What's the highest Disney stock has been?

Disney stock hit an all-time high of $201.91 per share on March 8, 2021.

Did Disney stock split?

Disney has split its stock seven times throughout its history. The last Disney stock split was a 3-for-1 split in July 1998.

How to Invest in Disney (DIS): Your Complete Guide

Get step-by-step guidance on how to invest in Disney stock and learn the ins and outs of this media company.

By Matthew DiLallo – Updated Jul 27, 2026 at 7:03 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

Disney's streaming services show profitability, boosting potential stock gains.
Disney reinstated its dividend in 2023, showing fiscal recovery post-COVID-19.
ETFs including Disney stock offer a low-cost investment option in communication sectors.

Disney (DIS -1.28%) is one of the most iconic entertainment companies in the world, from Disney+ and Pixar to ESPN and its theme parks. As Disney’s streaming business improves and box office performance rebounds, more investors are wondering whether now is a good time to buy the stock.

If you're thinking about adding Disney to your portfolio, here’s how to buy shares and what to consider before investing.

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How to buy Disney stock

To buy shares of Disney, you must have a brokerage account. If you still need to open one, you can choose one from our list of the best-rated brokers and trading platforms.

Here's a step-by-step guide to buying Disney stock:

Open your brokerage app: Log into your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
Search for Disney: Enter the ticker symbol "DIS" into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

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What does Disney do?

Over the past century, Disney has grown into a world-class media and entertainment company. Disney owns an unparalleled portfolio of iconic brands and franchises.

The company has three operating segments:

Entertainment: This segment features the company's TV channels, direct-to-consumer streaming businesses (e.g., Disney+ and Hulu), and content sales and licensing.
Experiences: This segment includes the company's global portfolio of parks and experiences, as well as its consumer products.
Sports: Disney's sports segment includes ESPN, ESPN+, and Star-branded sports channels in India, as well as fees earned from licensing sports content.

Disney has invested heavily in recent years to build a leading streaming service in Disney+. It has spent large sums on content to increase its subscriber base in hopes of achieving long-term profitability. The company's investment has finally started paying dividends.

The profit growth potential of Disney+ could produce big gains for Disney shareholders in the coming years. This upside potential makes Disney a compelling stock for investors to consider.

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Should you invest in Disney?

Whether Disney belongs in your portfolio depends on your goals, timeline, and investing style. Here are a few reasons investors consider buying Disney:

You want to invest in the company behind your favorite brands, characters, or experiences.
You want your kids or grandkids to start investing and think Disney is a company they'd enjoy following.
You believe Disney's investment in streaming will pay off.
You think the company's cost-cutting strategy will improve profitability and boost the stock price.
You think Disney could unlock shareholder value by selling some of its legacy media businesses.
You want to earn some dividend income.
You have confidence that CEO Bob Iger can get Disney back on track.
You understand the risks of owning Disney stock, including the possibility that shares could lose value.
You've thoroughly researched Disney and understand how to make money investing in the stock.
Adding Disney would help diversify your portfolio.
You plan to be a long-term investor and hold your shares through any volatility.

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NYSE: DIS

Walt Disney

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

71/100

Today's Change

(-1.28%) $-1.42

Current Price

$109.83

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$192B

Day's Range

$109.63 - $111.52

52wk Range

$92.19 - $119.78

Volume

2.4M

Avg Vol

10.5M

Gross Margin

32.19%

Dividend Yield

1.35%

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On the other hand, there are some negatives that you'll also want to consider while weighing whether to buy shares, including:

You need the money you plan to use to buy Disney shares to cover an emergency or a major planned purchase over the next three to five years.
You're seeking stocks with a higher dividend yield than Disney currently offers.
Disney's values don't align with yours.
You don't have time to research Disney stock to understand how it makes money and what its risks are.
You think some of Disney's legacy issues, including problems at ESPN, will continue to weigh on its stock.
You're not sure Disney can turn around its feature film business after a string of recent box office flops.
You're worried about a potential recession and its impact on Disney's consumer-facing business.
You don't want to follow Disney's business.

Is Disney profitable?

Earnings growth drives stock price appreciation over the longer term. That makes it a good area for beginning investors to focus on before buying shares.

Disney is a profitable company. In 2025, the company generated $12 billion in income before income taxes, up from $7.59 billion in 2024.

Several factors helped boost Disney's profits. The company's streaming business finally turned the corner on profitability, and it also delivered a record year in its experiences segment, driven by strong attendance at its parks.

