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Walt Disney Co.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 5 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 7% to $25.2 billion: Revenue was $25.2 billion against $23.6 billion a year earlier. Income before income taxes was $3.4 billion, up 9% from $3.1 billion. Source
  • Segment operating income rose 4%: Total segment operating income was $4.6 billion. Experiences and Entertainment rose while Sports fell 5%. Six-month total segment operating income fell 3%. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell, adjusted EPS rose: Diluted EPS fell to $1.27 from $1.81; the prior-year figure included a $0.56 benefit from resolution of a prior-year tax matter. Adjusted EPS rose 8% to $1.57. Source
  • Streaming revenue growth accelerated: SVOD revenue grew 13%, up from 11% in Q1. SVOD operating income reached $582 million against $310 million, on higher effective rates and international wholesale volume. Source
  • Sports operating income declined: Sports revenue rose 2% to $4.6 billion. Operating income fell 5% to $652 million on higher rights fees and marketing costs, while subscription fees rose on higher rates and the NFL transaction. Source
  • Experiences posted fiscal Q2 records: Experiences revenue rose 7% to $9.5 billion and operating income rose 5% to $2.6 billion, both fiscal second-quarter records. Cruise days rose with the Disney Destiny and Disney Adventure launches. Source
  • Entertainment margins reached 11.4%: Entertainment segment margin was 11.4% and SVOD margin was 10.6% in the quarter, against 9.5% and 8.4% in Q1 fiscal 2026. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell on taxes: Six-month cash from operations fell 23% to $7.6 billion. The period included payment of fiscal 2025 and part of fiscal 2024 federal and California taxes deferred after the 2025 wildfires. Source

“At an important moment of change for Disney, we remain focused on executing our long-term growth strategy.”

Josh D’Amaro, Chief Executive Officer; Hugh Johnston, Chief Financial Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS growth Sourcefiscal 2026, excluding the 53rd weekapproximately 12%
Adjusted EPS growth Sourcefiscal 2026, including the 53rd weekapproximately 16%
Share repurchases Sourcefiscal 2026at least $8 billionRaised from $7 billion
Total segment operating income Sourcethird quarter of fiscal 2026approximately $5.3 billionNew
Sports segment operating income Sourcefiscal 2026, excluding the 53rd weekmid-single digit percentage growth versus fiscal 2025Raised from Low-single digit segment OI growth compared to fiscal 2025
Adjusted EPS impact of NFL transaction Sourcefiscal 2026roughly $0.03 dilutiveNew
Sports segment operating income Sourcethird quarter of fiscal 2026decline of approximately 14% versus prior-year quarterNew
Entertainment SVOD operating margin Sourcefiscal 2026at least 10%Kept
Adjusted EPS growth Sourcefiscal 2027, excluding the 53rd weekdouble-digit growthNew
Domestic parks attendance Sourcethird quarter of fiscal 2026 versus second quarteryear-over-year improvement compared to Q2 resultsNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 share repurchase target raised to at least $8 billion from $7 billion. Source
  • New guidance: Third quarter total segment operating income guidance of about $5.3 billion was given. Source
  • New guidance: Fiscal 2027 double-digit adjusted EPS growth guidance, excluding the 53rd week, was given. Source
  • New: ESPN closed the NFL transaction in January 2026, with Disney holding a 72% interest and Hearst 18%. Source
  • New: Entertainment content businesses were unified under Dana Walden, President and Chief Creative Officer. Source
  • Ended: The previously planned investment in OpenAI will not proceed after OpenAI shut down Sora. Source
  • New: The release is signed by Josh D’Amaro as Chief Executive Officer; the prior release quoted Robert A. Iger as Chief Executive Officer. Source

Quarter results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 7% to $25.2 billion: Revenue was $25.2 billion against $23.6 billion a year earlier. Income before income taxes was $3.4 billion, up 9% from $3.1 billion. Source
  • Segment operating income rose 4%: Total segment operating income was $4.6 billion. Experiences and Entertainment rose while Sports fell 5%. Six-month total segment operating income fell 3%. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell, adjusted EPS rose: Diluted EPS fell to $1.27 from $1.81; the prior-year figure included a $0.56 benefit from resolution of a prior-year tax matter. Adjusted EPS rose 8% to $1.57. Source

Segments and regions

  • Entertainment revenue rose 10%: Entertainment revenue reached $11.7 billion and operating income rose 6% to $1.3 billion. The Fubo transaction added 4% to revenue and 4% to costs. Source
  • Streaming revenue growth accelerated: SVOD revenue grew 13%, up from 11% in Q1. SVOD operating income reached $582 million against $310 million, on higher effective rates and international wholesale volume. Source
  • Disney Entertainment fees and ads rose: Disney Entertainment subscription and affiliate revenue grew 14%, with Fubo adding 5 points. Advertising grew nearly 5%. Management said streaming growth more than offset linear declines. Source
  • Sports operating income declined: Sports revenue rose 2% to $4.6 billion. Operating income fell 5% to $652 million on higher rights fees and marketing costs, while subscription fees rose on higher rates and the NFL transaction. Source
  • Experiences posted fiscal Q2 records: Experiences revenue rose 7% to $9.5 billion and operating income rose 5% to $2.6 billion, both fiscal second-quarter records. Cruise days rose with the Disney Destiny and Disney Adventure launches. Source

“Disney’s unique competitive strength is our ability to create characters, stories, and franchises that form enduring relationships with audiences around the world.”

