Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS) has shut down an analyst who warned investors of investing on DIS stock due to the rise of the Zika virus.
Specifically, the illness’ presence in Miami and other Florida locations could have an adverse effect on the company’s business. BTIG LLC analyst Rich Greenfield wrote about the stock in a research note Thursday, claiming families with plans to go to its theme parks have cancelled or changed plans due to the growth of Zika.
A Disney spokeswoman said in an interview yesterday that the virus has had “no real impact on cancellations or future bookings.” Disney CEO Bob Iger restated these comments.
Greenfield’s comments were backed by a survey conducted by CivicScience earlier this month, which polled 5,000 people about how Zika in Florida has altered their travel plans. About 400 of the 800 who were going to Walt Disney World are no longer going, the poll claims.
Tough revenue in Disney’s movie business has put the company in a tough spot, relying on their theme parks to help bring earnings up.
Last month, Disney announced plans to launch “real” lightsabers in its Star Wars theme park sometime in the near future. The technology behind the idea is still being ironed out.
The company also announced that fan-favorite Tower of Terror, which carries you slowly to great heights before sinking you down, will no longer be in existence after it closes on October 31.
DIS stock is down 0.2% Friday.
