The Walt Disney Company (DIS) Stock Investment Calculator & Historical Return Analysis
The Walt Disney Company is a premier global entertainment and media enterprise that operates through three primary business segments: Entertainment, Sports, and Experiences. Known for its iconic storytelling, Disney manages a portfolio of world-class brands including Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, and ABC. The company is a leader in the 'streaming wars' with its Disney+ and Hulu platforms and maintains a dominant global presence in the theme park and cruise industry. Under the leadership of CEO Bob Iger, Disney is currently focused on an enterprise-wide transformation emphasizing streaming profitability, creative excellence, and the integration of advanced technologies like AI and spatial computing into its storytelling ecosystem. Investors often view The Walt Disney Company as a key player in the market, analyzing its long-term potential through various revenue models, brand recognition, and consistent presence in its industry.
This The Walt Disney Company stock investment calculator allows you to explore how a hypothetical investment in DIS might have performed over time. By adjusting the investment amount and time period, you can visualize potential growth, compare outcomes across different market cycles, and better understand the impact of long-term investing.
What if you invested $1000 in DIS on Jan 1, 2020?
Explore hypothetical investment results for stocks, ETFs, and more. See real historical data and share your discoveries.
Understanding The Walt Disney Company's Historical Performance
The Walt Disney Company's stock performance has historically reflected both broader market trends and company-specific milestones. Like many growth-oriented stocks, DIS has experienced periods of growth driven by innovation and market demand.
When analyzing The Walt Disney Company's historical returns, it's important to consider:
- Market cycles: Strong bull markets often amplify returns, while recessions can temporarily suppress performance.
- Business model evolution: Changes in revenue strategies and product lines can significantly impact stability.
- Long-term trends: Over extended periods, compounding can play a larger role than short-term price fluctuations. Try our calculator to explore returns over 5 years or larger investments over 10 years.
This calculator helps you see how these factors might have affected an investment depending on when you entered the market.
Historical Annual Returns
Over the past 40 years, The Walt Disney Company has delivered an average annual return of 12.9%. The stock peaked in 1989 with a massive +71.2% gain, while investors faced a downturn in 2022 (-44.6%). Overall, the stock finished in the green 29 times out of 40 years.
Avg Return
+12.9%
Win Rate
73%
29W - 11L
Best
+71.2%
1989
Worst
-44.6%
2022
Performance Consistency
The Walt Disney Company Annual Returns by Year
| Year | Annual Return | Start Price | End Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | +54.40% | $1.63 | $2.52 |
| 1987 | +32.51% | $2.62 | $3.48 |
| 1988 | +6.29% | $3.65 | $3.88 |
| 1989 | +71.23% | $3.88 | $6.65 |
| 1990 | -11.68% | $6.85 | $6.05 |
| 1991 | +14.05% | $6.02 | $6.87 |
| 1992 | +49.29% | $6.95 | $10.38 |
| 1993 | +0.29% | $10.32 | $10.35 |
| 1994 | +7.41% | $10.47 | $11.25 |
| 1995 | +27.09% | $11.42 | $14.51 |
| 1996 | +15.20% | $15.00 | $17.28 |
| 1997 | +47.91% | $16.69 | $24.69 |
| 1998 | -9.10% | $24.85 | $22.59 |
| 1999 | +0.01% | $22.26 | $22.26 |
| 2000 | -2.47% | $22.74 | $22.17 |
| 2001 | -25.05% | $21.41 | $16.05 |
| 2002 | -23.01% | $16.61 | $12.79 |
| 2003 | +36.45% | $13.53 | $18.47 |
| 2004 | +18.50% | $18.74 | $22.20 |
| 2005 | -13.02% | $22.24 | $19.35 |
| 2006 | +41.72% | $19.69 | $27.91 |
| 2007 | -3.29% | $27.85 | $26.94 |
| 2008 | -27.67% | $26.57 | $19.22 |
| 2009 | +36.38% | $20.26 | $27.63 |
| 2010 | +18.24% | $27.48 | $32.49 |
| 2011 | +0.82% | $32.76 | $33.02 |
| 2012 | +31.96% | $33.74 | $44.52 |
| 2013 | +51.36% | $45.69 | $69.16 |
| 2014 | +25.07% | $69.04 | $86.35 |
| 2015 | +13.46% | $85.94 | $97.51 |
| 2016 | +2.72% | $95.56 | $98.17 |
| 2017 | +2.92% | $99.92 | $102.84 |
| 2018 | -0.37% | $106.94 | $106.55 |
| 2019 | +34.35% | $105.89 | $142.26 |
| 2020 | +22.25% | $145.77 | $178.21 |
| 2021 | -12.83% | $174.77 | $152.35 |
| 2022 | -44.58% | $154.19 | $85.46 |
| 2023 | +1.81% | $87.51 | $89.10 |
| 2024 | +23.87% | $89.51 | $110.88 |
| 2025 | +3.10% | $110.35 | $113.77 |
Historical annual returns for The Walt Disney Company. Data shows year-over-year percentage change in stock price.
Why Use a "What If" Stock Calculator?
Many investors wonder questions such as:
- What if I had invested 5 years ago?
- How does timing affect long-term returns?
- What role does compounding play in stock investments?
A what-if investment calculator answers these questions by turning historical data into practical insights. Rather than focusing on daily price movements, it encourages a long-term perspective, which is especially useful for retirement planning, portfolio comparisons, and financial education.
Key Innovations
- ✓Steamboat Willie: First cartoon with fully synchronized sound (1928).
- ✓Multiplane Camera: Innovative camera system that created a sense of three-dimensional depth in 2D animation.
- ✓Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The first full-length, cel-animated feature film in history (1937).
- ✓Audio-Animatronics: Groundbreaking mechanical robotics used in theme park attractions like 'Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln'.
- ✓Circle-Vision 360°: A film technique using nine cameras to create a seamless 360-degree theater experience.
- ✓Stuntronics: Advanced autonomous robotic actors capable of performing complex aerial stunts in theme parks.
- ✓OpenAI Partnership (2025): Historic deal licensing 200+ characters for AI-generated video and image experiments via Sora and ChatGPT.
Business Segments
- Disney EntertainmentThis segment encompasses the company's global film and episodic television content production and distribution. It includes Linear Networks (ABC, Disney Channel, FX, National Geographic), Direct-to-Consumer streaming services (Disney+, Hulu), and Content Sales/Licensing (theatrical distribution and home entertainment).
- ESPN (Sports)Focused exclusively on sports media, this segment includes the ESPN television networks, the ESPN+ streaming service, and domestic and international sports programming rights. It serves as Disney's central hub for live sports broadcasting and sports-related digital content.
- Disney ExperiencesFormerly Parks, Experiences and Products, this segment operates Disney's world-renowned theme parks and resorts in Florida, California, Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. It also includes the Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, and the licensing of Disney intellectual property for consumer products, toys, and publishing.
How to Interpret the Results
The results shown are based on historical performance and are meant for educational and informational purposes only. They do not account for future market conditions, taxes, transaction fees, or individual investment strategies. Past performance does not guarantee future results, but historical analysis can help investors understand risk, volatility, and growth potential.
For best use:
- Compare multiple time ranges to see how outcomes differ
- Use consistent assumptions across different stocks
- Combine this tool with fundamental research and diversification principles