Josh D’Amaro, Chief Executive Officer; Hugh Johnston, Chief Financial Officer

Products, streaming and ESPN customers

  • Digital subscribers offset linear declines: Management said ESPN digital subscriber revenue in Q2 more than offset declines in the linear subscriber universe. ESPN subscription and affiliate revenue grew 6%, with the NFL transaction adding 3%. Source
  • Disney+ interface and engagement improved: Interface revamp and personalization are contributing to higher engagement. Verts launched on Disney+ in March to improve discoverability and daily interaction. Source
  • Zootopia 2 generated across platforms: Zootopia 2 generated $1.9 billion in global box office, and the Zootopia franchise passed one billion hours streamed on Disney+. Zootopia 2 became the highest grossing foreign film of all time in China. Source
  • New ship and Paris attraction opened: The Disney Adventure launched in March, based in Singapore to reach Asian markets, and World of Frozen opened at Disneyland Paris. Management said guest response has been positive. Source
  • Games reach younger audiences: The Simpsons on Fortnite, launched last November, saw 780 million hours played by over 80 million unique players. Management describes games as not yet a significant revenue driver. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Pre-opening costs weighed on Experiences: Pre-opening expenses for the Disney Adventure and World of Frozen weighed on Experiences operating income growth by about two percentage points. Costs also rose with the Disney Cruise Line fleet expansion. Source
  • Entertainment margins reached 11.4%: Entertainment segment margin was 11.4% and SVOD margin was 10.6% in the quarter, against 9.5% and 8.4% in Q1 fiscal 2026. Source
  • Marketing restructured for efficiency: Management said marketing was restructured across the Company to be more effective and efficient. Content spending rose, including a greater volume of international local originals. Source

“Overall, we are pleased with Q2 results and are optimistic as we look ahead to the remainder of the fiscal year.”

Josh D’Amaro, Chief Executive Officer; Hugh Johnston, Chief Financial Officer

Demand, advertising and attendance

  • Domestic parks demand discussed: Management described current demand at domestic parks and resorts and noted macroeconomic uncertainty facing consumers. Source
  • ESPN advertising fell 2%: ESPN advertising revenue fell 2% on fewer NBA games and the lapping of last year's 4 Nations hockey tournament. Source
  • Streaming ad impressions rose, rates fell: SVOD advertising revenue rose on more impressions, partly offset by lower rates. Source

Cash flow, capital spending and ownership

  • Operating cash flow fell on taxes: Six-month cash from operations fell 23% to $7.6 billion. The period included payment of fiscal 2025 and part of fiscal 2024 federal and California taxes deferred after the 2025 wildfires. Source
  • Free cash flow fell to $2.7 billion: Six-month free cash flow was $2.7 billion against $5.6 billion, as investment in parks, resorts and other property rose to $5.0 billion from $4.3 billion. Source
  • NFL deal shifted ESPN ownership: After the NFL transaction, Disney holds 72% of ESPN and Hearst holds 18%. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests was $218 million in the quarter, against $126 million. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Strategy rests on three pillars: Management said the immediate focus is execution against three pillars: investing in IP, reaching more consumers, and using advanced technologies to increase monetization and returns. Source
  • AI applied across five areas: Management named five areas for AI: content creation, monetization, workforce productivity, guest experience and enterprise operations, with human creativity kept at the center. Source
  • Capital-light Experiences expansions: Experiences expansions use established local operators for a cruise ship in Japan and a theme park resort in Abu Dhabi. Management said the Abu Dhabi strategic logic is unchanged. Source

Charges, taxes and amortization

  • Restructuring charges included severance: Restructuring and impairment charges were $239 million, including a $147 million equity investment impairment and $92 million of severance costs. Source
  • Income tax expense rose: Income taxes were $902 million, against a $314 million benefit a year earlier. The quarter included a $115 million non-cash tax charge from the NFL transaction. Source
  • Acquisition amortization excluded from adjusted EPS: Acquisition amortization of $313 million in the quarter was excluded from adjusted EPS, alongside the restructuring charge. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 May 2026

  • Avatar and Hoppers streaming premieres: Management said it is excited for the streaming premieres of Avatar: Fire and Ash and Hoppers, and the final season of The Bear on Disney+ and Hulu. Source
  • Rivals season two begins May 15: The second season of Rivals in the U.K. begins May 15. Source
  • ESPN's first Super Bowl in February 2027: ESPN's first Super Bowl, Super Bowl LXI, is in February 2027, and management reports advertiser demand for inventory already. Source
  • Upcoming theatrical releases anticipated: Management said it is especially excited about the upcoming theatrical releases of The Mandalorian & Grogu, Toy Story 5 and the live-action Moana. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Global guests Source+2%
Domestic parks attendance Source-1%
Domestic per capita spending Source+5%
ESPN Men's Tournament Challenge completed brackets Source27 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management flagged heightened global macroeconomic uncertainty as a potential effect on consumer demand. Source
  • Demand: Domestic park attendance declined 1%, reflecting in part continued softness in international visitation. Source
  • Financial: Sports segment operating income is expected to fall in the third quarter as programming expenses rise. Source
  • Financial: Lower operating cash flow in the six months came from higher income tax payments and content spending. Source
  • Operational: Management noted that streaming results may vary quarter to quarter while the engagement work continues. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said it remains on track for SVOD operating margin of at least 10% for the full fiscal year. Source
  • Ahead: Management said Q2 segment operating income modestly exceeded the prior guidance, with stronger revenue growth as the main driver. Source
  • Ahead: Experiences segment operating income growth came in modestly ahead of guidance despite pre-opening costs. Source
  • Not stated: Management continues to expect growth to accelerate in the second half of the fiscal year. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.