#disneystock

Disney Stock Surges on Streaming Growth and Positive Guidance

Disney's stock has experienced a significant surge, driven by impressive growth in its streaming services and optimistic financial guidance. This upward momentum has captured the attention of investors and analysts, raising important questions about the company’s future in the competitive entertainment landscape. In this article, we’ll delve into the factors contributing to Disney's stock performance, the success of its streaming platforms, and the implications for the company's overall strategy.

The Streaming Success Story

Disney has emerged as a formidable player in the streaming market, particularly with its flagship service, Disney+. Launched in late 2019, Disney+ quickly gained traction, attracting millions of subscribers with its rich library of content, including classics from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. Subscriber Growth The rapid subscriber growth of Disney+ has been a key driver of the stock surge. Recent reports indicate that the platform has surpassed significant milestones, showcasing its appeal in a crowded marketplace. This growth is not only vital for Disney's bottom line but also establishes Disney+ as a serious competitor to established players like Netflix. Content Strategy Disney's strategic focus on high-quality, original content has been instrumental in attracting and retaining subscribers. The company has committed to producing exclusive series and films that resonate with a diverse audience, ensuring that there is always something new for subscribers to enjoy.

Positive Financial Guidance

Alongside its streaming success, Disney has provided encouraging financial guidance that has further boosted investor confidence. Revenue Projections Disney's management has projected strong revenue growth driven by its streaming services, theme parks, and merchandise sales. This positive outlook has prompted analysts to revise their earnings forecasts upward, contributing to the bullish sentiment surrounding Disney's stock. Cost Management Initiatives Effective cost management has also played a role in enhancing Disney’s profitability. By optimizing operations and reducing unnecessary expenses, the company is well-positioned for sustained financial success.

Theme Parks and Experiences

While streaming growth is a significant factor, the recovery of Disney's theme parks and experiences segment has also contributed to the stock surge. Increased Park Attendance As pandemic restrictions ease, Disney's theme parks have seen a resurgence in attendance, leading to higher revenue levels. The reopening of parks and the introduction of new attractions have drawn visitors eager to experience the magic of Disney once again. Integrated Experiences Disney’s strategy of integrating its streaming content with its theme park offerings creates a cohesive brand experience. Attractions based on popular Disney+ series and films enhance the overall guest experience, driving cross-promotion between the two segments.

Market Reactions and Analyst Insights

The surge in Disney's stock has elicited positive reactions from market analysts, many of whom have expressed optimism about the company's future. Upgraded Ratings Following the positive earnings report and guidance, several analysts have upgraded their ratings on Disney’s stock. The consensus is that Disney is well-positioned to capitalize on the growth of its streaming services and the recovery of its theme park business. Long-Term Potential Analysts are increasingly bullish on Disney's long-term potential, citing the company’s strong brand, diverse content portfolio, and ability to adapt to changing market conditions. This sentiment has fueled the upward momentum in Disney’s stock price.

The Competitive Landscape

As Disney continues to expand its streaming services, it faces fierce competition from other major players in the industry, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max. Understanding this competitive landscape is crucial for evaluating Disney's future prospects. Adapting to Competition Disney has shown a remarkable ability to adapt to the competitive pressures of the streaming market. By consistently expanding its content library and investing in high-quality productions, Disney is positioning itself to attract and retain subscribers in a crowded marketplace. Strategic Partnerships To enhance its competitive edge, Disney is also exploring strategic partnerships and collaborations. These alliances can help expand its reach and offer unique content that differentiates its platforms from competitors. Collaborations with other networks or streaming services can introduce exclusive content that draws in new viewers and keeps existing subscribers engaged.

International Expansion

Disney's strategy for international growth is another critical factor contributing to its stock surge. As the company looks to broaden its global footprint, it has identified key markets where it can grow its subscriber base. Localized Content To appeal to diverse audiences, Disney is investing in localized content tailored to specific regions. This strategy not only enhances its relevance in international markets but also helps build a loyal subscriber base in various countries. Expanding Distribution Channels In addition to localized content, Disney is expanding its distribution channels. By partnering with local telecom companies and streaming platforms, Disney can increase its accessibility and reach in international markets, further driving subscriber growth.

