We recently compiled a list of 10 Best Internet Content Stocks to Buy. In this article, we will look at where The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) ranks among the best internet content stocks.

According to Grand View Research, The global digital content creation market value stood at $25.6 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.5% from 2023 to 2030. In 2023, North America dominated the digital content market. The primary drivers are the increasing use of social media and the digital change occurring across different industries. According to a study by Kepios, 62.3% of individuals in the entire globe use social media. As of April 2024, the average daily usage is 2 hours and 23 minutes per this study. Kepios analysis reveals that the number of people using social media grew meaningfully during the first three months of 2024, and annual growth rates are still significantly more than 5%.

Content creation is also being transformed by artificial intelligence. According to Custom Market Insights, the global market for AI-powered content creation was valued at $2.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.7% to reach USD 7.9 billion by 2033. Moreover, AI programs like GPT-4 are being used to generate graphics, music, and text. Gartner projects that 30% of all digital content will be artificial intelligence generated by 2025. This facilitates hyperpersonalization, which allows material to be personalized to specific consumers while also streamlining the content creation process.

Secondly, the popularity of short-form video material is skyrocketing, emerging as a major trend in the content production industry. Platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok have paved the way for this movement. In 2024, 85% of marketers anticipate short-form videos to be the most successful type of social media content, according to a HubSpot survey. The snackable aspect of this format makes it ideal for grabbing the attention spans of increasingly transient internet consumers.

Thirdly, digital content is projected to become more interactive in the future. Advancements in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are opening up greater opportunities for immersive experiences. The AR and VR market is expected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2030, according to a PwC report.

If we take a broader view, according to the PWC’s Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2024-2028, there are a number of significant growth prospects in the industry, which is expected to reach US$3.4 trillion by 2028. Notwithstanding persistent upheavals and the necessity of reinventing company models, the industry presents substantial income opportunities. Growth is anticipated to be driven by advertising, with spending forecast to reach US $1 trillion by 2026 because of connected TV and internet advertisements. Due to market saturation, streaming services are being forced to investigate ad-supported business models and creative content. Revenues from gaming are predicted to surpass $300 billion by 2028, particularly in Asia Pacific. The industry is still thriving. Companies navigating shifting market dynamics will find more opportunities in high-growth regions and market categories.

Methodology:

We sifted through holdings of Internet Content ETFs and online rankings to form an initial list of 20 Internet Content stocks. Then we selected the 10 stocks that were the most popular among institutional investors. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds that have stakes in them, as of Q2 2024.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? 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 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here)

 The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 92

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) operates three global business segments: entertainment, sports, and experiences. For more than a century, the company has created franchises and personalities that offer experiences and amusement. Examples of entertainment include the ABC broadcast network, Disney+, Hulu, and a number of cable television networks. Within the genre, Disney develops and releases motion pictures and television series. Its content is either increasingly kept in-house for use on Disney’s own streaming service and television networks, or it is licensed to theaters and other content providers. The sports area is home to ESPN and the ESPN+ streaming service. Experiences include Disney’s theme parks and resorts, which benefit from retail licensing as well.

The company is in charge of overseeing the media landscape’s evolution, especially the move away from linear television and toward direct-to-consumer, or DTC, streaming services. Disney had the opportunity to benefit from the traditional model since it owned ABC, the nation’s top sports network, ESPN, and the Disney Channel, the top children’s network. These incredibly important assets continue to assist the firm even as the industry shifts.

It will likely continue to see demand for its streaming services due to its unparalleled breadth of familiar characters, brands, and content library; additionally, this will provide the company an advantage when creating new movies and TV shows.

Mar Vista Focus strategy stated the following regarding The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) in its Q2 2024 investor letter:

“The Walt Disney Company’s (NYSE:DIS) shares declined after its earnings release, even though the company exceeded recently upgraded financial forecasts. While Disney+ and Hulu reached a milestone by turning their first quarterly profit, the company cautioned about theme park attendance returning to pre-pandemic norms. This signals a deceleration following a period of exceptional growth, impacting the stock as theme parks and experiences account for roughly 60% of Disney’s earnings. Despite broader consumer worries, Disney’s stock is still trading with a significant discount to fair value. We expect the gap between Disney’s market price and its intrinsic value to shrink as its streaming division evolves and increases profitability over time.”

Ken Fisher’s Fisher Asset Management is the largest stakeholder in the company from among the funds in Insider Monkey’s database. It owns  7,935,049 shares worth $787.87 million as of Q2.

Overall DIS ranks 6th on our list of the best internet content stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of DIS, 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 on Insider Monkey.