Disney's improved profitability has helped lift some of the weight on the stock price in recent years:

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DIS profits vs stock price — Data source: Ycharts.

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Does Disney pay a dividend?

After a nearly three-year hiatus, Disney reinstated a dividend in late 2023. The company decided to forgo dividend payments in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations. The decision allowed Disney to retain additional cash to sustain its operations and invest in growth, including its streaming platform. Before the suspension, Disney had a history of paying a steadily rising dividend.

The company declared a semiannual dividend payment of $0.50 per share in December 2024, putting its annual rate at $1.00 per share. It boosted the dividend to $0.75 per share in late 2025 and could increase it in the coming years as its streaming investments continue to pay off.

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How to invest in Disney through ETFs

Instead of actively buying shares directly, you also can passively invest in Disney stock with a fund that holds its shares.

Disney is among the larger publicly traded companies by market capitalization. It's a widely held stock. Disney is included in several stock market indexes, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 index. As a result, index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track those indexes hold Disney stock.

According to ETF.com, more than 450 ETFs held shares of Disney in mid-2026. A few ETFs with high weightings to Disney stock are:

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Data source: ETF Database.
Exchange-traded Fund	Fund Weighting	ETF Expense Ratio	ETF Category
First Trust S-Network Streaming & Gaming ETF (NYSEMKT:BNGE)	4.61%	0.70%	Streaming and gaming stocks
Communications Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEMKT:XLC)	4.40%	0.08%	Communications stocks
iShares Global Comm Services ETF (NYSEMKT:IXP)	4.51%	0.40%	Communications stocks

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Those ETFs all have relatively similar weightings in Disney stock, making them decent options for gaining exposure to the entertainment giant. However, given its low ETF expense ratio, the Communications Services Select Sector SPDR Fund stands out as the best option for those seeking a low-cost way to invest in Disney and other communications-sector companies.

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Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)

An exchange-traded fund, or ETF, allows investors to buy many stocks or bonds at once.

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Will Disney stock split?

As of 2025, Disney hadn't announced an upcoming stock split. However, the company has implemented seven stock splits throughout its history:

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Data source: Disney.
Payable Date	Amount	Closing, Pre-Split Price
July 1998	3-for-1	$111
May 1992	4-for-1	$153
March 1986	4-for-1	$143
January 1973	2-for-1	$215
March 1971	2-for-1	$178
November 1967	2-for-1	$105
August 1956	2-for-1	N/A

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All of Disney's stock splits have occurred when shares topped $100. Disney's stock was once again above the triple-digit mark in late 2024 (although it dipped slightly below $100 in mid-2026), so it's possible Disney could split its stock again soon.

The bottom line

Disney is a brand that's beloved by many. The company's rich storytelling, likable characters, and enjoyable experiences have passed the test of time. Meanwhile, the company's investments in streaming could mean its best days still lie ahead. Disney stock could turn out to be a rewarding long-term investment.

Disney could be a great stock to buy, and it's easy to purchase through most brokerages. However, you still need to decide whether you want to own Disney, as it might not be the best fit for everyone.

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FAQs on Investing in Disney Stock

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About the Author

Matt DiLallo has been a contributing Motley Fool stock analyst specializing in the energy, industrials, and real estate sectors since 2012. He also covers dividend-paying stocks, pre-IPO companies, ETFs, and other investing topics. He holds an MBA from Liberty University.

TMFmd19

@MatthewDiLallo

Matt DiLallo has positions in Walt Disney and has the following options: short September 2026 $120 calls on Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Walt Disney. The Motley Fool recommends C3.ai. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

How to Buy Disney Stock (DIS): Your Complete Guide

Get step-by-step guidance on how to invest in Disney stock and learn the ins and outs of this media company.

Key Points

How to buy Disney stock

What does Disney do?

Should you invest in Disney?

NYSE: DIS

Key Data Points

Is Disney profitable?

Does Disney pay a dividend?

How to invest in Disney through ETFs

Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)

Will Disney stock split?

The bottom line

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FAQs on Investing in Disney Stock

What's the highest Disney stock has been?

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How to buy Disney stock

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NYSE: DIS

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Does Disney pay a dividend?

How to invest in Disney through ETFs

Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)

Will Disney stock split?

The bottom line

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What's the highest Disney stock has been?

What's the highest Disney stock has been?

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Did Disney stock split?