"Deadpool & Wolverine" Helps Disney Beat Earnings Forecasts

Walt Disney surpassed Wall Street’s earnings expectations, thanks to the blockbuster success of the irreverent Marvel summer hit Deadpool & Wolverine.

Deadpool jokingly having called himself "Marvel Jesus" in the latest installment of the franchise has, to some extent, become a reality. I Photo: Deadpool Movie Facebook

The company also delivered an optimistic forecast for fiscal 2025, which sent shares soaring 7.4% in premarket trading, according to Dawn Chmielewski and Lisa Richwine for Reuters.

Disney projected adjusted earnings-per-share growth in the high single digits for fiscal 2025, despite plans for approximately $8 billion in capital expenditures.

The entertainment giant also announced a $3 billion stock buyback program. Strong box-office performance offset declines in operating income from its Experiences and Sports divisions, which were impacted by lower international theme park attendance and increased programming costs at ESPN.

For its fiscal fourth quarter ending in September, Disney reported adjusted earnings of $1.14 per share, beating analyst expectations of $1.10, as polled by LSEG.

Revenue reached $22.6 billion, slightly surpassing Wall Street estimates of $22.45 billion. Operating income increased by 23% year-over-year to nearly $3.7 billion.

CEO Bob Iger, who returned to lead the company in November 2022, credited aggressive cost-cutting measures and efforts to revitalize Disney’s film and television units for the improved results.