Netflix passes Disney and is now biggest pure media company

Netflix passed Disney in market value and is now the most valuable media company in the world.

Shares of Netflix rose 1.8 percent Thursday, reaching a market value of $152.6 billion, according to FactSet. Disney’s stock fell 1 percent and now has a market value of $151.8 billion.

Market values of Netflix, Walt Disney and Comcast

Source: FactSet

Netflix is the best performing stock in the S&P 500 so far this year. Its shares are up more than 80 percent through midday Thursday, while Disney’s stock is down about 5 percent.

Disclosure: Comcast is the owner of NBCUniversal, parent company of CNBC and CNBC.com.