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Netflix (NFLX)
NASDAQ:NFLX

Netflix (NFLX) AI Stock Analysis

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NFLX

Netflix

(NASDAQ:NFLX)

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Outperform 76 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:76Outperform
Price Target:
$96.00
▲(16.08% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/28/26
The score is driven primarily by strong financial performance (high margins and robust free cash flow) and a positive earnings outlook (double-digit 2026 revenue growth guidance and margin expansion). These strengths are partly offset by weaker technicals (below key moving averages with negative MACD) and a relatively high P/E with no dividend support.
Positive Factors
Strong cash generation
High and recurring operating cash flow (~$10.1B TTM) and strong free cash flow (~$9.5B TTM, growing ~5.5%) provide durable internal funding for content, product and strategic investments, lowering reliance on external financing and supporting long‑term capital allocation and resilience.
High and expanding profitability margins
Sustained high gross (~48%), operating (~30%) and net (~24%) margins reflect structural economics around scale, content differentiation and pricing power, enabling reinvestment in originals and product while expanding operating leverage even as top‑line growth moderates.
Ad and product diversification with large TAM
Rapid ad revenue scaling (2.5x in 2025, guide to ~$3B in 2026) plus investments in ad tech, games and live events materially diversify revenue streams; combined with under‑10% TV time penetration, this provides durable multi‑year upside and less reliance on subscriber growth alone.
Negative Factors
Sizable absolute debt level
Despite improved leverage metrics, roughly $14.5B of absolute debt can limit strategic flexibility on big content spends or future M&A, heighten interest‑rate and refinancing exposures, and constrict the buffer if operating cash generation or margins deteriorate.
Modest engagement / view‑hours growth
Only ~2% view‑hours growth in 2025 signals slower engagement expansion, limiting organic time‑share and subscriber upside; this structural softness forces heavier reliance on pricing, ad monetization, or inorganic moves to drive meaningful long‑term revenue gains.
M&A regulatory and integration risk (Warner deal fallout)
Pursuit of the Warner Bros. transaction introduced material regulatory and integration risk; the deal's termination (and $2.8B fee receipt) underscores execution uncertainty, canceled financing commitments and ongoing regulatory scrutiny that can distract management and affect strategy execution.

Netflix (NFLX) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Netflix Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionNetflix, Inc. provides entertainment services. It offers TV series, documentaries, feature films, and mobile games across various genres and languages. The company provides members the ability to receive streaming content through a host of internet-connected devices, including TVs, digital video players, television set-top boxes, and mobile devices. It also provides DVDs-by-mail membership services in the United States. The company has approximately 222 million paid members in 190 countries. Netflix, Inc. was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Los Gatos, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyNetflix generates revenue primarily through its subscription-based model, where users pay a monthly fee to access a vast library of content. The company offers several subscription tiers, each varying in price based on features such as the number of screens that can stream simultaneously and the availability of high-definition content. Additionally, Netflix invests significantly in producing original content, which attracts and retains subscribers, thereby driving revenue growth. The company also benefits from strategic partnerships with smart TV manufacturers, mobile carriers, and other platforms that increase its visibility and subscriber base. While advertising revenue has been introduced in recent years through ad-supported subscription tiers, the core of Netflix's revenue remains its subscription fees.

Netflix Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Total Paid Memberships
Total Paid Memberships
Shows the total number of paying subscribers, indicating Netflix's market reach, revenue potential, and overall popularity among consumers.
Chart InsightsNetflix's total paid memberships have shown robust growth, particularly accelerating in 2024, with a notable increase of over 19 million subscribers. This growth is attributed to a diverse content slate and strategic advertising initiatives, as highlighted in the latest earnings call. The introduction of an ad-supported plan has significantly boosted sign-ups, contributing to a doubling of ad revenue. Despite FX volatility and increased content spending, Netflix's strategic investments in ads and gaming are expected to sustain momentum and enhance operating margins in 2025.
Data provided by:The Fly

