who owns the most disney stock?

Lead

If you’re asking who owns the most Disney stock, the short answer is: large institutional investors — primarily global asset managers and index funds — hold the lion’s share. This article summarizes the largest holders of The Walt Disney Company (DIS), explains how ownership is reported, outlines governance and voting implications, and points you to the public filings and data services where you can verify the latest figures. You’ll learn how passive index funds, mutual funds, activist investors and corporate insiders each play different roles in Disney’s ownership picture.

Major institutional shareholders

Institutional investors, including asset managers, mutual fund families and ETF providers, are the dominant shareholders of Disney. Institutions hold Disney shares on behalf of millions of retail clients, pension plans and other investors. Because they manage very large pools of capital, these institutions are typically the largest recorded owners of DIS by both share count and voting power.

As of June 30, 2024, according to aggregator snapshots from Yahoo Finance and Capital.com, two firms consistently reported as the largest holders were The Vanguard Group and BlackRock. Reported ranges from various data providers in mid-2024 put Vanguard’s ownership roughly in the 153–157 million shares range and BlackRock’s roughly in the 121–128 million shares range. These figures fluctuate with market activity, fund flows and quarterly regulatory filings.

Institutional holders commonly include index fund providers (Vanguard, BlackRock, State Street), large banks and wealth managers (Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan), specialized index managers (Geode, Dimensional) and major sovereign or pension funds (for example, Norges Bank as a sovereign investor). Because many of these institutions run index products, their holdings reflect the index weighting of Disney relative to other companies.

Top institutional holders (typical list)

Common names that appear near the top of Disney’s holder lists across public aggregators and SEC-derived data include:

• The Vanguard Group
• BlackRock, Inc.
• State Street Corporation
• Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan (in various capacities)
• Geode Capital Management / Dimensional Fund Advisors
• Major pension/sovereign funds (e.g., Norges Bank / Norway’s sovereign wealth-related accounts)

Exact rankings and share counts change quarterly. Institutional holdings can move when funds rebalance, new ETFs are launched, or large institutional investors change allocations.

Index funds and ETFs’ role

A significant portion of Disney’s institutional ownership is indirect: it resides inside index funds and ETFs. Large index products that track the U.S. market or the S&P 500 own Disney shares proportional to Disney’s market capitalization within those indexes. Examples of common index vehicles that often include Disney are broad total-market funds and S&P 500 index funds (for instance, flagship Vanguard funds and large S&P 500 ETFs). These funds aggregate millions of underlying retail and institutional investors, so a single index fund’s holding represents a pool of many smaller owners.

Because these funds own shares in proportion to market-cap weightings, passive ownership amplifies the influence of a few major asset managers. Fund managers such as Vanguard, BlackRock and State Street therefore exercise significant voting power through their fund platforms and stewardship teams, even when the ultimate economic owners are many.

Individual and insider shareholders

Insiders — corporate officers, directors and named executives — typically own only a small fraction of Disney’s total shares outstanding compared with institutional owners. Senior insiders such as the CEO and top executives often hold shares and stock-based compensation packages that align management with long-term shareholder value, but their percentage ownership is usually much smaller than institutional blocks.

As of mid-2024 filings and public summaries, senior executives (for example, the CEO and former CFO) typically hold on the order of hundreds of thousands to a few million shares individually, representing a small percentage of Disney’s outstanding shares. Insider ownership levels and Form 4 disclosures are published by the SEC and summarized by data providers; these filings show purchases, sales and option exercises that update insider holdings.

Ownership concentration and percentages

A common metric used to describe ownership structure is the percentage of shares held by institutions versus retail and insiders. Aggregators and financial-data services often report institutional ownership of Disney in the mid-60s to low-70s percent range. That means roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of Disney’s shares (and voting power) are commonly held by institutions, though the exact percentage depends on the date and the data provider.

Another useful metric is the percent of free float controlled by the largest holders (top 5 or top 10). High concentration of ownership among a handful of institutional investors increases those institutions’ influence on corporate governance matters like director elections, executive compensation votes and major corporate actions.

Notable activist and strategic holders

While passive asset managers hold a large share of Disney’s stock, activist investors occasionally acquire stakes that attract attention and can influence corporate strategy. For Disney, activist or strategic holders have appeared in filings in past years; such investors may push for changes to business strategy, capital allocation, divestitures, or governance reforms.

