Leadership Transition and Record Performance at Disney

Walt Disney Company is navigating a pivotal moment, combining a landmark financial quarter with a definitive plan for its executive succession. As the media giant surpasses earnings expectations and sees one division achieve an unprecedented milestone, the question for investors is whether the incoming leadership can sustain this momentum.

The company has settled the question of who will succeed Bob Iger. Josh D’Amaro, previously Chairman of Disney Experiences, is slated to assume the role of Chief Executive Officer effective March 18, 2026. He will be supported by Dana Walden, who takes on the position of Chief Creative Officer, steering content strategy. To ensure continuity, Iger will remain with the corporation in an advisory capacity through the end of 2026.

Quarterly Financial Highlights

Disney’s first-quarter 2026 results demonstrated robust operational strength, exceeding market forecasts.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Walt Disney?

• Adjusted Earnings Per Share: $1.63 (surpassing expectations of $1.57)
• Quarterly Revenue: $25.98 billion, a 5.2% year-over-year increase
• Experiences Division: Achieved record revenue of $10.01 billion
• Share Repurchase Plan: $7 billion authorized for the current fiscal year

Experiences Division Powers Growth

The standout performance came from the Experiences segment, which encompasses theme parks, resorts, and cruise lines. For the first time in Disney’s history, this division crossed the $10 billion revenue threshold in a single quarter, solidifying its role as the company's primary growth engine. This operational stability provides the foundation for the announced capital return program, with the firm committed to buying back $7 billion of its own shares this fiscal year.

Strategic Initiatives and Near-Term Focus

Alongside leadership changes, management is advancing technological initiatives. A partnership with OpenAI will leverage the "Sora" generative model to create new short-form content featuring licensed characters for the Disney+ platform. Initial projects from this collaboration are anticipated as early as this spring.

For the remainder of the fiscal year, management reaffirmed its guidance for double-digit growth in adjusted earnings per share. In the immediate term, theatrical releases are a key focus. Two major films—"Psycho Killer" on February 20 and Pixar’s "Hoppers" on March 6—are set to premiere just before the new leadership fully assumes operational control in mid-March.