although shareholders have approved the merger, these reports introduce additional regulatory uncertainty as the deal still requires U.S. and European approval.
California’s review is significant because state officials may seek structural remedies, such as divestitures, if they find behavioral commitments insufficient to protect competition. Key forthcoming developments will include whether state attorneys general file suit and whether regulators impose conditions that could impact the timing or value of Paramount Skydance’s planned acquisition.
Should you buy stock in Warner Bros. Discovery right now?
Before you buy stock in Warner Bros. Discovery, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Warner Bros. Discovery wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $439,847!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,342,065!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 968% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 211% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 5, 2026.
Eric Trie has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Walt Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stock Market Today, June 5: Warner Bros. Discovery Falls on Reports of State Antitrust Challenge to Paramount Deal

The stock market headlines have been dominated by AI stocks and trillion-dollar IPOs, and for good reason. But it's important not to overlook the bargains available elsewhere in the market, including these three dirt cheap value stocks.
*Stock prices used were the morning prices of June 3, 2026. The video was published on June 4, 2026.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Should you buy stock in Berkshire Hathaway right now?
Before you buy stock in Berkshire Hathaway, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Berkshire Hathaway wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $439,632!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,316,532!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 959% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 210% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 5, 2026.
Matt Frankel, CFP has positions in Berkshire Hathaway, General Motors, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Matthew Frankel is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through their link they will earn some extra money that supports their channel. Their opinions remain their own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

I'd Put $10,000 in These 3 Stocks Right Now. Here's Why.

