Bob Iger Built Disney for Hollywood. Josh D'Amaro Is Building It for Main Street. Does D'Amaro's Vision Makes Disney a Buy Down 49% From Its All-Time High?
Disney's new CEO Josh D'Amaro delivered 7% revenue growth and 15% earnings growth in his first full quarter, executing a strategic pivot toward experiences and away from Hollywood content. The experiences segment—theme parks and cruise ships—now generates 54% of Disney's operating profit, marking a fundamental shift in the company's business mix under D'Amaro's leadership.
The company is unveiling additional theme park and cruise ship expansion plans at the D23 event this weekend. D'Amaro's operational focus contrasts sharply with predecessor Bob Iger's media-acquisition strategy, betting that physical experiences will drive shareholder value more reliably than streaming and content production.
DIS trades 49% below its all-time high, creating a potential entry point for investors betting on the experiences-driven turnaround. The first-quarter results under D'Amaro's full control suggest the strategic shift is gaining traction, with the experiences segment showing stronger margin expansion than the legacy media business.