Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS – Get Free Report) and Gaia (NASDAQ:GAIA – Get Free Report) are both communication services companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, profitability, risk, earnings, analyst recommendations, dividends and valuation.
Institutional and Insider Ownership
65.7% of Walt Disney shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 40.5% of Gaia shares are held by institutional investors. 0.2% of Walt Disney shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 26.0% of Gaia shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Valuation & Earnings
This table compares Walt Disney and Gaia”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Walt Disney | $94.42 billion | 2.02 | $12.40 billion | $4.85 | 22.80 |
| Gaia | $98.95 million | 0.35 | -$4.49 million | ($0.24) | -5.71 |
Walt Disney has higher revenue and earnings than Gaia. Gaia is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Walt Disney, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Walt Disney and Gaia, as provided by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Walt Disney | 1 | 3 | 16 | 1 | 2.81 |
| Gaia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
Walt Disney currently has a consensus target price of $128.33, suggesting a potential upside of 16.05%. Given Walt Disney’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Walt Disney is more favorable than Gaia.
Volatility & Risk
Walt Disney has a beta of 1.41, suggesting that its stock price is 41% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Gaia has a beta of 0.99, suggesting that its stock price is 1% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Profitability
This table compares Walt Disney and Gaia’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Walt Disney | 8.70% | 9.90% | 5.63% |
| Gaia | -6.08% | -5.82% | -3.85% |
Summary
Walt Disney beats Gaia on 14 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Walt Disney
The Walt Disney Company operates as an entertainment company worldwide. It operates through three segments: Entertainment, Sports, and Experiences. The company produces and distributes film and television video streaming content under the ABC Television Network, Disney, Freeform, FX, Fox, National Geographic, and Star brand television channels, as well as ABC television stations and A+E television networks; and produces original content under the ABC Signature, Disney Branded Television, FX Productions, Lucasfilm, Marvel, National Geographic Studios, Pixar, Searchlight Pictures, Twentieth Century Studios, 20th Television, and Walt Disney Pictures banners. It also offers direct-to-consumer streaming services through Disney+, Disney+ Hotstar, Hulu, and Star+; sports-related entertainment services through ESPN, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+ DTC, and Star; sale/licensing of film and episodic content to third-party television and VOD services; theatrical, home entertainment, and music distribution services; DVD and Blu-ray discs, electronic home video licenses, and VOD rental services; staging and licensing of live entertainment events; and post-production services. In addition, the company operates theme parks and resorts comprising Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Shanghai Disney Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, National Geographic Expeditions, and Adventures by Disney, as well as Aulani, a Disney resort and spa in Hawaii. It also licenses its intellectual property to a third party for operations of the Tokyo Disney Resort; licenses trade names, characters, visual, literary, and other IP for use on merchandise, published materials, and games; operates a direct-to-home satellite distribution platform; sells branded merchandise through retail, online, and wholesale businesses; and develops and publishes books, comic books, and magazines. The company was founded in 1923 and is based in Burbank, California.
About Gaia
Gaia, Inc. operates a digital video subscription service and online community for underserved member base in the United States, Canada, Australia, and internationally. The company has a digital content library with various titles in Spanish, German, and French languages available to its subscribers on internet connected devices. Its network includes Yoga channel, which provides access to streaming yoga, Eastern arts, and other movement based classes; Transformation channel that offers content in the areas of spiritual growth, personal development, and expanded consciousness; Alternative Healing channel, which features content focused on food and nutrition, holistic healing, alternative and integrative medicines, and longevity; and Seeking Truth channel that provides access to interviews and presentations in the ancient wisdom and metaphysics genre. The company was formerly known as Gaiam, Inc. and changed its name to Gaia, Inc. in July 2016. Gaia, Inc. was incorporated in 1988 and is headquartered in Louisville, Colorado.
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