For example, activist funds (historically including well-known names in the sector) have filed Schedule 13D or engaged in public campaigns in other large-cap companies, prompting management responses or board changes. When an activist investor accumulates a significant stake in Disney, it can prompt strategic reviews, proposals to spin off assets, or pressure to improve capital returns. Insurance companies, pensions and sovereign funds also wield influence, though they are often more passive and focused on steady long-term returns.

Share structure and voting rights

Disney’s common shares carry voting rights proportional to the number of shares held. The company’s share classes and voting structures are disclosed in its SEC filings (the charter and bylaws) and proxy statements. Most Disney shares are standard common stock with one vote per share; any deviations or dual-class structures would be clearly described in the company’s corporate filings.

Key items to check in filings include the total shares outstanding, shares held in treasury, and the float (shares available for public trading). The float excludes closely held shares that are not available for trading, such as those held by insiders with transfer restrictions. These figures are reported in the company’s quarterly and annual reports and summarized by data providers.

How ownership is reported and where to find data

Tracking who owns the most Disney stock requires consulting a mix of regulatory filings, corporate disclosures and aggregator services. Primary documents and data sources include:

• SEC 13F filings: Quarter-end reports filed by institutional investment managers with at least $100 million in qualifying assets. These filings list long equity positions and are a primary source for institutional holdings data.
• Schedule 13D/G filings: Used to report beneficial ownership above certain thresholds (often 5%); 13D is used when the filer intends to influence control, and 13G for passive holdings.
• Form 4: Insider filings reporting changes in insiders’ ownership due to trades, option exercises or grants.
• DEF 14A (proxy statements) and the annual proxy/meeting materials: These detail shareholders up for election, compensation matters, board composition, and major governance proposals.
• Company annual reports (Form 10-K) and quarterly reports (Form 10-Q): These often include a summary of share data and material events.

Aggregators and public data pages that compile and display holdings include Yahoo Finance (Holders pages), Morningstar (Ownership tab), MarketBeat (institutional ownership history), Capital.com shareholder analyses, and Nasdaq’s institutional holdings pages. These services interpret SEC filings and present consolidated views, but they may update at different times and apply different rules for counting holdings.

As of June 30, 2024, repositories such as Yahoo Finance and Capital.com reported that large asset managers (Vanguard, BlackRock, State Street) remained the top holders, consistent with institutional 13F patterns and aggregator snapshots.

Historical trends and factors that change ownership

Ownership concentrations change over time for several reasons:

• Index and ETF flows: When investors allocate more into broad index funds or sector ETFs that include Disney, those funds must buy Disney shares to match index weights. Large inflows into index products thus translate into higher passive ownership.
• Mutual fund rebalancing: Active managers may change allocations to Disney based on valuation or sector outlook, producing buying or selling pressure.
• Share buybacks: When Disney repurchases shares, the total shares outstanding fall, which can raise insiders’ and remaining holders’ percentage ownership even if their share counts don’t change.
• Secondary sales: Large institutional sellers may reduce exposure, altering the ownership mix.
• Activist campaigns and strategic transactions: M&A activity, spin-offs or activist demands can shift investor interest and trigger position changes.

Corporate events and high-profile leadership transitions also influence investor sentiment. For example, significant insider purchases or sales, a major strategic announcement, or a proxy contest can cause institutions to re-evaluate positions and adjust holdings accordingly.

Implications for investors and corporate governance

Concentrated institutional ownership has several implications:

• Retail investors generally have limited direct voting power compared to large institutions. Many retail holders’ votes are aggregated inside mutual funds and ETFs.
• Large asset managers (Vanguard, BlackRock, State Street) typically have stewardship teams that vote proxies and engage with management on strategy, ESG and governance matters. Their votes can determine outcomes in close board elections or major proposals.
• Activist interventions can force management to reconsider strategy, capital allocation or board composition. Institutions may support or resist such campaigns depending on alignment with their objectives.
• Institutional holdings can provide stability due to long-term investment mandates, but passive ownership also reduces the number of active monitors in the market.

