ESPN, parks lifts Disney quarterly profit

Media giant Walt Disney Co posted higher quarterly profit on Thursday, lifted by an increase in attendance at theme parks and a gain in revenue at sports juggernaut ESPN.

Disney reported diluted earnings per share of 68 cents for the quarter that ended in September, in line with expectations from Wall Street analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Net income rose 14 percent to $1.2 billion in the quarter.

The theme parks division gained from passengers spending more time on Disney cruise ships plus a boost in attendance at theme parks in Hong Kong, California and Paris, the company said.

Disney shares dropped 2 percent in after-hours trading to $49. Earlier, shares closed at $50.04 on the New York Stock Exchange.