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Walt Disney Co.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 3 new, 7 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue and pre-tax income rose: Revenues rose 7% to $25.2 billion and income before income taxes rose 14% to $3.6 billion. Total segment operating income rose 21% to $5.6 billion. Source
  • GAAP EPS fell on A+E impairment: Diluted EPS was $1.51 against $2.92 a year earlier. The quarter includes an $812 million impairment of the A+E investment within restructuring and impairment charges. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 28%: Diluted EPS excluding certain items rose to $2.06 from $1.61. The measure excludes restructuring and impairment charges and acquisition amortization. Source
  • Streaming subscription fees grew: SVOD subscription fees rose 15% on subscriber growth and higher effective rates. SVOD operating income was $712 million, up from $329 million. Source
  • Experiences income grew 20%: Experiences revenue rose 10% to $10.0 billion and segment operating income rose 20% to $3.0 billion. The tariff refund accounted for roughly four points of the income growth. Source
  • Toy Story 5 passed $1 billion: Toy Story 5 surpassed $1 billion in global box office, taking the franchise's lifetime global box office above $4 billion. Source
  • Nine-month operating cash fell on taxes: Nine-month cash from operations fell $1.1 billion to $12.5 billion, including payment of deferred fiscal 2025 and part of fiscal 2024 taxes. Source

“Together, our results show a unique ability to engage consumers at scale, both digitally and physically, even amid macro uncertainty.”

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

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS growth, fiscal 2026, excluding 53rd week Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 12%Kept
Adjusted EPS growth, fiscal 2026, including 53rd week Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 16%Kept
Total segment operating income Sourcefiscal Q4 2026, including 53rd weekapproximately $4.9 billionNew
Share repurchases Sourcefiscal 2026at least $9 billionRaised from at least $8 billion
53rd week contribution to Q4 segment operating income Sourcefiscal Q4 2026approximately $600 millionNew
53rd week effect on total revenues Sourcefiscal Q4 2026roughly 1.5-2% liftNew
Experiences segment operating income growth, excluding 53rd week Sourcefiscal 2026high end of prior high-single-digit guidance
Entertainment segment operating income growth, excluding 53rd week Sourcefiscal 2026double-digitKept
Entertainment SVOD operating margin Sourcefiscal 2026, excluding 53rd weekdouble-digitKept
Cash provided by operations Sourcefiscal 2026at least $19 billionKept
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $9 billionKept
Adjusted EPS growth, fiscal 2027, excluding 53rd week Sourcefiscal 2027double-digit growthKept
Future capital projects, returns Sourcelifetime of projectsdouble-digit returns

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 share repurchase target raised to at least $9 billion from at least $8 billion. Source
  • New guidance: Q4 total segment operating income guidance of about $4.9 billion is given for the first time; the prior release gave only Q3 guidance. Source
  • New: Agreement to sell the 50% A+E Global Media stake to an affiliate of co-owner Hearst Corporation, as part of simplifying the company. Source
  • New: Much of the Consumer Products business moves from the Experiences segment to the Entertainment segment starting in Q1 of fiscal 2027. Source
  • Ended: Sports UFC pay-per-view rights ended; the prior-year comparison reduced Sports other revenue. Source
  • New: Management began enterprise cost reduction work, evaluating labor and SG&A reductions to create capacity for investment. Source

Quarter results and drivers

  • Revenue and pre-tax income rose: Revenues rose 7% to $25.2 billion and income before income taxes rose 14% to $3.6 billion. Total segment operating income rose 21% to $5.6 billion. Source
  • GAAP EPS fell on A+E impairment: Diluted EPS was $1.51 against $2.92 a year earlier. The quarter includes an $812 million impairment of the A+E investment within restructuring and impairment charges. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 28%: Diluted EPS excluding certain items rose to $2.06 from $1.61. The measure excludes restructuring and impairment charges and acquisition amortization. Source
  • Tariff refund booked this quarter: The company recorded about $100 million from a tariff refund that reversed tariff payments made earlier in the fiscal year. Source

Entertainment and streaming

  • Entertainment operating income rose: Entertainment segment operating income rose 64% to $1.7 billion. Subscription and affiliate fees rose 12%, with the Fubo transaction adding about 4 points. Source
  • Streaming subscription fees grew: SVOD subscription fees rose 15% on subscriber growth and higher effective rates. SVOD operating income was $712 million, up from $329 million. Source
  • SVOD margin aided by spend timing: SVOD operating margin was 13%, partly helped by timing of marketing and programming spend. Source
  • Streaming advertising demand softened: SVOD advertising revenue rose 3%, with more marketplace supply creating softer demand than in fiscal Q2. Source
  • Content sales declined: Content sales fell 6%, with TV/VOD and home entertainment distribution revenue down 8%. Source

“Overall, we are pleased with Q3 results and are optimistic about the remainder of the fiscal year.”