Embracing Technological Innovations

Disney's commitment to embracing technological innovations is another reason behind its strong stock performance. The company is leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance its streaming services and viewer experience. Enhancing User Experience Disney is investing in improving the user interface and overall experience of its streaming platforms. Features such as personalized recommendations, user-friendly navigation, and high-quality streaming options contribute to increased viewer engagement and satisfaction. Exploring New Formats Disney is also exploring new content formats, including live events, interactive programming, and virtual reality experiences. These innovations can attract new audiences and keep existing subscribers engaged, setting Disney apart from its competitors.

Long-Term Vision and Sustainability

Disney's long-term vision for its streaming services and overall business strategy is focused on sustainability and continued growth. Commitment to Original Content Disney's commitment to producing original content remains a cornerstone of its strategy. By continually investing in new films and series, the company ensures that it has a steady stream of fresh content to attract and retain subscribers. Balancing Revenue Streams While streaming is a significant growth area, Disney is also focused on balancing its revenue streams across its various segments, including theme parks, merchandise, and media networks. This diversified approach helps mitigate risks associated with reliance on any single revenue source.

Conclusion

Analysts cut price targets for Disney and debate the streaming outlook, causing the stock to fall. Disney+ attracted just 2.1 million members in its slowest-growth quarter since its inception two years ago, but one Wall Street analyst thinks "momentum may increase as trust in the content slate rises, similar to the dynamic we witnessed with Netflix." With Disney+ subscriber growth stalling in the most recent quarter, as revealed Wednesday after the stock market close, and earnings falling short of expectations across the board, Walt Disney's stock fell more than 8% in early Thursday trading and is facing a Netflix moment, according to Wall Street experts. That's because, in the first half of 2021, a reduced pipeline of original content and slower subscriber gains following a coronavirus pandemic-fueled 2020 weighed on Netflix's stock until investor and analyst sentiment improved ahead of its third-quarter earnings update, which showed increased momentum. Disney will be trying to reproduce that if it sticks to its longer-term streaming subscriber goal range, which is now a significant focus for investors. Several Wall Street analysts recently lowered their Disney+ projections. After Wednesday's earnings report, Atlantic Equities analyst Hamilton Faber lowered Disney's stock from "overweight" to "neutral" and reduced his price target from $219 to $172, stating that the company's customer reach in areas where Disney+ has debuted was reaching maturity. Others maintained their stock recommendations on Thursday, but noted that investors would need to be patient, and Disney will need to spend more. After all, the entertainment behemoth said that it does not plan to reach its full original content and streaming subscriber growth stride until next year, when new programming and market launches would offer a boost. This should begin to have an effect in the second half of its fiscal year 2022, which began on Oct. 3, with the third calendar-year quarter expected to be the first in which the service will release originals from all of its main brands. It's no surprise, however, that Cowen analyst Doug Creutz summed up the Hollywood behemoth's streaming prognosis on Thursday: "Disney+ subscriber growth projected to remain sluggish until the second part of fiscal 2022." RELATED: Disney+ teaser ‘Hawkeye’ showed Clint Barton’s history MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson agreed, writing in a Thursday report: "The admission that Disney+ growth will re-accelerate when content spending re-accelerates is consistent with Netflix's recent experience, where the growth slumber created by the pandemic's pull-forward of subscribers was finally shattered by record amounts of new content dropped in the last few months of this year." Guggenheim analyst Michael Morris agreed, saying, "We think momentum may rise as trust in the content slate grows, similar to the dynamic we saw with Netflix in the third quarter." "Fueled by a healthy but delayed content pipeline, management expects net additions in the second half of 2022 to be much higher than in the first half, with the bulk of titles launching in July–September," he said. Morris said that as a consequence of the manufacturing delays, Disney now anticipates fiscal year 2022 to be the highest year of losses for Disney+ rather than fiscal year 2021. Disney+ added only 2.1 million subscribers in the latest period ended on Oct. 2 to reach 118.1 million, its slowest growth quarter since its launch two years ago, but the entertainment conglomerate reiterated its guidance for reaching 230-260 million Disney+ subscribers by the end of fiscal year 2024. Morris also said that this would need more program funding. "Disney intends to boost its prior content spending guidance (formerly $8-9 billion in fiscal 2024) as it invests in additional local and regional programming (340-plus local original programs now in development)," he said. Creutz, on the other hand, raised reservations about the Disney+ content strategy, which some think should involve a greater emphasis on more adult-oriented programming to broaden offers outside Disney's usual fan base. "Management anticipates Disney+ additions in fiscal 2022 to be back half-loaded based on a fiscal fourth-quarter content'surge' (typical of the content pipeline in fiscal 2023 and beyond) and the timing of certain additional regional launches," he said. "We remain doubtful that additional Star Wars/Marvel/animated/family programming will be enough to bring Disney+ up to parity with Netflix."