Key Points
Shopify shares have performed poorly since October, but the degree of market pessimism dragging it down is mostly unmerited.
Customer service automation specialist Nice Ltd has something of a secret weapon quietly at work.
Up-and-coming drugmaker Viking Therapeutics is working on something that could measurably disrupt the weight-loss drug business as it stands today.
Is it time to reload your underinvested portfolio? That's not necessarily comfortable to do right now. Stocks are still well up from their late-March lows, teasing an unwinding of their 18% run-up since then. Many investors are understandably on the sidelines, waiting for a pullback.
If you dig deeper though, you'll find several solid growth stocks that aren't so overbought or overvalued that they're difficult to step into at this time. Here's a closer look at three of the best bets among these names.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
1. Shopify
It's been a tough past few months for Shopify (NASDAQ: SHOP) shareholders. The stock's down 40% from its October peak due to a combination of factors ranging from slowing sales growth to rising interest rates to the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) that could take an unpredictable toll on its business. And these concerns are legitimate to be sure.
The resulting fears, however, are arguably overblown.
Take the prospect of AI allowing a competitor to creep onto its turf as an example. It could happen. But AI-powered computer coding is proving more problematic than it's worth, and it still doesn't meet online merchants' biggest need that Shopify does. That's facilitating payments.
To the extent AI can be of benefit to online sellers, Shopify is integrating this tech into its own offerings like its website builder and back-end user interface.
As for growth, if headwinds are blowing, it's not evident yet. The company's first-quarter revenue growth rate of 34% accelerated from Q4's growth pace of 31%. Although sales growth guidance in the "high-twenties" wasn't quite what analysts were hoping to hear for the quarter currently underway, it's still solid growth. It may also be an understated outlook just to ensure Shopify delivers a pleasant surprise in early August.
More than anything, own a stake in this company simply because this is the future of e-commerce. Consumers increasingly want to buy directly from authentic brands with stories they connect with. Sprawling, faceless e-commerce platforms like Amazon can't facilitate this. It takes online presence-building tools like Shopify's to let merchants give consumers the experience they actually want.
2. Nice
Although the company's been around since 1986 and has been using its current name since 1991, there's a decent chance you've never heard of Nice Ltd (NASDAQ: NICE). There's an even better chance that you've used the company's tech without even realizing it.
In simplest terms, Nice allows companies to efficiently and effectively offer customer service. Its current corporate clients include Walt Disney, PayPal, Tripadvisor, and more. Its platform facilitates more than 20 billion interactions per year, some of which are ultimately handled by live agents, while others are 100% automated.
And yes, it's incorporating artificial intelligence into its suite of solutions. Although AI/self-service tech only accounts for 14% of its total cloud revenue right now (and cloud makes up nearly 80% of its total top line), recurring revenue grew 66% year over year during the 2026 Q1, reaching an annualized run rate of $345 million.
And that's an important nuance to understand about this company. While last year's top-line growth of 9% isn't exactly "growthy," the September acquisition of agentic AI software specialist Cognigy is a major upgrade of Nice's offerings and a key reason the AI sliver of its cloud-based customer service solutions is experiencing accelerating growth. Already a leading name in the customer service technology market and regularly recognized as a top provider by Forrester, IDC, and Gartner, Nice is easily leveraging its existing reach to promote Cognigy's capabilities.
The stock's 65% pullback from its early 2024 peak -- when investors first began fearing this company's business could be upended by a then-new AI platform -- doesn't make nearly as much sense now as it did then.
3. Viking Therapeutics
Last but not least, add Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) to your list of growth stocks to buy if you've got a couple thousand bucks you're looking to put to work for a while and don't mind taking some risk.
At first blush, the GLP-1 weight-loss drug market seems like a duopoly controlled by the pharmaceutical giants Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. And in some ways, that's exactly how things are.
The more this business matures, however, the clearer its gaps become.
Enter Viking Therapeutics, specifically its VK2735. The injectable version of this weight-loss drug is currently in phase 3 trials, with an oral (pill) version of the same anti-obesity treatment expected to begin its phase 3 testing in the second half of this year.
What does the world need with another weight-loss option that looks and seems an awful lot like the two made by the two biggest names in the business? By being a dual agonist that also activates the GIP receptor, VK2735 is showing more efficacy at a faster rate, as well as better tolerability. It's also more flexible, allowing users to readily fine-tune their maintenance dosing once their target weight is reached.
It's not been all smooth sailing. Shares were nearly halved in August in response to a somewhat disappointing update of the drug's phase 3 results. The stock's made little net forward progress in the meantime.
Analysts aren't discouraged, though. The vast majority of them covering VKNG still consider it a strong buy, with a consensus target of $95.40, which is 200% above the ticker's current price. They're likely counting on a new entrant into this space with a different efficacy and tolerability profile able to partially penetrate an obesity drug market that Morgan Stanley believes could be worth nearly $200 billion by 2035. An orally administered pill version has its obvious marketability advantages as well.
Should you buy stock in Shopify right now?
Before you buy stock in Shopify, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Shopify wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $465,733!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,313,467!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 985% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 211% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of May 30, 2026.
James Brumley has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Eli Lilly, Nice, PayPal, Shopify, Tripadvisor, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool recommends Gartner, Novo Nordisk, and Viking Therapeutics and recommends the following options: short June 2026 $50 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The Smartest Growth Stocks to Buy With $2,000 Right Now

