Disney’s Stock Price: Facts, Timeline & Historical Prices

Disney was established back in 1923 and became publicly traded only thirty-four years later in November of 1957.

Ever since its Initial Public Offering (IPO), Disney has hit multiple milestones and made some historical strides.

Here are the main Disney stock-related events and facts to keep in mind:

TL;DR

• Disney was founded in 1923 and became publicly-traded in 1957.
• Disney experienced over six stock splits as of April 2024.
• Factors like consumer demand, pandemics, market sentiment, and earnings can shift Disney’s stock price.

Disney Facts

Before we delve into the nuances of Disney’s stock, here are some Disney facts you may want to keep in mind:

• The first-ever Disney-produced movie is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), which is also considered the world’s first feature-length animated film.
• Since 1937, and as of 2024, Disney has produced about 748 movies.
• As of 2024, the Walt Disney Company fully owns Capital Cities/ABC, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Fox Entertainment Assets, BamTech, Winnie the Pooh, and The Muppets. In addition, it partially owns Hulu, ESPN, the History Channel, and Lifetime.
• Disney’s highest-grossing animated film is The Lion King remake in 2019, which generated a worldwide gross profit of over $1,663,075,401.
• World Disney’s World Resort in Florida is the US’ biggest single-site employer.

Disney Stock Timeline (Main Events)

Disney’s stock has experienced some volatility throughout history, with the main shifts being as follows:

1940s-1960s

Disney's stock was initially issued as an Over-the-Counter (OTC) security in 1940. It transitioned to become a publicly-traded company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), in 1957, with an initial price of $13.88 per share.

Disney’s animated films drove the company’s growth throughout that period.

1994-1996

In 1994, Disney released “The Lion King” movie which generated whopping profits and boosted sales, and in 1996, it purchased Capital Cities/ABC, in a move that took a few years to reflect the successes.

2006-2012

Disney acquired Pixar, in what Disney CEO, Bob Iger, called “the best” acquisition made by Disney. Thanks to this merger, Disney was able to boost its stock performance due to the series of blockbuster films produced such as “Toy Story.” That year, Disney’s stock shot up by over 43%.

In 2009, the entertainment behemoth purchased Star Wars maker, Lucasfilm and in 2012, it purchased Marvel Entertainment, all of which gave its stock price a boost. Between 2009-2012 Disney’s shares rose notably.

Source: Yahoo Finance.

2019-2020

Known as one of Netflix’s (NFLX) main competitors, the Disney+ streaming service was launched in 2019.

In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic took the markets by surprise in 2019-2020, and Disney was no different. This was especially true for Disney’s theme parks which were heavily impacted by the COVID restrictions most of which included prohibitions on large gatherings, causing many of Disney’s theme parks to close. As a result, the company’s revenue and stock performance were damaged, causing it to erase 28% of its value on April 20, 2020.

2022

In 2022, Disney lost about 43% of its value in what was deemed the company’s “worst year since 1974,” due to uncertainties surrounding its managerial suite and political controversy.

Disney’s Stock Splits

Stock splits refer to the events whereby a company adds the number of its outstanding shares, to boost liquidity.

Since its IPO and as of April 2024, Disney has had the following stock splits:

• 1998: 3-for-1 split
• 1992: 4-for-1 split
• 1986: 4-for-1 split
• 1973: 2-for-1 split
• 1971: 2-for-1 split
• 1967: 2-for-1 split
• 1956: 2-for-1 split

Key Factors Affecting Disney’s Stock Performance

Some of the moving factors that have historically* affected Disney’s performance are as follows:

Earnings

Disney, like many other companies' stocks, is affected by earnings results.

Earnings are reports that reflect a company’s financial performance and can have a direct impact on market sentiment, hence causing either a rise or fall in the stock price.

Consumer Demand

Demand for Disney’s services such as streaming or its theme parks can spike or plunge the company’s stock.

Market Sentiment

How the market (including analysts and traders) feels toward Disney can lead to a shift in its stock performance. If, for example, an analyst projects a bullish performance for the company, traders may be more likely to invest in it, hence causing its price to appreciate and vice-versa.

*Past performance does not reflect future results.

Trading Disney Share CFDs

Given its popularity and prowess, many may naturally be interested in getting exposure to Disney’s price swings.

While some may prefer to invest in Disney’s stock directly, others may want to consider trading Disney Contracts for Difference (CFDs) with Plus500. This allows them to trade on rising and falling Disney prices without underlying ownership of the asset. In addition, Disney CFDs provide traders with access to leverage. This can potentially increase their gains and losses (depending on the market direction and the traders’ positions).

Conclusion

Disney is an entertainment behemoth that has been present in the stock market for decades. However, while trading Disney may present many trading opportunities, it is important to keep in mind the factors that can affect the company’s stock price before delving into the fascinating yet potentially challenging world of trading.

FAQs

Is Disney a good stock to buy?

Whether Disney is a good stock to buy depends on your individual needs, understanding of Disney’s stock performance and the overall market, and risk tolerance.

When was Disney founded?

Disney was founded on October 16, 1923, in Los Angeles, California.

When did Disney go public?

Disney’s IPO took place on November 12, 1957.

Who owns the most Disney stock?

According to a SEC report released on March 11, 2024, Vanguard is Disney’s largest shareholder.

More Helpful Resources

• “Trading the Happiest Place on Earth: Walt Disney Stock” (Article)
• “What Are Shares?” (Article)
• “What Determines Share Prices?” (Article)
• “Stock Market Trading Tips” (Article)
• Plus500’s Trading Academy (Informative articles, videos, webinars, news, and FAQs)