Analysts cut price targets for Disney and debate the streaming outlook, causing the stock to fall. Disney+ attracted just 2.1 million members in its slowest-growth quarter since its inception two years ago, but one Wall Street analyst thinks "momentum may increase as trust in the content slate rises, similar to the dynamic we witnessed with Netflix." With Disney+ subscriber growth stalling in the most recent quarter, as revealed Wednesday after the stock market close, and earnings falling short of expectations across the board, Walt Disney's stock fell more than 8% in early Thursday trading and is facing a Netflix moment, according to Wall Street experts. That's because, in the first half of 2021, a reduced pipeline of original content and slower subscriber gains following a coronavirus pandemic-fueled 2020 weighed on Netflix's stock until investor and analyst sentiment improved ahead of its third-quarter earnings update, which showed increased momentum. Disney will be trying to reproduce that if it sticks to its longer-term streaming subscriber goal range, which is now a significant focus for investors. Several Wall Street analysts recently lowered their Disney+ projections. After Wednesday's earnings report, Atlantic Equities analyst Hamilton Faber lowered Disney's stock from "overweight" to "neutral" and reduced his price target from $219 to $172, stating that the company's customer reach in areas where Disney+ has debuted was reaching maturity. Others maintained their stock recommendations on Thursday, but noted that investors would need to be patient, and Disney will need to spend more. After all, the entertainment behemoth said that it does not plan to reach its full original content and streaming subscriber growth stride until next year, when new programming and market launches would offer a boost. This should begin to have an effect in the second half of its fiscal year 2022, which began on Oct. 3, with the third calendar-year quarter expected to be the first in which the service will release originals from all of its main brands. It's no surprise, however, that Cowen analyst Doug Creutz summed up the Hollywood behemoth's streaming prognosis on Thursday: "Disney+ subscriber growth projected to remain sluggish until the second part of fiscal 2022." RELATED: Disney+ teaser ‘Hawkeye’ showed Clint Barton’s history MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson agreed, writing in a Thursday report: "The admission that Disney+ growth will re-accelerate when content spending re-accelerates is consistent with Netflix's recent experience, where the growth slumber created by the pandemic's pull-forward of subscribers was finally shattered by record amounts of new content dropped in the last few months of this year." Guggenheim analyst Michael Morris agreed, saying, "We think momentum may rise as trust in the content slate grows, similar to the dynamic we saw with Netflix in the third quarter." "Fueled by a healthy but delayed content pipeline, management expects net additions in the second half of 2022 to be much higher than in the first half, with the bulk of titles launching in July–September," he said. Morris said that as a consequence of the manufacturing delays, Disney now anticipates fiscal year 2022 to be the highest year of losses for Disney+ rather than fiscal year 2021. Disney+ added only 2.1 million subscribers in the latest period ended on Oct. 2 to reach 118.1 million, its slowest growth quarter since its launch two years ago, but the entertainment conglomerate reiterated its guidance for reaching 230-260 million Disney+ subscribers by the end of fiscal year 2024. Morris also said that this would need more program funding. "Disney intends to boost its prior content spending guidance (formerly $8-9 billion in fiscal 2024) as it invests in additional local and regional programming (340-plus local original programs now in development)," he said. Creutz, on the other hand, raised reservations about the Disney+ content strategy, which some think should involve a greater emphasis on more adult-oriented programming to broaden offers outside Disney's usual fan base. "Management anticipates Disney+ additions in fiscal 2022 to be back half-loaded based on a fiscal fourth-quarter content'surge' (typical of the content pipeline in fiscal 2023 and beyond) and the timing of certain additional regional launches," he said. "We remain doubtful that additional Star Wars/Marvel/animated/family programming will be enough to bring Disney+ up to parity with Netflix."

