Comcast pops after strong Q2 fueled by Peacock and theme parks
The media giant’s quarter came down to three things: thrills, “Love Island,” and live events.
Comcast shares rose as much as 5% Thursday after the media and cable giant delivered above expectations in its Q2 results.
Adjusted earnings per share hit $1.25, beating Wall Street’s $1.16 estimate. Revenue clocked in at $30.3 billion, also topping forecasts. Comcast didn’t offer specific forward guidance.
The star of the quarter? Universal’s new Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, which officially opened its doors on May 22. It’s Comcast’s largest-ever park investment and biggest launch since The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The park helped drive a 6% jump in revenue for the company’s Content & Experiences segment and cast a halo on performance at its flagship Universal Orlando Resort.
“We are extremely proud of the successful opening of Epic Universe in May,” company execs said on the earnings call. “We’re pleased with the early results as Epic is already driving higher per cap spending and attendance across the entirety of Universal Orlando Resort.”
Peacock also pulled its weight, with revenue up over 20% year over year. The streamer held steady at 41 million paid subscribers, thanks in part to a buzzworthy new season of its US “Love Island.” Comcast called its latest ad upfront “our most successful ever,” citing record sales and major 2026 events on deck, including Super Bowl LX and the NBA All-Star Game.
The studio division got a shout-out, too: Universal’s live-action reboot of “How to Train Your Dragon” has pulled in over $600 million globally since its June 13 debut. As a result, the franchise is now officially past the $2 billion mark.
Comcast shares are down over 11% year to date.
