Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) should either make a bold move by acquiring The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS) or abandon its entertainment ambitions altogether, investor Ross Gerber said as the latter’s shares continue to lag the broader market.
Ross Gerber Says Apple Must Make A Big Decision On Entertainment
Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki, argued that Apple has reached a crossroads in its entertainment strategy, saying the tech giant should either fully commit by acquiring Disney or stop investing in the business.
In a post on X, Gerber wrote, “Now is the time for Apple to decide if they really want to be in the entertainment business. Because if they took out Disney it would become the ultimate consumer company… Apple Disney… otherwise Apple should stop wasting time in entertainment.”
Now is the time for Apple to decide if they really want to be in the entertainment business. Because if they took out Disney it would become the ultimate consumer company… Apple Disney… otherwise Apple should stop wasting time in entertainment… $AAPL $DIS
— Ross Gerber (@GerberKawasaki) July 19, 2026
The comments come as Disney closed Friday at $97.67, down 2.05% for the day. The stock has fallen 12.17% over the past six months and 20.08% over the past year.
Gerber’s remarks suggest Apple could transform itself into a consumer entertainment powerhouse by combining its ecosystem with Disney’s portfolio of globally recognized brands, including Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, ESPN and Disney+.
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Investor Blasts Disney Management, Calls For Major Shake-Up
In an earlier post, Gerber criticized Disney’s leadership, arguing the company has failed to capitalize on some of the world’s most valuable entertainment franchises despite paying executives handsomely.
What in the heck is Disney doing? They have all these great assets and they can't seem to get anything going. Management needs to 💩 or get off the pot. Maybe it's time to break it up and sell off the parts. Us shareholders are sick of the dawdling while management makes $40…
— Ross Gerber (@GerberKawasaki) July 19, 2026
Apple-Disney Merger Talks Never Advanced, Iger Said
Disney expanded significantly through a series of acquisitions under former CEO Bob Iger, who, in an interview with the Financial Times, revealed that Disney held internal discussions and spoke with Apple about a potential merger.
However, the talks never progressed. “We talked about it internally, and we had some conversations with Apple about it, but it never went anywhere,” Iger said. “Apple didn’t show that much interest.”
Iger also reportedly wrote in his memoir that he believes Disney and Apple likely would have merged if Apple co-founder Steve Jobs had still been alive.
Wells Fargo Says Disney Could Unlock 40% Stock Upside If…
Last week, Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE:WFC) argued that Disney could unlock roughly 40% upside in its stock by exiting the streaming business and refocusing on content creation and licensing.
Although the bank cut its price target on Disney to $125 from $146, it reaffirmed its Overweight rating.
Meanwhile, during Apple’s second-quarter earnings call, CEO Tim Cook highlighted the company’s growing presence in entertainment, saying Apple TV+ has amassed more than 800 awards and 3,400 nominations in the six years since its launch.
Cook also touted the platform’s sports lineup, noting that U.S. subscribers can stream Formula 1 coverage, while fans in more than 100 countries and regions can watch every Major League Soccer match without blackouts.
He added that Friday Night Baseball has returned for its fifth season on Apple TV+ with a full slate of marquee matchups.
Price Action: Apple shares closed Friday at $333.74, up 0.14%, with the stock edging down 0.02% in after-hours trading to $333.69, according to Benzinga Pro.
According to Benzinga Edge Rankings, Disney scores in the 74th percentile for Growth but continues to show a negative price trend across the short, medium and long term.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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Photo courtesy: hanohiki on Shutterstock
