Hulu Stock: Can you Invest in the Company?
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Learn how to invest in Hulu stock indirectly because it is not a solo entity. Open an account with a commission-free online broker such as M1 Finance to become a partial owner of this innovative video streaming service through its parent companies.
Table of Contents
What is Hulu?
Hulu is a subscription-based video streaming platform based in the United States.
It began as a joint venture between NBC Universal and News Corporation, which had several online distribution partners.
The platform launched to the public in 2008. It now has more than 30 million paid subscribers.
Who Owns Hulu Stock?
There is no publicly traded Hulu stock. It’s an owned joint venture between Disney and Comcast.
Several ownership transfers have occurred since Hulu’s founding.
Comcast acquired NBC Universal, News Corporation transferred ownership to its subsidiary 20th Century Fox, and ABC/Disney and Time Warner assumed equity stakes.
Disney has since acquired the 30% 20th Century Fox stake and 9.5% AT&T (via Time Warner) stake.
The Walt Disney Company now owns 67% of the company, giving it full control. Comcast continues as a 33% silent stakeholder.
The two have a tentative agreement for Disney to purchase the remaining 33% stake at fair market value by 2024.
UPDATE 11/01/20223: Disney will purchase all of Hulu from Comcast for $8.6 billion. The deal will complete in calendar year 2024.
Since Hulu is a majority-owned business entity, you cannot directly buy Hulu stock.
What is the Hulu Stock Price?
Hulu itself is not a publicly-traded company, so there is no Hulu stock price.
The only meaningful stock prices regarding Hulu are the current Disney and Comcast stock prices. Here they are:
What is the Hulu Stock Symbol?
Hulu is not a company on its own. So there is no Hulu stock symbol.
Though “HULU” is available.
The Walt Disney Company stock symbol is “DIS”. The Comcast stock symbol is “CMCSA”.
You can buy either Disney or Comcast, and and be an indirect owner of Hulu.
Will There be a Hulu IPO?
In 2010, the New York Times first reported that the equity parties at the time were considering a Hulu IPO. The Hulu IPO never came to fruition.
Disney always has the option to spinoff Hulu to shareholders (both Disney and Comcast) in a Hulu IPO — but considering their content strategy with the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN bundle, it’s an unlikely scenario.
A spinoff from an existing company is not the same as an IPO by a newly public company. However, both end in the same result, a freshly traded company.
Will Hulu Stock be a Motley Fool Stock Advisor Recommendation?
We won’t know if a Hulu spinoff would lead to a Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendation unless it happens. However, the Hulu business entity fits the mold of high-growth, disruptive business models that the Fool typically recommends.
Here’s a secret: Disney is a Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendation. I’m a newsletter subscriber and Disney share owner.
When the Motley Fool recommends a company, there is usually an immediate spike in the price. Fool newsletter subscribers are notoriously long-term minded and rarely sell, meaning the stock price will continue to rise.
Companies may also receive a recommendation by the Motley Fool Rule Breakers newsletter or other premium services. Both services have handily beaten the broader market since the early 2000s.
Read this Motley Fool Stock Advisor review to learn about their stock selection methodologies and about how you can participate in excellent returns.
Full disclosure: I’m a Stock Advisor newsletter subscriber. Three recommendations I’ve bought so far have already more than doubled in value (TTD, ZM, RDFN – I own all three).
Stock Advisor is currently half-off at just $99 for an annual subscription.
How to Invest in Hulu Stock?
Direct ownership in Hulu is not currently possible. But you have two outstanding options to own Hulu the business.
Buy Disney Stock
Disney is an excellent long-term business with incredible entertainment assets, including movies, TVs, amusement parks, and a cruise and resort business — not to mention two premium streaming services approaching 100 million subscribers.
If you want to buy Disney, the ticker symbol is “DIS”. You can own Disney stock through any commission-free only broker.
You may also consider the Disney DRIP (dividend reinvestment plan); however, I do not recommend DRIPs. You’re better off dollar-cost averaging through other means.
Buy Comcast Stock
Comcast is a massive entertainment and media company whose assets include NBC Universal, sporting venues, and the wire lines providing millions of Americans high-speed internet access.
Owning Comcast will get you a smaller stake in the Hulu business, it is may not last forever. Comcast has agreed to divest of its Hulu equity holding by 2024.
Use the ticker symbol is “CMCSA” to buy Comcast stock. You can own Comcast stock through any commission-free only broker.
What’s the Best Online Broker to Own Disney and Comcast?
I’m a big fan of the online brokerage M1 Finance. M1 Finance is a reliable and robust, no-fee online broker for beginner to intermediate investors. It’s easy to get started.
As your investing skills and portfolio mature, M1 Finance is one of the best platforms to scale.
They also offer an integrated checking account and low borrowing rates. Read my complete M1 Finance review here.
It’s also my favorite online broker for dividend reinvestment.
M1 Finance does not offer IPO access. But it’s my favorite for every day investing.
The platform is more intuitive than old school brokers because it’s built on a modern technology platform. You create portfolio “pies” that contains all the stocks and ETFs you want to own and in what percentages. Add Disney and Comcast stock to your portfolio pie, and you’re ready to invest.
The minimum account deposit is $100. I recommend investing at least $1,000 when you sign up to establish a long-term position that will grow to more significant amounts over time.
Conclusion — You Cannot Buy Hulu Stock Directly
You cannot buy Hulu stock. Now that you know, you can focus on buying one of its two parent companies, Disney or Comcast.
Disclosure: The author is long Disney stock, TTD, ZM, and RDFN.
Craig is a former IT professional who left his 19-year career to be a full-time finance writer. A DIY investor since 1995, he started Retire Before Dad in 2013 as a creative outlet to share his investment portfolios. Craig studied Finance at Michigan State University and lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and three children. Read more.
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