Netflix Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jan 20, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 21, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call communicated a broadly positive outlook: management reported solid 2025 results (16% revenue growth, ~30% operating profit growth), ambitious 2026 guidance (revenue +14% to $51B and operating margin expansion to 31.5%), clear traction and explicit plans for advertising, product, games and live events, and a strategic rationale for the Warner Bros. acquisition. Challenges noted — modest aggregate view-hours growth, ad-tier ARM still below ad-free, unchanged FCF guidance, higher near-term expense growth and regulatory/integration risk around the acquisition — appear manageable relative to the scale of opportunities and the strong organic momentum described. Overall, highlights materially outweigh the lowlights.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong 2025 Financial Performance
Netflix delivered 16% revenue growth and roughly 30% operating profit growth in 2025, expanded margins, and grew key free cash flow. Advertising sales grew ~2.5x in 2025.
Ambitious 2026 Financial Outlook
Management guided 2026 revenue of $51 billion (up ~14% year-over-year) and targeted a 31.5% operating margin (up ~2 percentage points versus prior year; about +2.5 pts excluding ~0.5 ppt M&A drag).
Advertising Momentum and Roadmap
Ad business scaled rapidly (2.5x growth in 2025) and management expects it to roughly double again in 2026 to about $3 billion. They are building an in-house ad tech stack (ad server rollout starting in Canada) and see narrowing ARM gaps and meaningful upside from improved fill rates, inventory and advertiser demand.
Robust Content Slate and Investment Discipline
Content amortization expected to increase ~10% in 2026 with a content cash-to-amortization ratio maintained at ~1.1x. Management reiterated a ~$17 billion cash content spend target (including expanded live/sports), emphasizing investment across series, films, licensed titles, podcasts and live events while growing content spend slower than revenue to expand margins.
Improving Engagement Quality and Retention
Total view hours grew ~2% year-over-year (adding ~1.5 billion hours). Viewing of branded originals rose ~9% in H2 versus ~7% in H1 and represented ~half of overall viewing. Churn improved year-over-year in the quarter, customer satisfaction and management’s primary quality metric reached all-time highs, and retention described as among the best in the industry.
Product, Games and Live Innovation
Progress on product and new formats: new TV UI (biggest update in a decade) and new mobile UI planned in 2026, vertical video tests underway, cloud-first gaming rollout expanded (TV cloud games now accessible to ~1/3 of members), and live programming scaled to >200 events with plans to expand internationally (e.g., World Baseball Classic in Japan).
Strategic M&A Opportunity — Warner Bros.
Management views the planned Warner Bros. acquisition as a strategic accelerant — pro forma the combined business would have ~85% of revenues from Netflix’s core areas. Management highlighted complementary HBO IP, a mature theatrical business (~$4B global box office cited) and expanded production capacity to drive growth and product differentiation.
Large Long-Term TAM and Room to Grow
Management emphasized material upside: Netflix is under 10% of TV time in major markets and roughly 7% of addressable consumer/ad spend, with hundreds of millions of households still to sign up — signaling multi-year organic growth opportunity.
Negative Updates
Modest Aggregate View-Hours Growth
Total view hours growth was only ~2% in 2025 (modest acceleration vs 1% prior), reflecting that aggregate engagement is growing slowly and is influenced by shifts in plan mix and geography.
Ad-Supported ARM Still Below Ad-Free
Ad-supported average revenue per member (ARM) remains lower than ad-free ARM today — management cites this as an under-realized near-term revenue gap that requires higher fill rates, better monetization and sales execution to close.
Free Cash Flow Guidance Unchanged
Despite stronger margin and revenue guidance, free cash flow guidance remained approximately $6 billion for the year (management cited timing uncertainty in content spend and taxes), limiting near-term cash upside.
Higher Expense Growth to Fund New Initiatives
Management is increasing expense growth to invest in ads, live, games, product and ad tech; near-term expense growth is higher than last year which adds execution risk even though margins are still expected to expand.
Regulatory and Integration Risk for Warner Bros. Deal
The Warner Bros. acquisition remains subject to regulatory approvals and integration execution; management is confident but the deal introduces regulatory and execution risks and a ~0.5 percentage point margin drag from expected M&A expenses.
Competitive Intensity and Market Share Headroom
Netflix remains a relatively small share of total TV time (~<10%) and of addressable ad/consumer spend (~7%), facing intense competition from YouTube, Amazon, Apple, social platforms and others — a continued challenge to sustain share gains.
Licensed/Second-Run Viewing Down
Viewing of second-run/licensed titles declined year-over-year because licensed inventory was reduced after elevated licensing during the strikes, which is a headwind for aggregate viewing metrics.
Games and Live Still Early-Stage Revenue Contributors
While gaming and live events show strong engagement signals, they remain a small portion of total view hours and revenue today (TV-based games currently reach ~10% of eligible members in early stages), requiring further scale to materially move financials.
Company Guidance
Netflix guided 2026 revenue of $51 billion (≈+14% year‑over‑year) and an operating margin target of 31.5% (≈+2 percentage points y/y, or ≈+2.5 points excluding a ~0.5‑point M&A drag); they expect content amortization to increase roughly 10% in 2026, a content cash-to‑expense ratio around 1.1x, and reiterated roughly $17 billion of cash content spend that will grow slower than revenue. Management said ad sales, which rose ~2.5× in 2025, should roughly double again in 2026 to about $3 billion, and noted 2025 results included 16% revenue growth, ~30% operating profit growth and expanding margins; free cash flow guidance is about $6 billion. Key drivers called out were membership growth, pricing, and ad scale, and they emphasized large remaining upside given Netflix is under 10% of TV time in major markets and about 7% of the addressable consumer/ad spend.