Key Points
Disney shares have underperformed the market over the past one, three, and five years.
Big investments at its theme parks are just starting to pay off.
Disney has had a slow start at the movies this year, but several big releases are slated for the next seven months.
There's a great, big, beautiful tomorrow coming for Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS). The market just either doesn't believe it or doesn't see it. Shares of the media giant have fallen 8% so far in 2026, down 5% over the past year.
Zooming out, the House of Mouse continues to lag the overall market. Disney stock is up 18% over the past three years, but down a brutal 41% over the last five years. The market has gotten tired of waiting for a storybook finish, but there's still time for a "happily" in the "ever after."
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Let's go over three reasons why now might be a good time to warm up to the out-of-favor icon.
1. Theme parks are experiencing a glow-up
Disney is in the process of dramatically upgrading and updating its gated attractions. Let's focus on its largest resort, Disney World in Florida. The next few years will bring several major new additions. Remember watching some of Disney's recent animated hits, like Monsters, Inc. or Encanto, and wondering what it would be like to ride the conveyor belt of dangling closet doors in Monstropolis or to explore the magic of the Madrigal family?
Those are just some of the new experiences coming to the world's most visited theme park resort in the next four or five years. It's part of an 11-figure investment to upgrade its offerings, and it's already paying off.
Disney World has tackled some quick fixes over the last year, updating, if not completely retheming, some of its classic attractions. Test Track, It's Tough to Be a Bug, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad are just some of the experiences that have been spruced up or revamped. This past week saw several more additions, highlighted by Tuesday's debut of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets.
The resort's Cool Kids' Summer program brings interactive -- and air-conditioned -- experiences where families can make core memories with Disney characters. It also kicked off on Tuesday, ensuring that Disney is a top vacation priority heading into the peak summer travel season that kicks off in June.
Earlier today, Disney announced that its Carousel of Progress automated show will get a complete overhaul for the first time since debuting more than 60 years ago at the New York World's Fair. It will reopen at Disney World's Magic Kingdom with fresh and optimistic timelines of the past and the future.
There are headwinds for Disney's theme parks. Gas prices are inching higher. Consumer confidence is lagging. However, as recently as earlier this month, Disney was continuing to deliver revenue and operating income growth for its experiences segment.
2. The theatrical hits keep coming
You may not realize this, given Disney stock's meandering ways, but the legendary entertainer is still the king at the local multiplex. Disney topped the global box office last year, releasing the three highest-grossing U.S. studio films of 2025.
Its slate for this year is equally impressive. It doesn't have the gold, bronze, or silver in ticket sales right now, but the blockbusters are coming. Marvel's Avengers: Doomsday has the inside track to be this year's top draw when it storms into theaters in December. This summer should also be substantial, with Toy Story 5 coming out in June and the live-action reboot of Moana premiering a month later.
Disney's ecosystem is built to maximize the success of a hit film. It can quickly roll out character "meet and greet" experiences at its theme parks, launch related merchandise across its retail partners, and eventually cash in through its streaming services after multiplex ticket takers move on. With Disney's streaming services now profitable -- and more than offsetting the systemic decline in its legacy media networks -- it's in great shape for the future of entertainment.
3. The Josh D'Amaro era is just getting started
There's a new Big Cheese at the House of Mouse. Josh D'Amaro took over as CEO at the March annual shareholder meeting. His first full fiscal quarter at the helm ends in June. The results won't be announced until early August. A few days after the report, D'Amaro will likely lead the D23 fan event, where the company will provide some more color, if not timelines, for the new theme park experiences, movie releases, and streaming content.
When Bob Iger returned as CEO in late 2022, he was the steadying force the company needed. Disney needed execution and stability. The stock chart activity wasn't as kind as Iger's first stint, but he did everything he set out to accomplish. Now it's time to see what the more fan-friendly dreamer in D'Amaro can do with that springboard.
As the catchy earworm that strings the various Carousel of Progress eras together goes, there really is a great, big, beautiful tomorrow waiting at the end of every day. It's time for the market to notice, too.
Should you buy stock in Walt Disney right now?
Before you buy stock in Walt Disney, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Walt Disney wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $471,072!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,303,352!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 983% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 210% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of May 28, 2026.
Rick Munarriz has positions in Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

3 Reasons to Buy Disney Stock in June

(RTTNews) - Thursday, Koninklijke Philips N.V. (PHG) and The Walt Disney Company (DIS) announced their decision to incorporate beloved Disney animated characters and stories directly into Philips Ambient Experience for MRI at medical facilities in 87 countries worldwide to support children undergoing imaging procedures.
The move aims to help children shift attention away from the clinical setting, creating a more comforting and engaging experience during scans and helping them to complete their exams successfully.
"By bringing Disney stories into the MRI environment, we are helping create a setting where children can feel more at ease and remain still during scans," said Atul Gupta, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Diagnosis and Treatment at Philips.
In the pre-market hours, PHG is trading at $26.15, down 1.73 percent, and DIS is trading at $103.79, down 0.36 percent, on the New York Stock Exchange.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Philips MRI Machines Feature Disney Characters To Help Children Stay Calm During Scans

