$DIS

Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS) plans to pay $60 million annually for 66 Character.AI employees, part of a $180 million three-year compensation and retention plan. Disney is also bidding $20 million for key assets, including IP and technology. The move follows Disney's recent layoffs and aligns with its AI strategy under CEO Josh D’Amaro. Character.AI's parent company filed for Chapter 11, and Disney is the stalking-horse bidder with competing bids due Nov. 20.

Walt Disney (DIS) shares trade at a forward P/E of 13.8, a discount to the S&P 500's 19.6. Despite challenges in legacy cable and intense competition, Disney+ and Hulu turned profitable, with Q3 operating income up 100% YoY. The company's experiences segment, including theme parks, drives significant earnings, accounting for 54% of total operating income in Q3. Disney's stock is down 46% from its peak and 4% in 2026, lagging the broader market.

Citigroup maintained a 'Buy' rating for Walt Disney (DIS) and raised its price target to $140 from $135. According to GuruFocus, DIS is undervalued by 6.4% with a GF Value of $118.20. The company has a GF Score of 86/100, indicating strong performance. Insider selling activity totaled $1.91M over the past three months.

On Oct. 14, the Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLC) added $104.5 million across its 21 positions, including $25.1 million in Meta Platforms (META), $13.1 million in Alphabet Inc. Class A (GOOGL), and $10.5 million in Alphabet Inc. Class C (GOOG). XLC's top holdings account for 77.4% of assets, with META being the largest at 24.03%.

Disney+ is raising subscription prices in the UK starting November 18. The Standard plan increases by £2/month, and the Premium plan by £1/month. Annual plans also see price hikes. Disney+ offers a six-month saver plan with discounted rates. Money Saving Expert advises considering cheaper plans or the saver offer.

Walt Disney (DIS) stock rose 1.53% to $110.66, outperforming major indices. The company's stock has gained 1.87% in the past month. Disney is expected to report Q4 earnings on November 17, 2026, with an estimated EPS of $1.68 and revenue of $25.29 billion, up 51.35% and 12.58% YoY, respectively. Annual estimates project EPS of $6.92 and revenue of $101.63 billion, up 16.69% and 7.63% YoY. The stock has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) and a Forward P/E of 14.6, trading at a premium to its industry.

The College Football Playoff is nearing a deal to expand to a 24-team format by 2027, according to ESPN. This follows a recent 12-team expansion and would impact Disney (DIS), ESPN's parent company, as it renegotiates broadcasting rights. Disney shares rose 1.6% on the news, with the new format potentially increasing revenue and content for ESPN.

Character.AI, an AI chatbot firm, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is seeking a buyer, with Disney bidding $20M for a non-exclusive license. The company faces lawsuits over emotional harm to users, particularly minors, and has been losing $8M-$9M monthly. Disney previously sent a cease-and-desist but later hired the CEO and made the bid.

Carnival, Royal Caribbean, MSC, and Norwegian Cruise Line are investing in private destinations to boost passenger spending and profitability. Carnival expects 3.5 million passengers at its Caribbean destinations next year. Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay has driven demand for shorter itineraries. Disney Cruise Line expanded with Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. These investments aim to enhance the cruise experience and generate additional revenue.

Oriental Land Co. (OLC) and Disney announced the first Disney cruise ship for Japan, Disney Imagination, set to debut in spring 2029. The ship will be operated by OLC and feature Disney characters. Details on onboard experiences and itineraries will be revealed later.