Dozens of companies that suspended their dividends in the pandemic have reinstated payouts. Walt Disney isn’t one of them, and investors shouldn’t expect a comeback soon.
Facing a swirl of corporate pressures, Disney (ticker: DIS) appears to have abandoned its dividend for now. While it was never a high-yielding stock—offering just 1.7% before it suspended its dividend in 2020—its lack of a payout highlights the stress on its balance sheet after an acquisition spree left it heavily indebted. A revival in its free cash flow is expected, but it may be years before Disney has enough to return some of it to shareholders.