Netflix’s NFLX ad business expansion continues to strengthen its long-term growth momentum, positioning the streaming giant for additional revenue upside beyond its traditional subscription model. Advertising has become one of Netflix’s key strategic priorities, with management expecting ad revenues to reach roughly $3 billion in 2026, nearly double the prior year’s level. The company’s ad-supported tier is gaining significant traction, accounting for more than 60% of first-quarter sign-ups in ad-supported markets, while its advertiser base has expanded more than 70% year over year to over 4,000 clients. These trends highlight growing acceptance among both consumers and advertisers.
Netflix is also enhancing its monetization capabilities through its proprietary ad-tech platform, while programmatic advertising is rapidly expanding and approaching more than half of its non-live advertising business. The company is further broadening its advertising inventory through video podcasts, vertical video feeds and live programming, creating additional opportunities to attract marketers and increase engagement. Moreover, Netflix’s expanding portfolio of live events, such as the World Baseball Classic, has demonstrated its ability to drive both subscriber growth and advertising demand.
Importantly, Netflix’s advertising opportunity remains in its early stages. Management estimates that the company still accounts for only about 5% of global TV viewing and has penetrated less than 45% of its addressable broadband household market. Combined with the continued international rollout of its ad-supported offering and a rapidly growing ad-supported audience, Netflix appears well-positioned to generate higher advertising revenues over time.
As advertising scales alongside subscription revenues, it is expected to become an increasingly important contributor to Netflix’s top-line growth. This is evident in the company’s reaffirmed full-year 2026 revenue outlook of $50.7-$51.7 billion.
Netflix's Ad Push Meets Strong Rival Challenges
The Walt Disney Company DIS is one of the biggest rivals to Netflix in the advertising market. DIS benefits from its powerful intellectual property portfolio, including Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and ESPN, which attracts large and engaged audiences. DIS is also strengthening Disney+ and Hulu through AI-powered recommendation engines and AdTech tools that improve ad targeting and effectiveness. Its ability to connect streaming, parks, merchandise and gaming creates a unique ecosystem that offers advertisers multiple ways to reach consumers.
Roku ROKU is a major competitor to Netflix in the advertising market because it operates a leading connected-TV advertising platform. ROKU reported 27% advertising revenue growth in the first quarter of 2026, driven by Roku Ads Manager and its connected-TV advertising ecosystem. With more than 100 million streaming households, ROKU offers advertisers a broad reach and valuable data. Its partnerships with Amazon DSP, Google DV360 and Trade Desk, along with AI-driven advertising optimization, provide flexibility and measurable outcomes that strengthen its competitive position.
NFLX’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Shares of Netflix have dropped 6.8% in the year-to-date period compared with the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector’s decline of 8.4%.
NFLX’s YTD Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Netflix appears overvalued, trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 6.83X, higher than the industry's 2.31X. NFLX carries a Value Score of D.
NFLX’s Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is pegged at $3.60 per share, up by 2% over the past 30 days. This indicates a 42.29% increase from the previous year.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NFLX currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Radical New Technology Could Hand Investors Huge Gains
Quantum Computing is the next technological revolution, and it could be even more advanced than AI.
While some believed the technology was years away, it is already present and moving fast. Large hyperscalers, such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle, and even Meta and Tesla, are scrambling to integrate quantum computing into their infrastructure.
Senior Stock Strategist Kevin Cook reveals 7 carefully selected stocks poised to dominate the quantum computing landscape in his report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power.
Kevin was among the early experts who recognized NVIDIA's enormous potential back in 2016. Now, he has keyed in on what could be "the next big thing" in quantum computing supremacy. Today, you have a rare chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this opportunity.
See Top Quantum Stocks Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Roku, Inc. (ROKU) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Walt Disney Company (The)

Options Strategies