Disney Q2 EPS Soars 28% to $2.06, $9B Buyback Plan Lifts Shares

For investors, the June quarter validated CEO Josh D’Amaro’s franchise-first playbook. Toy Story 5’s halo effect across streaming, parks, and merchandise drove a 28% EPS beat to $2.06, while a strategic divestiture of the A+E cable asset funds an expanded $9 billion share repurchase plan. Even with a slight revenue miss, the stock’s 2% intraday pop reflects growing confidence that Disney’s IP flywheel can outmuscle macro headwinds.

The Walt Disney Company’s June-quarter results mark the first true demonstration of new CEO Josh D’Amaro’s franchise-centric strategy, with ‘Toy Story 5’ acting as a multi-platform revenue catalyst that extended well beyond the box office. The company reported total revenue of $25.2 billion, a 7% year-over-year increase, narrowly missing the $25.4 billion LSEG consensus. However, adjusted earnings per share surged 28% to $2.06, handily beating the $1.86 estimate, as the integrated power of Disney’s media, parks, and consumer products ecosystem came into focus. The hit animated film not only drove merchandise sales and boosted Disney+ engagement, but also contributed to a 4% rise in global theme park attendance, with domestic parks seeing a 3% uptick, resulting in a robust 10% revenue gain for the Parks & Experiences segment to nearly $10 billion. This performance was all the more striking given that rival Comcast had recently cited softening attendance at its Universal Orlando parks due to higher fuel prices and weaker consumer sentiment.

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Toy Story 5’s halo effect across streaming, parks, and merchandise drove a 28% EPS beat to $2.06, while a strategic divestiture of the A+E cable asset funds an expanded $9 billion share repurchase plan.

D’Amaro’s shareholder letter highlighted a deliberate push to invest in powerhouse franchises like Toy Story to reach audiences wherever they are—theaters, streaming, retail, and theme parks. The strategy is already paying dividends: operating income for the experiences segment rose 20% to $3 billion, bolstered in part by a $100 million tariff refund received earlier in the quarter. Meanwhile, the simultaneous announcement of a landmark TikTok deal—the first-of-its-kind between the social platform and a legacy media company—will allow TikTok creators to legally incorporate Disney characters and scenes into short-form videos. This move extends the franchise’s reach into the epicenter of Gen Z and millennial culture, creating a new, organic content channel that can amplify everything from streaming sign-ups to impulse purchases of merchandise. The potential for viral trends featuring Woody and Buzz Lightyear directly translates into enhanced consumer engagement and, ultimately, higher product sales and park visitation.