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Disney Beats on Q3 Earnings, Bets Big on NFL: ETFs in Focus
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The Walt Disney Company (DIS - Free Report) reported third-quarter fiscal 2025 results after the closing bell on Wednesday, wherein it beat estimates for earnings but missed the same for revenues. It raised its fiscal 2025 earnings guidance but failed to impress investors, sending its shares down nearly 3%.
The entertainment behemoth also announced a deal to acquire key assets from the National Football League. The dual news has put ETFs with the largest allocation to this global media and entertainment company in focus for the days ahead. These funds include Vanguard Communication Services ETF (VOX - Free Report) , Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC - Free Report) , Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (FCOM - Free Report) , Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Communication Services ETF (RSPC - Free Report) and First Trust S-Network Streaming & Gaming ETF (BNGE - Free Report) .
Earnings in Detail
The company’s earnings per share of $1.61 topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.46 and increased 15.8% from the year-ago earnings. Revenues rose 2.1% year over year to $23.6 billion but marginally fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $23.67 billion (read: all the Communication Services ETFs here).
The company reported continued growth in its streaming business despite headwinds in the traditional TV bundle, which suffered from declining customers. Disney added 183 million Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions, up 2.6 million from fiscal Q2, and 128 million Disney+ subscribers, up 1.8 million from fiscal Q2.
Looking ahead, Disney expects strong momentum in its streaming segment, projecting over 10 million new subscriptions for Disney+ and Hulu in the ongoing fiscal fourth quarter. The majority of the growth will come from Hulu as a result of its expanded Charter deal.
The company remains confident about its strategic initiatives, including the integration of Hulu into Disney+ and the global expansion of its parks and experiences, positioning itself for sustained growth across the entertainment landscape. The entertainment giant lifted its full-year earnings forecast to $5.85 per share from the previous expectation of $5.75. This indicates 18% year-over-year growth in earnings.
Disney to Acquire NFL in Game-Changing Deal
In a major strategic move, Disney’s ESPN announced it will acquire NFL Network, NFL RedZone and NFL Fantasy in exchange for a 10% equity stake in ESPN, marking a new chapter in the evolution of sports media.
Under the terms of the deal, ESPN will operate and fully integrate NFL Network into its new direct???to???consumer streaming service, launching Aug.???21, priced at $29.99 per month. ESPN will own rights to distribute the RedZone channel to cable and satellite operators, though the league retains digital rights, and the RedZone brand will continue being produced by the NFL. The two fantasy football platforms will merge, creating the official NFL Fantasy game within ESPN’s ecosystem.
As part of the agreement, three additional regular???season NFL games per year will be aired on NFL Network. ESPN will also shift four games from its package to NFL Network, which will continue to carry seven exclusive games annually. The 2026 Super Bowl is expected to stream on Disney+ for the first time ever.
Vanguard Communication Services ETF also targets the communication service sector by tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Communication Services 25/50 Index. Holding 118 stocks in its basket, Disney takes the fifth spot with a 4.6% share. Interactive media & services is the top sector, accounting for 51.1% of the portfolio, while movies & entertainment, integrated telecommunication services, and cable & satellite round off the next three. Vanguard Communication Services ETF has AUM of $5.5 billion and trades in a good volume of 256,000 shares a day, on average. It charges 9 bps in annual fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 (Hold) with a Medium risk outlook (read: 4 Leveraged ETFs With Double-Digit Gains in July).
Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC - Free Report)
Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund offers exposure to companies from telecommunication services, media, entertainment and interactive media & services, and has accumulated $24.5 billion in its asset base. It follows the Communication Services Select Sector Index and holds 24 stocks in its basket, with Disney occupying the seventh position at 4.3%. About 40% of the portfolio is allocated to interactive media & services, while entertainment and media round off the next two. Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund charges 8 bps in annual fees and trades in an average daily volume of 6 million shares. It has a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy).
Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (FCOM - Free Report)
Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF follows the MSCI USA IMI Communication Services 25/50 Index. It holds 106 stocks in its basket, with Disney occupying the fourth position at 4.4%. Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF has amassed $1.7 billion in its asset base and trades in an average daily volume of 102,000 shares. It charges 8 bps in annual fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 with a Medium risk outlook.
Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Communication Services ETF follows the S&P 500 Equal Weight Communication Services Plus Index. It holds 27 stocks in its basket, with Disney making up for a 4.3% share in the basket. Media and entertainment account for a combined 69% of the portfolio. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Communication Services ETF charges 40 bps in fees per year and has amassed $67.3 million in its asset base. It trades in a paltry volume of 15,000 shares a day on average.
First Trust S-Network Streaming & Gaming ETF tracks the S-Network Streaming & Gaming Index and holds 45 stocks in its basket. Disney accounts for a 4.2% share in the basket. From a sector look, entertainment takes the largest share at 53.3%, while hotels, restaurants & leisure, and interactive media & services round off the next two spots with double-digit exposure each. First Trust S-Network Streaming & Gaming ETF has accumulated $7.6 million in its asset base and trades in an average daily volume of around 2,000 shares. It charges 70 bps in annual fees.
