NEW YORK, Feb 13, 2026, 15:59 ET — Regular session
- Disney shares climbed roughly 2.6% in afternoon trading, bouncing after Thursday’s drop.
- Disney has lined up a $4 billion, four-part note sale, according to a recent SEC filing, with Citigroup and JPMorgan taking the lead on the deal.
- Investors are weighing a $2.75 million privacy settlement out of California, while also recalibrating Fed rate-cut expectations following softer inflation numbers.
Walt Disney (DIS.N) gained around 2.6% Friday afternoon, climbing to $105.08 and recovering some ground after Thursday’s slide. Shares moved in a $101.17 to $105.38 band, putting Disney’s market value close to $192 billion.
Disney’s in the spotlight again, this time for two reasons that hit risk sentiment: funding and regulatory headaches. The company has returned to capital markets, while regulators have started scrutinizing how streaming companies manage user data. That combination can quickly tilt the “quality” story investors tend to favor when nerves are frayed.
Stocks held firm on Wall Street after inflation figures landed lighter than forecasts, reigniting chatter about potential rate cuts and easing some nerves following a volatile stretch driven by tech and AI concerns. The Dow ticked up 0.33% and the S&P 500 added 0.48% in the afternoon, according to Reuters data, as January CPI showed a 0.2% gain and traders slightly raised bets on a quarter-point cut by June. “The bottom line is, this is a good number,” said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities. (Reuters)
Disney lobbed in its own finance news: According to a Feb. 10 underwriting agreement, the company mapped out a $4 billion bond sale, spreading $500 million into floating-rate notes due 2029—these adjust with short-term rates—then fixed-rate slices: $1 billion in 3.750% notes also due 2029, $1.5 billion of 4.000% notes maturing 2031, and $1 billion at 4.625% due 2036. Citigroup Global Markets and J.P. Morgan Securities were listed as reps on the deal, with the paperwork pointing to a Feb. 12 closing. (SEC)
Deals like that usually get a close look from investors—they’re a read on borrowing costs and any slack left on the balance sheet, especially with rates back in the market’s crosshairs. The timing isn’t lost either: Disney is still holding cash close as it doubles down on streaming, all while keeping its parks operation humming.
Out on the West Coast, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Feb. 11 that Disney will pay $2.75 million to settle claims it didn’t fully comply when consumers asked to opt out of selling or sharing their data under the California Consumer Privacy Act. “Consumers shouldn’t have to go to infinity and beyond to assert their privacy rights,” Bonta said in a statement. (California DOJ)
Still, pitfalls are obvious. More compliance inevitably means higher expenses and greater scrutiny for Disney’s ad and streaming operations. That new debt? The leverage picture doesn’t get prettier, regardless of assurances about available capacity. The company’s latest numbers also flagged “headwinds” from fewer international guests at U.S. parks and softer profit across some entertainment segments. Yet Disney is sticking to its plan to buy back $7 billion in shares in fiscal 2026. (Reuters)
Competition hasn’t let up. Disney’s up against TV’s ongoing decline, not to mention a streaming field where Netflix leads and heavyweight competitors keep piling in. At the same time, the company is working to sustain momentum for its parks and experiences business.
Investors are zeroing in on Disney’s annual meeting set for March 18, when Josh D’Amaro is slated to take over as CEO from Robert Iger—a scheduled handoff that may clarify strategy, capital allocation, and what’s next for Disney+, ESPN, and the parks business. (Thewaltdisneycompany)