Analysts cut price targets for Disney and debate the streaming outlook, causing the stock to fall. Disney+ attracted just 2.1 million members in its slowest-growth quarter since its inception two years ago, but one Wall Street analyst thinks "momentum may increase as trust in the content slate rises, similar to the dynamic we witnessed with Netflix." With Disney+ subscriber growth stalling in the most recent quarter, as revealed Wednesday after the stock market close, and earnings falling short of expectations across the board, Walt Disney's stock fell more than 8% in early Thursday trading and is facing a Netflix moment, according to Wall Street experts. That's because, in the first half of 2021, a reduced pipeline of original content and slower subscriber gains following a coronavirus pandemic-fueled 2020 weighed on Netflix's stock until investor and analyst sentiment improved ahead of its third-quarter earnings update, which showed increased momentum. Disney will be trying to reproduce that if it sticks to its longer-term streaming subscriber goal range, which is now a significant focus for investors. Several Wall Street analysts recently lowered their Disney+ projections. After Wednesday's earnings report, Atlantic Equities analyst Hamilton Faber lowered Disney's stock from "overweight" to "neutral" and reduced his price target from $219 to $172, stating that the company's customer reach in areas where Disney+ has debuted was reaching maturity. Others maintained their stock recommendations on Thursday, but noted that investors would need to be patient, and Disney will need to spend more. After all, the entertainment behemoth said that it does not plan to reach its full original content and streaming subscriber growth stride until next year, when new programming and market launches would offer a boost. This should begin to have an effect in the second half of its fiscal year 2022, which began on Oct. 3, with the third calendar-year quarter expected to be the first in which the service will release originals from all of its main brands. It's no surprise, however, that Cowen analyst Doug Creutz summed up the Hollywood behemoth's streaming prognosis on Thursday: "Disney+ subscriber growth projected to remain sluggish until the second part of fiscal 2022." RELATED: Disney+ teaser ‘Hawkeye’ showed Clint Barton’s history MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson agreed, writing in a Thursday report: "The admission that Disney+ growth will re-accelerate when content spending re-accelerates is consistent with Netflix's recent experience, where the growth slumber created by the pandemic's pull-forward of subscribers was finally shattered by record amounts of new content dropped in the last few months of this year." Guggenheim analyst Michael Morris agreed, saying, "We think momentum may rise as trust in the content slate grows, similar to the dynamic we saw with Netflix in the third quarter." "Fueled by a healthy but delayed content pipeline, management expects net additions in the second half of 2022 to be much higher than in the first half, with the bulk of titles launching in July–September," he said. Morris said that as a consequence of the manufacturing delays, Disney now anticipates fiscal year 2022 to be the highest year of losses for Disney+ rather than fiscal year 2021. Disney+ added only 2.1 million subscribers in the latest period ended on Oct. 2 to reach 118.1 million, its slowest growth quarter since its launch two years ago, but the entertainment conglomerate reiterated its guidance for reaching 230-260 million Disney+ subscribers by the end of fiscal year 2024. Morris also said that this would need more program funding. "Disney intends to boost its prior content spending guidance (formerly $8-9 billion in fiscal 2024) as it invests in additional local and regional programming (340-plus local original programs now in development)," he said. Creutz, on the other hand, raised reservations about the Disney+ content strategy, which some think should involve a greater emphasis on more adult-oriented programming to broaden offers outside Disney's usual fan base. "Management anticipates Disney+ additions in fiscal 2022 to be back half-loaded based on a fiscal fourth-quarter content'surge' (typical of the content pipeline in fiscal 2023 and beyond) and the timing of certain additional regional launches," he said. "We remain doubtful that additional Star Wars/Marvel/animated/family programming will be enough to bring Disney+ up to parity with Netflix."

