In addition to the price-to-equity ratio, a number of metrics are considered when evaluating whether a stock will deliver a reliable return. Here are a few measures of why we would consider Disney a safe stock: Dividend payments - Disney has paid a consistent and mostly increasing dividend for two decades. Though its dividend yield looks more like the Space Mountain rollercoaster. This measure of financial health reveals the proportion of debt versus equity used to finance a company. Debt-to-equity ratio - After peaking at a high in 2017, Disney's debt-to-equity ratio has fallen to .33, well below the media industry ratio of 1.28. Institutional ownership - Disney is the most popular stock among institutional investors. Sixty six percent of Disney shares are held by institutions. Competitive moat - Disney has strong brand equity and is consistently rated one of the world's most valuable brands.