The Walt Disney Company announced on Wednesday that it will increase the dividend for the 2024 fiscal year by 33 percent. Shareholders will receive a cash dividend of 1.00 USD per share, divided into two installments of 0.50 USD each, payable in January and July 2025. The previous year's dividend was 0.75 USD.

CEO Bob Iger, who returned to the company helm in 2022 after a two-year hiatus, introduced a comprehensive restructuring to save billions and increase profitability. "The past year was a great success for Disney. We worked strategically on quality, innovation, efficiency, and value creation," Iger stated. "The increased dividend reflects our progress and commitment to sustainable growth.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024, Disney achieved earnings of $1.14 per share, surpassing analysts' expectations of $1.11. In the same period last year, earnings per share were only $0.14. Revenue also increased significantly from $21.2 billion to $22.6 billion, exceeding estimates of $22.49 billion.

Growth drivers included successful films like "Inside Out 2" and "Deadpool & Wolverine" as well as the streaming business. Restructuring and multi-billion dollar savings also contributed to improved profitability.

The Disney stock, which already gained around 30 percent in 2024, was recently quoted at 116.99 US dollars. Despite the positive news, the paper recorded a slight decline of 0.58 percent on Thursday to 116.31 US dollars.

Analysts remain optimistic: Of 20 experts, 15 recommend buying the stock, while five advise holding it. The average price target is $124.29, with a highest target of $140.