🚀 ESPN makes major acquisitions

Market Overview
Read time 1.4 minutes

Year To Date Performances:

1. Disney beat earnings expectations in Q3 with adjusted EPS of $1.61 vs. $1.47 forecasted, even as revenue slightly missed at $23.65B versus $23.73B. Growth in streaming (Disney+ added 1.8M subscribers and turned a profit) and an 8% rise in parks and experiences revenue helped offset steep declines in traditional TV, where ad revenues and viewership continued to fall. Theatrical performance was mixed, with “Elio” underperforming despite overall segment revenue rising 7%. Disney raised its full-year EPS guidance to $5.85 and expects more than 10 million combined subscriber additions across Disney+ and Hulu in Q4.

2. Uber posted strong Q2 results, with revenue up 18% to $12.65B, beating expectations. Net income rose to $1.36B (63¢ per share), matching EPS estimates. Gross bookings hit $46.8B, up 17%, as both mobility and delivery segments showed double-digit growth. Uber also authorized a massive $20B stock buyback, signalling confidence in its future. Monthly active users rose 15% to 180M, and the company logged 3.3B trips. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi highlighted new features targeting families and seniors, and said Uber sees long-term growth by serving users “across all stages of life.”

3. McDonald’s topped earnings and revenue expectations in Q2 as U.S. sales rebounded, driven by successful promotions like a Minecraft movie tie-in and the launch of McCrispy Chicken Strips. Same-store sales rose 3.8% globally, marking its strongest growth in nearly two years, including a 2.5% increase in the U.S., which reversed two quarters of declines. Revenue climbed 5% to $6.84B, and adjusted EPS hit $3.19. International markets also outperformed, with Japan, China, the UK, Australia, and Canada all contributing to solid growth. CEO Chris Kempczinski credited value offerings, marketing, and menu innovation for the quarter’s strong performance.

   Headlines

   1. ESPN has purchased the rights to all of WWE’s Premium Live Events in the US starting in 2026 with a deal that pays $325M/year for five years.

   2. ESPN has sold a 10% stake in it’s business to the NFL in exchange for NFL Network and other media assets owned by the NFL.

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