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Disney Beats on Q3 Earnings, Bets Big on NFL: ETFs in Focus
The Walt Disney Company (DIS - Free Report) reported third-quarter fiscal 2025 results after the closing bell on Wednesday, wherein it beat estimates for earnings but missed the same for revenues. It raised its fiscal 2025 earnings guidance but failed to impress investors, sending its shares down nearly 3%.
The entertainment behemoth also announced a deal to acquire key assets from the National Football League. The dual news has put ETFs with the largest allocation to this global media and entertainment company in focus for the days ahead. These funds include Vanguard Communication Services ETF (VOX - Free Report) , Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC - Free Report) , Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (FCOM - Free Report) , Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Communication Services ETF (RSPC - Free Report) and First Trust S-Network Streaming & Gaming ETF (BNGE - Free Report) .
Earnings in Detail
The company’s earnings per share of $1.61 topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.46 and increased 15.8% from the year-ago earnings. Revenues rose 2.1% year over year to $23.6 billion but marginally fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $23.67 billion (read: all the Communication Services ETFs here).
The company reported continued growth in its streaming business despite headwinds in the traditional TV bundle, which suffered from declining customers. Disney added 183 million Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions, up 2.6 million from fiscal Q2, and 128 million Disney+ subscribers, up 1.8 million from fiscal Q2.
Looking ahead, Disney expects strong momentum in its streaming segment, projecting over 10 million new subscriptions for Disney+ and Hulu in the ongoing fiscal fourth quarter. The majority of the growth will come from Hulu as a result of its expanded Charter deal.
The company remains confident about its strategic initiatives, including the integration of Hulu into Disney+ and the global expansion of its parks and experiences, positioning itself for sustained growth across the entertainment landscape. The entertainment giant lifted its full-year earnings forecast to $5.85 per share from the previous expectation of $5.75. This indicates 18% year-over-year growth in earnings.
Disney to Acquire NFL in Game-Changing Deal
In a major strategic move, Disney’s ESPN announced it will acquire NFL Network, NFL RedZone and NFL Fantasy in exchange for a 10% equity stake in ESPN, marking a new chapter in the evolution of sports media.
Under the terms of the deal, ESPN will operate and fully integrate NFL Network into its new direct???to???consumer streaming service, launching Aug.???21, priced at $29.99 per month. ESPN will own rights to distribute the RedZone channel to cable and satellite operators, though the league retains digital rights, and the RedZone brand will continue being produced by the NFL. The two fantasy football platforms will merge, creating the official NFL Fantasy game within ESPN’s ecosystem.
As part of the agreement, three additional regular???season NFL games per year will be aired on NFL Network. ESPN will also shift four games from its package to NFL Network, which will continue to carry seven exclusive games annually. The 2026 Super Bowl is expected to stream on Disney+ for the first time ever.
ETFs in Focus
Vanguard Communication Services ETF (VOX - Free Report)
Vanguard Communication Services ETF also targets the communication service sector by tracking the MSCI US Investable Market Communication Services 25/50 Index. Holding 118 stocks in its basket, Disney takes the fifth spot with a 4.6% share. Interactive media & services is the top sector, accounting for 51.1% of the portfolio, while movies & entertainment, integrated telecommunication services, and cable & satellite round off the next three. Vanguard Communication Services ETF has AUM of $5.5 billion and trades in a good volume of 256,000 shares a day, on average. It charges 9 bps in annual fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 (Hold) with a Medium risk outlook (read: 4 Leveraged ETFs With Double-Digit Gains in July).
Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC - Free Report)
Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund offers exposure to companies from telecommunication services, media, entertainment and interactive media & services, and has accumulated $24.5 billion in its asset base. It follows the Communication Services Select Sector Index and holds 24 stocks in its basket, with Disney occupying the seventh position at 4.3%. About 40% of the portfolio is allocated to interactive media & services, while entertainment and media round off the next two. Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund charges 8 bps in annual fees and trades in an average daily volume of 6 million shares. It has a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy).
Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (FCOM - Free Report)
Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF follows the MSCI USA IMI Communication Services 25/50 Index. It holds 106 stocks in its basket, with Disney occupying the fourth position at 4.4%. Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF has amassed $1.7 billion in its asset base and trades in an average daily volume of 102,000 shares. It charges 8 bps in annual fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 with a Medium risk outlook.
Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Communication Services ETF (RSPC - Free Report)
Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Communication Services ETF follows the S&P 500 Equal Weight Communication Services Plus Index. It holds 27 stocks in its basket, with Disney making up for a 4.3% share in the basket. Media and entertainment account for a combined 69% of the portfolio. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Communication Services ETF charges 40 bps in fees per year and has amassed $67.3 million in its asset base. It trades in a paltry volume of 15,000 shares a day on average.
First Trust S-Network Streaming & Gaming ETF (BNGE - Free Report)
First Trust S-Network Streaming & Gaming ETF tracks the S-Network Streaming & Gaming Index and holds 45 stocks in its basket. Disney accounts for a 4.2% share in the basket. From a sector look, entertainment takes the largest share at 53.3%, while hotels, restaurants & leisure, and interactive media & services round off the next two spots with double-digit exposure each. First Trust S-Network Streaming & Gaming ETF has accumulated $7.6 million in its asset base and trades in an average daily volume of around 2,000 shares. It charges 70 bps in annual fees.