We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Entertainment Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires. In this article, we are going to take a look at where The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) stands against the other entertainment stocks.
The entertainment industry is a global and fast-growing sector that encompasses film, music, social media, games, and live events. According to a report by The Business Research Company, the entertainment and media market was valued at $2.67 trillion in 2024. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4% during 2025-2029 to reach a value of more than $3.82 trillion by the end of the forecast period. In 2024, the largest region in the entertainment and media market was North America.
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The industry is rapidly evolving thanks to technological advancements, changing consumer preferences, and global connectivity. The internet and mobile devices continue to make entertainment more accessible around the world. These factors ensure continued growth within the industry.
Entertainment companies are innovating their business models to stay competitive, especially as streaming services become more popular. Advertising is also becoming a key strategy for entertainment and media companies.
New technologies like AI, VR, and AR continue to revolutionize content creation and consumption. Moreover, the gaming sector is expected to grow in the coming years and this should support further growth in the entertainment industry. These trends offer significant growth potential, especially for entertainment companies involved in gaming and streaming.
Methodology
To compile our list of the 10 best entertainment stocks to buy according to billionaires, we looked for the biggest entertainment companies. We also reviewed our own rankings, financial media reports, ETFs, and stock screeners to compile a list of the best entertainment stocks. Next, we focused on the top 10 entertainment stocks most favored by billionaires. Data for the number of billionaire investors for each stock was taken from Insider Monkey’s Q4 2024 database. Finally, the 10 best entertainment stocks to buy were ranked in ascending order based on the number of billionaires holding stakes in them as of Q4 2024.
Additionally, we mentioned the hedge fund sentiment surrounding each stock, which was taken from Insider Monkey’s Q4 2024 database of more than 1,000 elite hedge funds.
Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
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The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)
Number of Billionaire Investors: 19
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 108
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), or simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate that ranks among the best entertainment stocks to buy. The company operates through 3 core business segments that include Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. Disney Entertainment includes a portfolio of entertainment media networks, film studios, and streaming platforms like Disney+. ESPN focuses on sports content and includes ESPN networks, ESPN+, and international sports channels. Through Disney Experiences, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) brings iconic stories and characters to life through theme parks, resorts, cruise, vacation experiences, and consumer products such as toys, apparel, books, and video games.
On March 12, JPMorgan reiterated its ‘Overweight’ rating for The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) with a price target of $130. The firm noted the Parks & Experiences division as a key driver of the company’s revenue and operating income. According to JPMorgan, this segment will remain a major contributor to the company’s financials, even as the Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) sector expands. The firm highlighted the unique role of Disney’s parks in creating tangible interactions with intellectual properties through rides, characters, and merchandise. Analysts expressed optimism about long-term earnings from this segment, citing investments in new attractions, cruise expansions, and refined pricing strategies. JPMorgan’s report also showed that The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) has considerable control over its success despite macroeconomic challenges and outlined plans for domestic and international growth, with a special focus on the cruise business through 2030.
Overall, DIS ranks 2nd on our list of the best entertainment stocks to buy according to billionaires. While we acknowledge the potential of DIS as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than DIS but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.