Looking Glass Reveals Better Results At Disney

Give Disney (NYSE: DIS) credit. One way or another, the company will get eyeballs on its content. In addition to owning one of the four major broadcast networks (ABC) and the preeminent sports network (ESPN), the media and entertainment giant operates other cable channels, runs a host of resorts and parks, and constantly pushes new content out through movies and products. In other words, unless somebody lives in North Korea or a mineshaft, they will see Disney and probably see it often. (For more, see Walt Disney's Valuable Content.)

A Goofy Quarter
Disney may be ubiquitous, but that does not mean that growth comes easy. Revenue was down 1% in the company's fiscal fourth quarter. Reported network revenue was down 7%, and park/resort revenue was down 1%, while entertainment and products were up 6% and 13%, respectively. To give Disney a bit more credit, though, it is important to remember that results can be lumpy - overall second-half revenue was up a more encouraging 7%. 


What made this quarter "goofy" was a host of charges and adjustments; normal in the course of business for a company like Disney (where writing down the value of content is a cost of doing business), but nevertheless confusing to some investors who do not live and breathe accounting arcana. To that end, adjusted segment operating income was up 1%, with the network and park/resort business lagging and entertainment and products doing well.

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