Disney’s Second Quarter Earnings Call: What to Expect and Where to Listen

Disney is set to report its Second Quarter earnings today after the market closes. This will be CEO Bob Iger’s second earnings call since his return but his first full quarter back at the helm. People, especially investors but fans as well, are very interested to hear what an entire quarter with Iger looks like and how things have improved. This afternoon we are taking a look at what listeners can expect to hear during the call this evening and discussing analysts’ predictions.

Earnings Estimates

Analysts expect Disney to report revenue of $21.8 billion for the second quarter. They have exceeded earnings estimates in six of the last seven quarters, so it wouldn’t be surprising at all if this number were higher. With increased confidence in Disney now that Iger is back in charge, we venture a guess that Disney Parks and Experiences will once again be the most profitable segment of the company. Several of Disney’s latest film releases have underperformed so we expect to see impact in the entertainment division but not enough to affect overall profitability.

Disney+

As usual, we expect the streaming service, Disney+, to be an integral component of this quarter’s call. During the Q1 call, Iger said that the company was confident that they were on the right track to increasing subscribership and revenue. In the past, Disney, under the direction of former CEO Bob Chapek, focused solely on subscriber growth rather than revenue increase which drew the ire of investors.

Parks and Experiences 

Disney often makes big announcements during their earnings calls. It’s a great way to bolster confidence and distract from less-than-ideal reports. This quarter, however, Disney released several big announcements on Monday, including the return of the Disney Dining Plan and the end of park reservations (for most guests).

Because of this, we don’t expect any significant park-related announcements this evening. In fact, the Parks-related focus of the call will likely be on Monday’s big announcements. We expect Iger and CFO Christine McCarthy to pat themselves on the back extensively about the upcoming changes.

Anyone, not just investors, can listen in on the call. Want to tune in and listen live? Click here for access to the webcast. The earnings report will begin at 4:30 pm EST, but the line typically opens well in advance of the calls start.