Disney to slash 7,000 jobs

Disney said the move is part of a major restructuring plan aimed at saving billions of dollars

Disney shares jumped on Thursday after the company announced  it is trimming its payroll by some 7,000 employees, becoming the latest major firm to cut jobs as economic uncertainty weighs.

Ticker Security Last Change Change %
DIS THE WALT DISNEY CO. 115.67 +0.94 +0.82%

The news was disclosed in the company's latest earnings report on Wednesday. 

Disney logo at the NYSE

Disney said it plans to save $5.5 billion in its overhaul, cutting $1.5 billion in operating costs and another $3 billion from reductions in non-sports content — including the job cuts. (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid / Reuters Photos)

The Mouse House said the move is part of a major restructuring aimed at saving the company billions of dollars, and was announced by CEO Bob Iger during the company's first-quarter earnings call.

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Disney

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Disney said it plans to save $5.5 billion in its overhaul, cutting $1.5 billion in operating costs and another $3 billion from reductions in non-sports content — including the job cuts.

Bob Iger

Disney CEO Robert Iger  (Rich Fury/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Disney shares surged in extended trading following the announcement and after the company beat Wall Street expectations with earnings per share of $.99, besting analyst's estimate of $.78.

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The company is the latest in a string of major firms to announce layoffs in the thousands in recent months, following Wall Street titans including Goldman Sachs and tech giants such as Amazon and Google parent Alphabet.

Reuters contributed to this report.