As Josh D’Amaro prepares to take the helm from legendary Bob Iger this Wednesday, investors ar weighing Disney’s (NYSE: DIS) “bargain basement” valuation against a backdrop of geopolitical volatility and shifting consumer habits.
And while Disney stock has remained essentially “flat” over a four-year period – a fresh narrative seems to be emerging in 2026, according to Sarat Sethi, a senior equity analyst at DCLA.
Speaking recently with CNBC, he said the market may be overlooking a powerful recovery story driven by a massive infrastructure buildout, a pivot to streaming profitability, and a valuation that hasn’t been this lean since 2019.
Experiences unit performance warrants buying Disney stock
The crown jewel of the Disney empire is no longer just on the silver screen; it’s also in the soil of its theme parks.
According to Sarat Sethi, the “Experiences” segment is currently the firm’s most reliable engine – accounting for more than 38% of its revenue last year.
“We feel terrific about the parks and cruises business,” Disney’s chief of finances Hugh Johnston said on the recent earnings call, signalling a shift toward aggressive capacity expansion.
With the Disney Cruise Line fleet doubled and ambitious new lands dedicated to “Frozen,” “The Lion King,” and “Encanto,” – the segment is outperforming both entertainment and sports.
Sethi described it as the “most ambitious buildout in history”, adding it’s reasonable to stay bullish on DIS shares as this unit continues to beat consensus estimates.
Streaming’s profitability pivot is bullish for DIS shares
For years, the streaming wars were defined by heavy spending and deep losses, but Disney appears to have finally turned the corner.
Sethi points out that the synergy between Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN is now effectively “offsetting the liner TV decline” that has long plagued legacy media.
Last quarter, the streaming segment posted an operating income of $450 million, a significant jump from the previous year.
“The profit margin on streaming will be 10% this year, an increase from the 5% margin last year,” Sethi observes, noting that as costs level off, margins are expanding.
This transition from a cash-burn phase to a high-growth profit center is central to his “long-term” positive view on Disney shares.
Disney’s current valuation offers a rare opportunity
Perhaps the most compelling argument for the bulls is the price tag.
Historically, DIS stock has commanded a premium, trading at an average of 24 times earnings over the last five years.
Today, that multiple has compressed to under 15 – a level Sethi described as the “bargain basement.”
Despite the “immediate concern” of rising gasoline prices and the Iran oil crisis eating into consumer wallets, the underlying fundamentals remain robust.
Supported by an expected $19 billion in operating cash flow and a planned $7 billion share buyback, the company is aggressively returning value to shareholders.
Sethi views this combination of a 1.5% dividend and a historically low P/E ratio as a rare entry point for disciplined investors.
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