Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) vs The Walt Disney Company (DIS) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | DIS | 3.4% revenue growth vs SPHR's -9.9% |
| Quality / Margins | DIS | 12.8% net margin vs SPHR's -9.5% |
| Stability / Safety | DIS | Beta 1.10 vs SPHR's 1.65, lower leverage |
| Dividends | DIS | 0.9% yield; 1-year raise streak; SPHR pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | SPHR | +172.8% vs DIS's -5.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | DIS | 6.1% ROA vs SPHR's -2.4%, ROIC 6.9% vs -5.0% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Sphere Entertainment Co. is a live entertainment company that produces concerts, sporting events, and theatrical shows across iconic venues like Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall. It generates revenue primarily from ticket sales and event hosting at its venues — roughly 70% from live events — supplemented by its global network of dining and nightlife venues under brands like Tao and Hakkasan. The company's moat lies in its ownership of legendary, irreplaceable entertainment venues in prime locations and its portfolio of exclusive content like the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular.
The Walt Disney Company is a global entertainment conglomerate that creates and distributes content across film, television, and streaming platforms while operating theme parks and consumer products. It generates revenue primarily through its media networks and streaming services (Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu) — roughly 60% of revenue — and its parks, experiences, and products segment — about 30% of revenue. Disney's key competitive advantage is its unparalleled portfolio of iconic intellectual property — including Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and Disney classics — which drives cross-platform monetization and creates a powerful content flywheel.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
DIS leads in 2 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Analyst Outlook). SPHR leads in 1 (Total Returns). 3 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
DIS is the larger business by revenue, generating $95.7B annually — 90.2x SPHR's $1.1B. DIS is the more profitable business, keeping 12.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SPHR's -9.5%. On growth, SPHR holds the edge at +15.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SPHRSphere Entertainm… | DISThe Walt Disney C… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.1B | $95.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $24M | $19.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$101M | $12.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $173M | $7.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +24.5% | +37.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -22.1% | +14.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -9.5% | +12.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +16.3% | +7.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.2% | +5.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.1% | -4.3% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, DIS's 12.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SPHR's 53.0x.
| Metric | SPHRSphere Entertainm… | DISThe Walt Disney C… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $817M | $189.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.8B | $229.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -20.95x | 15.48x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 16.09x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 53.03x | 11.96x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.80x | 2.01x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.77x | 1.68x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 18.85x |
Profitability & Efficiency
DIS delivers a 10.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $-5 for SPHR. DIS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.39x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SPHR's 0.63x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), DIS scores 8/9 vs SPHR's 2/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SPHRSphere Entertainm… | DISThe Walt Disney C… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -4.7% | +10.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -2.4% | +6.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -5.0% | +6.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -6.3% | +8.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.63x | 0.39x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $959M | $39.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $560M | $5.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.5B | $44.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -2.48x | 7.86x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in SPHR five years ago would be worth $23,473 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,567 for DIS. Over the past 12 months, SPHR leads with a +172.8% total return vs DIS's -5.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SPHR at 62.1% vs DIS's 2.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SPHRSphere Entertainm… | DISThe Walt Disney C… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +26.2% | -5.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +172.8% | -5.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +325.6% | +9.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +134.7% | -44.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +191.1% | +20.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +62.1% | +2.9% |
Risk & Volatility
DIS is the less volatile stock with a 1.10 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SPHR's 1.65 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SPHR currently trades 99.0% from its 52-week high vs DIS's 85.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SPHRSphere Entertainm… | DISThe Walt Disney C… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.65x | 1.10x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $120.27 | $124.69 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $23.89 | $80.10 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.0% | +85.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 69.5 | 45.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 639K | 9.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SPHR as "Buy" and DIS as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 31.4% upside for DIS (target: $139) vs 2.2% for SPHR (target: $122). DIS is the only dividend payer here at 0.94% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | SPHRSphere Entertainm… | DISThe Walt Disney C… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $121.67 | $139.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 63 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.2% | +1.8% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Apr 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sphere Entertainmen… (SPHR) | 100 | 231.46 | +131.5% |
| The Walt Disney Com… (DIS) | 100 | 99 | -1.0% |
Sphere Entertainmen… (SPHR) returned +135% over 5 years vs The Walt Disney Com… (DIS)'s -44%. A $10,000 investment in SPHR 5 years ago would be worth $23,473 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sphere Entertainmen… (SPHR) | $1.1B | $1.0B | -7.9% |
| The Walt Disney Com… (DIS) | $55.6B | $94.4B | +69.7% |
Sphere Entertainment Co.'s revenue grew from $1.1B (2016) to $1.0B (2025) — a -0.9% CAGR. The Walt Disney Company's revenue grew from $55.6B (2016) to $94.4B (2025) — a 6.1% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sphere Entertainmen… (SPHR) | -6.9% | -19.5% | -182.0% |
| The Walt Disney Com… (DIS) | 16.9% | 13.1% | -22.2% |
Sphere Entertainment Co.'s net margin went from -7% (2016) to -20% (2025). The Walt Disney Company's net margin went from 17% (2016) to 13% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Walt Disney Com… (DIS) | 18.9 | 16.6 | -12.2% |
The Walt Disney Company has traded in a 13x–142x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~15x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sphere Entertainmen… (SPHR) | -3.12 | -5.68 | -82.1% |
| The Walt Disney Com… (DIS) | 5.73 | 6.85 | +19.5% |
Sphere Entertainment Co.'s EPS grew from $-3.12 (2016) to $-5.68 (2025). The Walt Disney Company's EPS grew from $5.73 (2016) to $6.85 (2025) — a 2% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Sphere Entertainment Co. generated $-309M FCF in 2025 (+40% vs 2021). The Walt Disney Company generated $10B FCF in 2025 (+407% vs 2021).
SPHR vs DIS: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SPHR or DIS a better buy right now?
The Walt Disney Company (DIS) offers the better valuation at 15.5x trailing P/E (16.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) a "Buy" — based on 12 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which is the better long-term investment — SPHR or DIS?
Over the past 5 years, Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) delivered a total return of +134.7%, compared to -44.3% for The Walt Disney Company (DIS). A $10,000 investment in SPHR five years ago would be worth approximately $23K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SPHR returned +191.1% versus DIS's +20.5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — SPHR or DIS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), The Walt Disney Company (DIS) is the lower-risk stock at 1.10β versus Sphere Entertainment Co.'s 1.65β — meaning SPHR is approximately 50% more volatile than DIS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Walt Disney Company (DIS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 39% versus 63% for Sphere Entertainment Co. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — SPHR or DIS?
The Walt Disney Company (DIS) is the more profitable company, earning 13.1% net margin versus -19.5% for Sphere Entertainment Co. — meaning it keeps 13.1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DIS leads at 14.6% versus -21.7% for SPHR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DIS leads at 37.8%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
05Is SPHR or DIS more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DIS: 31.4% to $139.33.
06Which pays a better dividend — SPHR or DIS?
In this comparison, DIS (0.9% yield) pays a dividend. SPHR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is SPHR or DIS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, The Walt Disney Company (DIS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.10), 0.9% yield). Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) carries a higher beta of 1.65 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (DIS: +20.5%, SPHR: +191.1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
08What are the main differences between SPHR and DIS?
Both stocks operate in the Communication Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. In terms of investment character: SPHR is a small-cap quality compounder stock; DIS is a mid-cap deep-value stock. DIS pays a dividend while SPHR does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Revenue Growth > 7%
- Gross Margin > 14%