Disneyland raises prices, but Hurricane Milton poses headwind for earnings

Disneyland has decided to raise the price of its non-entry-level tickets by $7 to $12.

Additionally, the price of the park’s annual pass will increase by up to $125, according to an announcement made by the Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) on Wednesday.

However, analysts at Goldman Sachs are not entirely convinced that this price hike will positively impact earnings in the near term.

They anticipate that Category 5 Hurricane Milton will weigh on the entertainment giant’s performance in fiscal 2025.

Disney stock is currently down nearly 25% compared to its year-to-date high in early April.

Goldman Sachs lowers earnings estimates for Disney

Goldman Sachs forecasts that the hurricane will result in a hit of $150 million to $200 million to the EBIT of the company’s Parks and Experiences division in fiscal Q1.

In comparison, Hurricane Irma in 2017 lowered earnings by approximately $100 million.

The investment firm expects a 6.0% decline in first-quarter domestic attendance and predicts Disney will report earnings of $5.14 per share for the full year, down from its previous estimate of $5.22.

Goldman Sachs has, however, left its forecast unchanged for Q4, the results of which are scheduled to be released in November.

Hurricane Milton is expected to hit Florida later today, but the Walt Disney Co. has not yet disclosed any plans for closures.

A spokesperson for the company has also refrained from commenting on the potential effects on earnings.

Is Disney stock worth buying in October?

Despite the anticipated financial impact from Hurricane Milton, Goldman Sachs remains bullish on Disney stock, with analysts confident it will reach $120 over the next twelve months.

This price target implies a potential upside of 30% from its current levels.

Other notable figures, including famed investor Jim Cramer, also maintain a positive outlook on the Walt Disney Co.

In a recent letter to members of his Investing Club, the host of Mad Money cited an improving movie slate, a strengthening cruise business, and the management’s commitment to cost-cutting as reasons for his confidence in Disney shares.

Cramer described DIS as an “earnings story,” adding that “the earnings will be pretty good.”

Furthermore, shares of the mass media behemoth currently offer a dividend yield of 0.81%, enhancing their appeal for robust total returns.

Overall, while there may be challenges ahead, Disney stock could still be worth considering, especially after losing approximately 25% over the past six months.

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