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

Sports segment results

  • Playoff sweeps and carriage dispute weighed: Sports operating income fell 17% to $858 million on revenue up 4%. Management cited four-game NBA playoff sweeps and a network carriage dispute as contributors. Source
  • Rights costs shifted into third quarter: Programming and production costs rose 10% on contractual rate increases, new rights and NBA contract timing that moved costs into the third quarter. Source
  • Playoff viewing reached highs: Ratings more than doubled for both NBA and NHL championship series, and the 2026 playoffs were the most-viewed ever on company networks. Source
  • Sports fees rose on rates and NFL: Sports subscription and affiliate fees rose 8%, with higher effective rates adding about 5 points and the NFL transaction about 4 points. Source

Experiences parks and cruises

  • Experiences income grew 20%: Experiences revenue rose 10% to $10.0 billion and segment operating income rose 20% to $3.0 billion. The tariff refund accounted for roughly four points of the income growth. Source
  • Domestic attendance and spending grew: Domestic park attendance rose 3% and global guests rose 4%, while per capita spending at domestic parks rose 4%. Source
  • Cruise capacity expanded: The two newest ships, Disney Destiny and Disney Adventure, ran their first full quarter and added about 50% stateroom capacity over a year earlier. Source
  • Asia parks softness continues: Management expects softness at Asia parks to continue into fiscal Q4, offset by strength at domestic parks, cruises, Consumer Products and Disneyland Paris. Source

IP, films and consumer products

  • Toy Story 5 passed $1 billion: Toy Story 5 surpassed $1 billion in global box office, taking the franchise's lifetime global box office above $4 billion. Source
  • Consumer Products grew 7%: Consumer Products revenue rose 7%, the largest year-over-year gain in 20 quarters, with Toy Story merchandise a contributor. Source
  • Two films below box office expectations: Management said Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu and live-action Moana both underperformed box office expectations. Source
  • First day-and-date attraction update: The company ran its first day-and-date attraction update, a Mandalorian-themed Millennium Falcon ride at Galaxy's Edge in Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Source

Costs and margins

  • Experiences costs rose with new offerings: Experiences operating expenses rose 5%, with infrastructure costs up 10% and other operating expense up 18% on new guest offerings. Source
  • Cost of goods fell on tariff refunds: Cost of goods sold and distribution costs fell 7%, which management attributed to tariff refunds, partly offset by volume growth and inflation. Source
  • Entertainment marketing costs lower: Entertainment selling, general and administrative costs fell $187 million to $2.3 billion on lower marketing, partly offset by Fubo. Source
  • Nine-month Experiences margin near 30%: Nine-month Experiences segment operating margin was about 30%, which management said reflects cumulative results from its investments. Source

Demand and audience

  • Walt Disney World attendance rose: Walt Disney World attendance rose on domestic tourists and annual passholders, supported by summer promotions and new experiences. Source
  • International visitor headwind moderated: International attendance at domestic parks remained a headwind, but the effect moderated compared with fiscal Q2, as management expected. Source
  • ESPN reach hit new monthly high: ESPN reached nearly 230 million unique fans in June, its highest month ever, and over 80% of the U.S. internet population. Source
  • Sports viewing up in key demo: Aggregate sports consumption on ESPN networks rose by double digits overall in the P18-49 demographic. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Treasury shares rose sharply: Treasury shares rose to 148 million from 79 million at fiscal year-end, as nine-month share repurchases totaled $7.2 billion. Source
  • A+E proceeds to fund buybacks: Management plans to use about $1.2 billion of A+E sale proceeds to repurchase Disney shares. Source
  • Nine-month operating cash fell on taxes: Nine-month cash from operations fell $1.1 billion to $12.5 billion, including payment of deferred fiscal 2025 and part of fiscal 2024 taxes. Source
  • Park capital spending increased: Nine-month investments in parks, resorts and other property were $6.8 billion, up from $6.1 billion, on new theme park attractions. Source

Strategy, streaming and technology

  • Disney+ as digital centerpiece: Management says its long-term Disney+ strategy rests on a better streaming experience and connecting Disney services into one ecosystem. Source
  • Disney+ churn declined: Management said Disney+ churn declined in the quarter across both domestic and international services. Source
  • TikTok creator content on Disney+: A new TikTok agreement brings creator content to Verts on Disney+ and includes an ambassador program. Source
  • AI tools across parks and studios: Imagineers received an internal AI tool, and AI digital twins are used to design and test attractions, including for the Abu Dhabi park. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 August 2026

  • A+E sale expected to close: Closing of the A+E sale is expected by the end of fiscal 2026, subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals and government consents. Source
  • More ESPN games on Disney+ this fall: Management plans a more robust subset of ESPN games for Disney+ subscribers starting this fall, including more college football simulcasts. Source
  • Local originals to roughly triple: Management plans to roughly triple local original series on Disney+ over three years to draw international users and reduce churn. Source
  • Membership features begin Spring 2027: Management expects to begin introducing elements of its Disney+ membership ecosystem vision in Spring 2027. Source
  • Further tariff refunds expected small: More tariff refunds may come in the coming quarters, but management expects their dollar amounts to be insignificant. Source
  • More cruise capacity in coming years: Management is looking forward to bringing additional cruise capacity online in the years ahead. Source
  • 53rd week laps in Q4 fiscal 2027: The 53rd week's impact will be lapped across the P&L in Q4 fiscal 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Global guests growth, Experiences Source4%
Domestic park attendance growth Source3%
Parks & Experiences volume growth Sourceroughly 6%
ESPN unique fans, June Sourcenearly 230 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Q4 Entertainment results will reflect Moana's box office below prior expectations and softer advertising, particularly in domestic SVOD. Source
  • Financial: Higher sports content spending lowered operating cash flow at Sports, according to management. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said Q3 total segment operating income modestly exceeded the prior guidance given in the prior release. Source
  • Missed: Sports segment operating income fell 17%, which management said was modestly steeper than its prior guidance of about 14%. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it now believes Experiences segment operating income will come in at the high end of its prior high-single-digit guidance. 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.