Disney earnings beat expectations, fueled by strong Disney+ subscriptions

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Disney (DIS) posted better than expected results in the first quarter — the company’s first report since the launch of its eponymous streaming service.

Here were the main figures from Disney’s first-quarter 2020 earnings report, compared to consensus estimates compiled by Bloomberg:

  • Revenue: $20.86 billion vs. $20.81 billion expected and $15.3 billion Y/Y

  • Adjusted earnings per share: $1.53 vs. $1.46 expected and $1.84 Y/Y

  • Disney+ 1Q subscribers: 26.5 million, vs. 20.8 million expected

Disney+’s success in attracting and retaining subscribers was a key focal point for investors heading into Tuesday’s results. The streaming service, launched in November, added 10 million users in its first day.

During a call with investors, Disney CEO Bob Iger said Disney+ subscribers were 28.6 million as of Monday, growing even further from the end of the reported quarter.

“We had a strong first quarter, highlighted by the launch of Disney+, which has exceeded even our greatest expectations,” Iger said in a statement.

“Thanks to our incredible collection of brands, outstanding content from our creative engines and state-of-the-art technology, we believe our direct-to-consumer services, including Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu, position us well for continued growth in today’s dynamic media environment,” he added.

Disney also broke out its total subscribers for Hulu, which rose 33% to 30.4 million in the reported quarter and were 30.7 million as of Monday. ESPN+ subscribers more than quadrupled to 6.6 million during the quarter, from 1.4 million in the year-ago period, and were 7.6 million as of Monday.

Shares of Disney fluctuated in late trading, after ending Tuesday’s regular session 2% higher.

The logo of the Times Square Disney store is seen in Times Square, New York City, U.S. December 5, 2019.  REUTERS/Nick Pfosi
The logo of the Times Square Disney store is seen in Times Square, New York City, U.S. December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Nick Pfosi

The debut catapulted Disney+ into the same competitive space as Netflix (NFLX), which launched its own streaming video service more than a decade ago. Netflix, in its own recent earnings results in January, had attributed elevated user churn in part to higher competition. Netflix exited its most recent fiscal quarter with 167 million global subscribers.

The launch of Disney+, however, also generated a host of additional costs for the company. Disney’s direct-to-consumer and international segment, which houses Disney+, posted an operating loss of $693 million in its reported quarter, after losing $740 million in the prior quarter. The most recent results, however, were narrower than the $800 million Disney had anticipated the unit would post in operating losses in November.

Streaming service aside, investors were also closely monitoring Disney’s results in its parks, experiences and consumer products segment, which comprised the bulk of operating profit and revenues for the company. In the prior quarter, results in the unit had been dented by protracted protests in Hong Kong, which had generated a $55 million decline in operating income during the period.