Disney reports its quarterly earnings for the first time since Bob Iger resumed control of the company

Feb 08, 2023 in "The Walt Disney Company"

Posted: Wednesday February 8, 2023 4:09pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The Walt Disney Company today reported earnings for its first quarter fiscal year 2023 showing revenues for the quarter grew 8%.

This is Bob Iger's first earnings call since 2020, when he left his position as CEO.

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products revenues for the quarter increased 21% to $8.7 billion and segment operating income increased 25% to $3.1 billion. Disney says that guest spending growth was due to an increase in average per capita ticket revenue driven by Genie+ and Lightning Lane.

"After a solid first quarter, we are embarking on a significant transformation, one that will maximize the potential of our world-class creative teams and our unparalleled brands and franchises," said Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. "We believe the work we are doing to reshape our company around creativity, while reducing expenses, will lead to sustained growth and profitability for our streaming business, better position us to weather future disruption and global economic challenges, and deliver value for our shareholders."

You can read the full Q1 2023 earnings report here, and below is the Disney Parks segment.

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products revenues for the quarter increased 21% to $8.7 billion and segment operating income increased 25% to $3.1 billion. Higher operating results for the quarter reflected increases at our domestic parks and experiences and, to a lesser extent, our international parks and resorts.

Operating income growth at our domestic parks and experiences was due to higher volumes and increased guest spending, partially offset by cost inflation, higher operations support costs and increased costs for new guest offerings. Higher volumes were attributable to increases in passenger cruise days, attendance and occupied room nights. Guest spending growth was due to an increase in average per capita ticket revenue driven by Genie+ and Lightning Lane, which were introduced in the prior-year quarter.

Increased results at our international parks and resorts were due to growth at Disneyland Paris and higher royalties from Tokyo Disney Resort, partially offset by a decrease at Shanghai Disney Resort. Higher operating results at Disneyland Paris were due to an increase in volumes and higher guest spending, partially offset by a loss on the disposal of our ownership interest in Villages Nature, increased costs for new guest offerings and cost inflation. Higher volumes consisted of increases in attendance and occupied room nights. Guest spending growth was driven by an increase in average ticket prices and higher average daily hotel room rates. The decrease at Shanghai Disney Resort was due to lower attendance reflecting fewer operating days in the current quarter compared to the prior-year quarter as a result of COVID-19-related closures.

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TraumaFeb 24, 2023

Never mind I figure out your point. Disney is underperforming compared to the your examples, and you just wanted to highlight its pathetic performance.

TraumaFeb 24, 2023

So what’s the point of this ? I would love to know.

MisterPenguinFeb 24, 2023

TraumaFeb 24, 2023

Just like that we are back to $100 a share.

JoeCamelFeb 22, 2023

They are a little busy trying to get D+ profitable. Launching streaming services in a crowded room takes lots of money which Disney really doesn't have boatloads to spend right now. Give it a few years for the parks and a couple of tentpoles to prop up the balance sheet and maybe something but buying would be a lot easier, they have the content.

Elijah AbramsFeb 22, 2023

How about they launch something similar to Star as a separate service in America that would replace Hulu if Disney decides to sell it?

Indy_UKFeb 21, 2023

Disney selling their share of SKYTV to Comcast did knock a good chunk off the 20CF debt that they took on. Selling off Hulu too seems like a no brainier to me to knock that down even further. ESPN+ remain independent for the eventual move where it will stream the live linear channels and then bump the price massively there.

doctornickFeb 21, 2023

Were Disney to sell Hulu to Comcast, the likely outcome would be a merging of Hulu with Peacock which would mean a return of Universal content to the service. That said, I think part of the appeal of Hulu to another company (whether it be Comcast or even someone else like Paramount) would not only be the name and like TV but the established subscriber base. Disney+ is thriving compared to other media companies' streamers so other service would be more interested in those Hulu subs potentially be converted to their own services (obviously they would have to retain them).

doctornickFeb 21, 2023

Doubt that. If they were to add a more "adult" section under the Star brand on Disney+ in the USA, it would certainly be run the same as it is internationally, with it being included in the service cost. And with a requisite monthly subscription fee increase.

doctornickFeb 21, 2023

I would imagine that any sale of Hulu to another party would include keeping FOX content on that service (at least for some specified period) in addition to obviously the original Hulu content. Now, any sale could potentially include some back and forth about what specific content would be included. Disney would probably keep the more family friendly FOX stuff for Disney+ which is already on there. Disney could fight to have some FOX content included in the sale be non-exclusive (i.e. be able to appear on both Hulu and on Disney+ if they add a Star component). Edit: just for clarity, but I think some content already is carried on both Disney+ and Hulu at the same time, like The Orville.

AlanzoFeb 21, 2023

Thank you very much for the writeup.

MisterPenguinFeb 21, 2023

That would be some chutzpah on their part after removing Comcast/Universal content from Hulu.

CastAStoneFeb 21, 2023

Since I posted this I realized that Disney has significantly increased the number of All Star rooms available for booking since last year and permanently closed 198 deluxe rooms and 2 suites at GF, which likely impacted this.

CastAStoneFeb 21, 2023

I think easily more than half of Hulu’s value is the content library it has. As NBCU content has migrated out of that library to Peacock, that has certainly hurt its value to my family. Losing Disney/21CF content would hurt it further. Hulu‘s name, live TV service, and original programming (e.g. Only Murders, Handmaids Tale) also have value, but a sale where the Disney-21CF back catalog isn’t included or fades out after a few years wouldn’t be very appealing IMHO.