For retail investors interested in governance, reviewing the proxy statement, monitoring large filing changes (13F, 13D) and following stewardship statements from major asset managers provides perspective on how Disney’s strategy may be influenced.

Limitations and caveats when interpreting ownership data

Interpreting ownership data requires care. Key limitations include:

• Reporting lags: 13F filings are quarterly and reflect positions as of the quarter-end, so they may be weeks old when published. Schedule 13D/G and Form 4 filings have their own timing requirements, but aggregators may lag too.
• Beneficial vs. record ownership: Custodial arrangements mean that ETFs and mutual funds may be recorded in fund names while underlying beneficial owners are the fund shareholders.
• Pooled holdings: ETFs and index funds pool many investors; a single ETF’s reported holding does not mean one investor controls those shares. Voting for ETF-held shares is exercised by the fund manager on behalf of fund investors.
• Differences among data providers: Aggregators may report slightly different share counts and percentages due to different cutoffs, reporting dates, or interpretations of beneficial ownership.
• Snapshot versus trend: A single snapshot can be outdated very quickly; large trades, corporate actions or market movements can change percentages.

Because of these caveats, always verify material ownership questions against the most recent SEC filings and multiple trusted data sources before making any governance-related conclusions.

External data sources and tools (selected)

Below are concise descriptions of primary sources used to compile ownership summaries. For authoritative verification, consult the SEC filings directly.

• Yahoo Finance (Holders pages): Aggregates institutional and insider holdings and displays top holders and percent of shares outstanding held. Useful for a quick snapshot.
• Capital.com (shareholder analyses): Provides narrative coverage and compiled holding lists from public filings.
• Morningstar (Ownership): Offers ownership breakdowns by type (institutions, funds, insiders) and historical trends.
• MarketBeat (institutional ownership history): Tracks historic changes in institutional ownership and notable filings.
• Nasdaq institutional holdings page: Presents consolidated data on institutional ownership for listed companies.
• SEC EDGAR: The primary source for 13F, 13D/G, Form 4, DEF 14A and company reports. Use EDGAR to read primary filings for definitive information.

As of June 30, 2024, these sources displayed broadly consistent pictures: top ownership by Vanguard and BlackRock, significant institutional ownership overall, and insider ownership representing a modest slice of the total.

See also

• The Walt Disney Company (corporate profile and filings)
• Institutional investor (definition and role)
• Shareholder activism (mechanics and examples)
• SEC filings explained: 13F, 13D/G, Form 4
• ETF ownership and proxy voting (how funds vote shares they hold)

References

This article relies on public SEC filings and consolidated summaries from financial data providers. For timely verification, consult primary SEC filings via EDGAR and the following aggregators and data pages (reported snapshots used in this article carry mid‑2024 timestamps): Yahoo Finance (Holders pages), Capital.com (shareholder analysis), Morningstar (ownership data), MarketBeat (institutional data summaries), and Nasdaq institutional holdings pages. Specific snapshot figures above reflect mid-2024 aggregator reports; readers should check the most recent filings.

As of June 30, 2024, according to Yahoo Finance and Capital.com reporting, The Vanguard Group and BlackRock were consistently listed as Disney’s largest institutional holders, with Vanguard’s holdings commonly reported in the ~153–157 million shares range and BlackRock’s in the ~121–128 million shares range.

Further exploration and next steps

If you want to monitor who owns the most Disney stock in real time or receive alerts on new filings:

• Check the SEC EDGAR database for up-to-date 13F, 13D/G and Form 4 filings.
• Use data aggregators (Yahoo Finance, Morningstar, MarketBeat) for convenient holder snapshots, but always cross-check material moves against primary filings.
• For custody and trading, consider using secure platforms and wallets. If you need a custody or trading interface, Bitget and Bitget Wallet provide institutional-grade tools and user-focused products for managing digital asset interactions; explore Bitget’s services to learn more about tools that help track positions and market information.

Stay cautious when interpreting ownership snapshots: reporting lags and pooled holdings can make apparent positions look larger or more static than they are. For governance questions or to analyze voting outcomes, review proxy statements and stewardship reports by large managers.

Thank you for reading this comprehensive guide on who owns the most Disney stock. For more articles on market structure, shareholder composition and how to read filings, explore Bitget’s educational resources and data tools.