Analysts cut price targets for Disney and debate the streaming outlook, causing the stock to fall. Disney+ attracted just 2.1 million members in its slowest-growth quarter since its inception two years ago, but one Wall Street analyst thinks "momentum may increase as trust in the content slate rises, similar to the dynamic we witnessed with Netflix." With Disney+ subscriber growth stalling in the most recent quarter, as revealed Wednesday after the stock market close, and earnings falling short of expectations across the board, Walt Disney's stock fell more than 8% in early Thursday trading and is facing a Netflix moment, according to Wall Street experts. That's because, in the first half of 2021, a reduced pipeline of original content and slower subscriber gains following a coronavirus pandemic-fueled 2020 weighed on Netflix's stock until investor and analyst sentiment improved ahead of its third-quarter earnings update, which showed increased momentum. Disney will be trying to reproduce that if it sticks to its longer-term streaming subscriber goal range, which is now a significant focus for investors. Several Wall Street analysts recently lowered their Disney+ projections. After Wednesday's earnings report, Atlantic Equities analyst Hamilton Faber lowered Disney's stock from "overweight" to "neutral" and reduced his price target from $219 to $172, stating that the company's customer reach in areas where Disney+ has debuted was reaching maturity. Others maintained their stock recommendations on Thursday, but noted that investors would need to be patient, and Disney will need to spend more. After all, the entertainment behemoth said that it does not plan to reach its full original content and streaming subscriber growth stride until next year, when new programming and market launches would offer a boost. This should begin to have an effect in the second half of its fiscal year 2022, which began on Oct. 3, with the third calendar-year quarter expected to be the first in which the service will release originals from all of its main brands. It's no surprise, however, that Cowen analyst Doug Creutz summed up the Hollywood behemoth's streaming prognosis on Thursday: "Disney+ subscriber growth projected to remain sluggish until the second part of fiscal 2022." RELATED: Disney+ teaser ‘Hawkeye’ showed Clint Barton’s history MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson agreed, writing in a Thursday report: "The admission that Disney+ growth will re-accelerate when content spending re-accelerates is consistent with Netflix's recent experience, where the growth slumber created by the pandemic's pull-forward of subscribers was finally shattered by record amounts of new content dropped in the last few months of this year." Guggenheim analyst Michael Morris agreed, saying, "We think momentum may rise as trust in the content slate grows, similar to the dynamic we saw with Netflix in the third quarter." "Fueled by a healthy but delayed content pipeline, management expects net additions in the second half of 2022 to be much higher than in the first half, with the bulk of titles launching in July–September," he said. Morris said that as a consequence of the manufacturing delays, Disney now anticipates fiscal year 2022 to be the highest year of losses for Disney+ rather than fiscal year 2021. Disney+ added only 2.1 million subscribers in the latest period ended on Oct. 2 to reach 118.1 million, its slowest growth quarter since its launch two years ago, but the entertainment conglomerate reiterated its guidance for reaching 230-260 million Disney+ subscribers by the end of fiscal year 2024. Morris also said that this would need more program funding. "Disney intends to boost its prior content spending guidance (formerly $8-9 billion in fiscal 2024) as it invests in additional local and regional programming (340-plus local original programs now in development)," he said. Creutz, on the other hand, raised reservations about the Disney+ content strategy, which some think should involve a greater emphasis on more adult-oriented programming to broaden offers outside Disney's usual fan base. "Management anticipates Disney+ additions in fiscal 2022 to be back half-loaded based on a fiscal fourth-quarter content'surge' (typical of the content pipeline in fiscal 2023 and beyond) and the timing of certain additional regional launches," he said. "We remain doubtful that additional Star Wars/Marvel/animated/family programming will be enough to bring Disney+ up to parity with Netflix."

