Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over daily movements, we do like to keep an eye on market changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.
The markets certainly haven't been frozen today, as Disney (DIS -1.01%) has lit up the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI -0.98%)for a gain of 176 points as of 2:30 p.m. EST. The entertainment conglomerate's stock has jumped more than 5.2% behind a strong fiscal first-quarter earnings report. Coca-Cola's (KO 0.31%) stock is up more than 1% after the beverage giant made waves with a new deal. Let's catch up on what you need to know.
Disney scores a first-quarter home run
Disney announced earlier yesterday that its fiscal first-quarter net profit surged 33% from last year. The company's sales roared higher by more than 8% year over year during, led by Disney's box office-captivating animated feature Frozen. The film has racked up more than $860 million at the worldwide box office as of this past weekend and still placed second at the domestic box office despite its lengthy run in theaters.
Along with Marvel hit Thor: The Dark World, Frozen helped Disney's film division see net profits jump 75% for the first quarter. Meanwhile, Disney's media networks division continued its romp higher, sparking net profit by 20% as sales climbed nearly 4% at the company's largest business by revenue. Sports network ESPN's advertising sales picked up 10% for the quarter to lead the charge. Theme park revenue also grew more than 6%.
Don't think Disney's film success will slow down anytime soon. The company's Marvel Studios is set to strike box office gold again this spring with its newest Captain America film. With an Avengers sequel on tap in 2015 to pair with the closely watched seventh installment of the Star Wars saga, Disney's on the right course to run away with box office success over the next few years. Considering how well the company's other business divisions are performing, particularly its media networks group, this is one blue-chip stock that's risen to the top of the Dow's leaderboard in future expectations.
Coca-Cola pleased investors today with its own stock gain after the company announced its acquisition of a 10% stake in Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR.DL). Coca-Cola plans to use Green Mountain's new Keurig Cold home brewing machine as a host to some of its top beverage brands in an attempt to pick up a slice of the at-home beverage market. Coke paid $1.25 billion in the deal, a move that sent Green Mountain's shares bubbling higher by nearly 30% on a tremendous day for shareholders. Green Mountain's Keurig Cold is on pace to launch in fiscal 2015, and the addition of some of Coca-Cola's top brands will give the device major firepower in drawing consumer attention.
