Walt Disney Co.

Explaining Walt Disney Co.’s jump in market value is as simple as ABC.

It was the $19-billion acquisition of that network, completed in February of last year, by the Burbank entertainment giant that helped push Disney’s market value to $42.6 billion in its fiscal year ended Sept. 30, more than double the market value two years earlier. By April 18, Disney’s market value had risen to almost $52 billion.

Add to that the continuing strength of a stock that has outperformed the Standard & Poor’s 500 in each of the last 10 years, thanks to Disney’s cash-generating theme parks, a worldwide merchandise machine, a stellar home video operation and hit movies.

Disney shares have been trading at about $80 recently on the New York Stock Exchange, up from a 52-week low of $53.25.

In the coming year, Disney will be tested as it seeks to hang onto its lucrative franchise for feature animation films--amid growing competition--with the release of “Hercules.”

On the movie side, Disney will keep betting that it can build franchises with live-action family films, with the release this year of “George of the Jungle.”