Analysts cut price targets for Disney and debate the streaming outlook, causing the stock to fall. Disney+ attracted just 2.1 million members in its slowest-growth quarter since its inception two years ago, but one Wall Street analyst thinks "momentum may increase as trust in the content slate rises, similar to the dynamic we witnessed with Netflix." With Disney+ subscriber growth stalling in the most recent quarter, as revealed Wednesday after the stock market close, and earnings falling short of expectations across the board, Walt Disney's stock fell more than 8% in early Thursday trading and is facing a Netflix moment, according to Wall Street experts. That's because, in the first half of 2021, a reduced pipeline of original content and slower subscriber gains following a coronavirus pandemic-fueled 2020 weighed on Netflix's stock until investor and analyst sentiment improved ahead of its third-quarter earnings update, which showed increased momentum. Disney will be trying to reproduce that if it sticks to its longer-term streaming subscriber goal range, which is now a significant focus for investors. Several Wall Street analysts recently lowered their Disney+ projections. After Wednesday's earnings report, Atlantic Equities analyst Hamilton Faber lowered Disney's stock from "overweight" to "neutral" and reduced his price target from $219 to $172, stating that the company's customer reach in areas where Disney+ has debuted was reaching maturity. Others maintained their stock recommendations on Thursday, but noted that investors would need to be patient, and Disney will need to spend more. After all, the entertainment behemoth said that it does not plan to reach its full original content and streaming subscriber growth stride until next year, when new programming and market launches would offer a boost. This should begin to have an effect in the second half of its fiscal year 2022, which began on Oct. 3, with the third calendar-year quarter expected to be the first in which the service will release originals from all of its main brands. It's no surprise, however, that Cowen analyst Doug Creutz summed up the Hollywood behemoth's streaming prognosis on Thursday: "Disney+ subscriber growth projected to remain sluggish until the second part of fiscal 2022." RELATED: Disney+ teaser ‘Hawkeye’ showed Clint Barton’s history MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson agreed, writing in a Thursday report: "The admission that Disney+ growth will re-accelerate when content spending re-accelerates is consistent with Netflix's recent experience, where the growth slumber created by the pandemic's pull-forward of subscribers was finally shattered by record amounts of new content dropped in the last few months of this year." Guggenheim analyst Michael Morris agreed, saying, "We think momentum may rise as trust in the content slate grows, similar to the dynamic we saw with Netflix in the third quarter." "Fueled by a healthy but delayed content pipeline, management expects net additions in the second half of 2022 to be much higher than in the first half, with the bulk of titles launching in July–September," he said. Morris said that as a consequence of the manufacturing delays, Disney now anticipates fiscal year 2022 to be the highest year of losses for Disney+ rather than fiscal year 2021. Disney+ added only 2.1 million subscribers in the latest period ended on Oct. 2 to reach 118.1 million, its slowest growth quarter since its launch two years ago, but the entertainment conglomerate reiterated its guidance for reaching 230-260 million Disney+ subscribers by the end of fiscal year 2024. Morris also said that this would need more program funding. "Disney intends to boost its prior content spending guidance (formerly $8-9 billion in fiscal 2024) as it invests in additional local and regional programming (340-plus local original programs now in development)," he said. Creutz, on the other hand, raised reservations about the Disney+ content strategy, which some think should involve a greater emphasis on more adult-oriented programming to broaden offers outside Disney's usual fan base. "Management anticipates Disney+ additions in fiscal 2022 to be back half-loaded based on a fiscal fourth-quarter content'surge' (typical of the content pipeline in fiscal 2023 and beyond) and the timing of certain additional regional launches," he said. "We remain doubtful that additional Star Wars/Marvel/animated/family programming will be enough to bring Disney+ up to parity with Netflix."

