On Monday, the Walt Disney Company reported earnings of $2.1 billion for its second fiscal quarter ended March 28. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) increased 14 percent to $1.23 from $1.08 in the prior-year quarter, and excluding certain items affecting comparability, EPS for the quarter increased 11 percent to $1.23 from $1.11 in the prior-year quarter.
EPS for the six months ended March 28 increased 18 percent to $2.50 from $2.11 in the prior-year period. Excluding certain items affecting comparability, EPS for the six months increased 16 percent.
On a segment basis, studio entertainment revenues for the quarter decreased 6 percent to $1.7 billion while segment operating income decreased 10 percent to $427 million. Lower operating income was partially offset by a higher revenue share with the consumer products segment, reflecting the performance of Frozen merchandise during the current quarter.
Consumer products revenues for the quarter increased 10 percent to $971 million and segment operating income increased 32 percent to $362 million. Higher operating income was primarily due to an increase in merchandise licensing business, due to the performance of merchandise based on Frozen and, to a lesser extent, Marvel’s The Avengers.
Interactive revenues for the quarter decreased 12 percent to $235 million, while segment operating income increased by $12 million to $26 million. Lower marketing and product development costs were partially offset by lower Disney Infinity performance and decreased sales of mobile game catalog titles due to fewer titles in release.
