“A Big Financial Win” Ahead for Disney Stock (NYSE:DIS) With “Lilo & Stitch” Release

Memorial Day Weekend is now just days away, and for anyone considering an outing to the movies, there will be no shortage of fare. In fact, one of the biggest releases in entertainment giant Disney’s (DIS) calendar is set to arrive with the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch. Investors, though, seem skeptical, and are waiting for the actual numbers, as shares slipped modestly in Wednesday afternoon’s trading.

Granted, Disney has not had a lot of luck with its live-action remake slate of late. The disastrous release of Snow White remains to this day a dumpster fire that audiences can still smell. But Lilo & Stitch is likely to be different. It cost a little over $100 million to produce, reports note, and is expected to make $150 million over the opening weekend. That, by most any measure, is a success, especially if it can turn a profit on opening weekend.

In fact, some reports even suggest that Lilo and Stitch will be able to beat Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning this weekend. That is not so far out of line, as the action title from Paramount (PARA) will be an incumbent going into the weekend, and will likely have lost a bit of steam against the newcomer. Plus, the Disney movie will likely have an advantage as a “family-friendly” option for the long weekend, which should give it a further boost.

A New F1 Connection

Things get more interesting from there, as Disney is also preparing to greet 2026 with a new venture: Formula 1 racing. A new team effort from Disney and Formula 1 will bring an array of Disney characters to F1 racing via “…experiences, content, and merchandise around the globe.”

While it is unclear what form exactly those experiences and that content will take, there is certainly room for a Mickey Mouse-themed racing, well, everything. Tie-in video games, maybe a Wacky Races-esque cartoon, and more could be possible here. Throw in the Disney parks connection and a Disney / F1 attraction is not so far out of line either.

Is Disney Stock a Buy or Hold?

Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Strong Buy consensus rating on DIS stock based on 13 Buys and four Holds assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. After a 9.07% rally in its share price over the past year, the average DIS price target of $123.47 per share implies 11.14% upside potential.

See more DIS analyst ratings

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