Analysts cut price targets for Disney and debate the streaming outlook, causing the stock to fall. Disney+ attracted just 2.1 million members in its slowest-growth quarter since its inception two years ago, but one Wall Street analyst thinks "momentum may increase as trust in the content slate rises, similar to the dynamic we witnessed with Netflix." With Disney+ subscriber growth stalling in the most recent quarter, as revealed Wednesday after the stock market close, and earnings falling short of expectations across the board, Walt Disney's stock fell more than 8% in early Thursday trading and is facing a Netflix moment, according to Wall Street experts. That's because, in the first half of 2021, a reduced pipeline of original content and slower subscriber gains following a coronavirus pandemic-fueled 2020 weighed on Netflix's stock until investor and analyst sentiment improved ahead of its third-quarter earnings update, which showed increased momentum. Disney will be trying to reproduce that if it sticks to its longer-term streaming subscriber goal range, which is now a significant focus for investors. Several Wall Street analysts recently lowered their Disney+ projections. After Wednesday's earnings report, Atlantic Equities analyst Hamilton Faber lowered Disney's stock from "overweight" to "neutral" and reduced his price target from $219 to $172, stating that the company's customer reach in areas where Disney+ has debuted was reaching maturity. Others maintained their stock recommendations on Thursday, but noted that investors would need to be patient, and Disney will need to spend more. After all, the entertainment behemoth said that it does not plan to reach its full original content and streaming subscriber growth stride until next year, when new programming and market launches would offer a boost. This should begin to have an effect in the second half of its fiscal year 2022, which began on Oct. 3, with the third calendar-year quarter expected to be the first in which the service will release originals from all of its main brands. It's no surprise, however, that Cowen analyst Doug Creutz summed up the Hollywood behemoth's streaming prognosis on Thursday: "Disney+ subscriber growth projected to remain sluggish until the second part of fiscal 2022." RELATED: Disney+ teaser ‘Hawkeye’ showed Clint Barton’s history MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson agreed, writing in a Thursday report: "The admission that Disney+ growth will re-accelerate when content spending re-accelerates is consistent with Netflix's recent experience, where the growth slumber created by the pandemic's pull-forward of subscribers was finally shattered by record amounts of new content dropped in the last few months of this year." Guggenheim analyst Michael Morris agreed, saying, "We think momentum may rise as trust in the content slate grows, similar to the dynamic we saw with Netflix in the third quarter." "Fueled by a healthy but delayed content pipeline, management expects net additions in the second half of 2022 to be much higher than in the first half, with the bulk of titles launching in July–September," he said. Morris said that as a consequence of the manufacturing delays, Disney now anticipates fiscal year 2022 to be the highest year of losses for Disney+ rather than fiscal year 2021. Disney+ added only 2.1 million subscribers in the latest period ended on Oct. 2 to reach 118.1 million, its slowest growth quarter since its launch two years ago, but the entertainment conglomerate reiterated its guidance for reaching 230-260 million Disney+ subscribers by the end of fiscal year 2024. Morris also said that this would need more program funding. "Disney intends to boost its prior content spending guidance (formerly $8-9 billion in fiscal 2024) as it invests in additional local and regional programming (340-plus local original programs now in development)," he said. Creutz, on the other hand, raised reservations about the Disney+ content strategy, which some think should involve a greater emphasis on more adult-oriented programming to broaden offers outside Disney's usual fan base. "Management anticipates Disney+ additions in fiscal 2022 to be back half-loaded based on a fiscal fourth-quarter content'surge' (typical of the content pipeline in fiscal 2023 and beyond) and the timing of certain additional regional launches," he said. "We remain doubtful that additional Star Wars/Marvel/animated/family programming will be enough to bring Disney+ up to parity with Netflix."