Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro Addresses Investor Concerns Over Stock Price, Highlights Strength of Company’s IP and Unified Strategy

Josh D’Amaro, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, openly addressed investor dissatisfaction with Disney’s current stock price during an interview with CNBC at the D23 Expo on Friday. Nearly six months into his tenure, D’Amaro said he is "not happy with where the stock stands right now," acknowledging that investors share this sentiment. However, he expressed optimism about Disney’s position within the entertainment industry as it embarks on its next chapter.

D’Amaro highlighted Disney’s extensive intellectual property (IP) portfolio as a critical asset that sets the company apart. He noted that in an environment where entertainment companies are aggressively acquiring franchises, scale, and complementary businesses, Disney’s IP library remains the deepest and most valuable.

"We have the deepest library of intellectual property and characters and franchises by far," D’Amaro said. "Our scale is enviable. The connection that we have with fans, you see it here, right here at D23, is palpable."

He emphasized that Disney’s ability to bring these assets together under a unified corporate strategy is exceptionally powerful. "We have everything that we need right now, putting those things together, under, I got to put one Disney frame, I think, is exceptionally powerful," he added.

D’Amaro outlined the company’s strategic priorities moving forward, including continued growth in streaming services, margin improvement, investment in experiential businesses such as theme parks, transitioning ESPN toward a direct-to-consumer model, and delivering a strong slate of films.

He pointed to recent company performance as evidence that Disney’s strategy is already yielding results. "It is not just me hoping, it’s gonna happen. We’re actually delivering on that," D’Amaro said, referencing growth in streaming, parks performance, and other business segments.

The CEO also stressed the importance of operating with greater speed and urgency, embracing technology more aggressively, and functioning as "one Disney" to maximize synergies across the company’s diverse operations.

A key element of Disney’s growth strategy is increasing consumer engagement across multiple business lines. D’Amaro explained that consumers who interact with several Disney businesses—such as theme parks, Disney+, merchandise, and movies—generate significantly more value than those who engage with only one.

"One of the things we know is that if a consumer is exposed to multiple parts of our business, there is a theme park visitor that then becomes a Disney+ subscriber, that Disney+ subscriber, then buys merchandise," he said.

Disney aims to make these cross-business interactions more seamless, enhancing the overall consumer experience and strengthening brand loyalty.

In summary, while Disney’s stock price has been a source of frustration for investors, CEO Josh D’Amaro remains confident in the company’s unique assets and integrated strategy. By leveraging its vast IP library, scale, and passionate fan base, Disney is positioned to drive growth and deliver long-term shareholder value across its streaming, parks, sports, and film divisions.