Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS) shares set another 52-week high Monday. Whether the upticks continue depends on the following few trade days. By the end of next week, the market will assess news from a key rival and Disney's proxy struggle with two activist groups seeking board seats and strategic reforms. Disney's financial results won't be released until May. Current momentum favors it. Keeping it that way will be hard. The House of Mouse faces several challenges in the coming day
Incredible disclosures Social media pages for Comcast's Universal Orlando resort are previewing a Thursday update. Disney's biggest rival's Epic Universe theme park in Florida will open next year, and all signs point to additional details.
It's probably too early to open. Construction and ride testing are ahead of schedule, but Comcast may not disclose it. It suddenly became more unclear, moving from summer 2025 to next year. Later this week, the next-gen theme park could claim it would open in spring 2025 to secure summer bookings, but that would be a stretch.
Theme parks at Comcast may reveal more about one or more of the ambitious theme park's new lands. Disney will hear.
Disney does not plan to develop a fifth Florida theme park to compete with Comcast's third. All signs indicate Disney will expand its guarded attractions. Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom expansions have been announced, but nothing has been confirmed.
At its D23 conference in early August, Disney may reveal something tangible. Disney may reveal further plans at next week's annual shareholder meeting or its fiscal second-quarter earnings call in early May if Comcast makes a persuasive Epic Universe offer on Thursday.
On April 3, Disney's annual shareholder meeting will take place, although financial battles seem unlikely. Disney has been releasing positive news, including a big quarter last month. George Lucas and Michael Eisner have also endorsed Disney CEO Bob Iger. Roy Disney's granddaughter Abigail Disney, who has criticized the firm, supports the active board. The proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis also opposes the castle storming.
Disney can't avoid next week's proxy struggle, which should be minor. big rises come with big duties. After three unsuccessful years, the stock rose 32% in 2024. Disney is entitled to hype its prospective theatrical releases. Every month from May to December, it could be a blockbuster. It could boost streaming activity for the Taylor Swift concert film that debuted on Disney+ this month.
Disney's investing time is here. A competing theme park operator and two activist groups must be silenced. Finally, media stock rolls. It cannot afford to be shaken now.
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