Apple Buying Disney Would Boost Value by 25%, Needham Says (1)

Apple Inc. shares have already jumped 25% so far this year, but one analyst has an unlikely idea to generate even more gains: buy Walt Disney Co.

Needham analyst Laura Martin sees “material upside” for the iPhone maker if it buys the media giant, detailing the synergies in Apple’s distribution capabilities in conjunction with Disney’s content, which includes such marquee properties as Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, and decades of other iconic titles in family entertainment.

“Combining Apple’s global distribution footprint of 1.25 billion unique consumers with Disney’s 570 million consumers reached each year would drive 15%-25% valuation upside for ...