Netflix Financial Statement Overview

Summary
High-quality profitability and cash generation: ~48% gross margin, ~30% operating margin, ~24% net margin, with strong TTM operating cash flow (~$10.1B) and free cash flow (~$9.5B). Balance sheet leverage has improved (debt-to-equity ~0.56), but absolute debt remains sizable (~$14.5B) and recent revenue growth is modest (~4%), which tempers the score.
Income Statement
92
Very Positive
TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) results show strong profitability with gross margin ~48%, operating margin ~30%, and net margin ~24%. Earnings have scaled materially versus 2022–2024 as margins expanded steadily. The main weakness is that growth appears modest (TTM revenue growth ~4% after mid‑teens growth in 2024), implying more of a profitability-driven story than a high-growth one.
Balance Sheet
80
Positive
Leverage is moderate and improving: debt-to-equity declined from ~1.47 (2020) to ~0.56 in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months), alongside rising equity. Returns on equity are very strong (TTM ~42%), reflecting excellent profit generation. The key risk is that total debt remains sizable in absolute terms (~$14.5B TTM), which can limit flexibility if operating conditions weaken.
Cash Flow
88
Very Positive
Cash generation is strong: TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) operating cash flow (~$10.1B) and free cash flow (~$9.5B) are both high, with free cash flow growing ~5.5%. Free cash flow tracks net income closely (TTM ~0.94x), indicating earnings quality is solid. A noted weakness is historical volatility (notably weak/free cash flow negative in 2021 and low operating cash conversion in 2022), even though the recent trajectory is clearly improved.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue45.18B39.00B33.72B31.62B29.70B
Gross Profit21.91B17.96B14.01B12.45B12.37B
EBITDA30.25B26.31B21.51B20.33B19.04B
Net Income10.98B8.71B5.41B4.49B5.12B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets55.60B53.63B48.73B48.59B44.58B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments9.06B9.58B7.14B6.06B6.03B
Total Debt14.46B17.99B16.97B14.35B18.12B
Total Liabilities28.98B28.89B28.14B27.82B28.74B
Stockholders Equity26.62B24.74B20.59B20.78B15.85B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow9.46B6.92B6.93B1.62B-131.97M
Operating Cash Flow10.15B7.36B7.27B2.03B392.61M
Investing Cash Flow1.04B-2.18B541.75M-2.08B-1.34B
Financing Cash Flow-10.35B-4.07B-5.95B-664.25M-1.15B

Netflix Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price82.70
Price Trends
50DMA
86.30
Negative
100DMA
98.54
Negative
200DMA
110.22
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-1.86
Negative
RSI
55.86
Neutral
STOCH
72.93
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For NFLX, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 82.7 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 80.03, below the 50-day MA of 86.30, and below the 200-day MA of 110.22, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -1.86 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 55.86 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 72.93 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for NFLX.

Netflix Risk Analysis

Netflix disclosed 23 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Netflix reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 3 New Risks
1.
Risks Related to Our Stock Ownership Q4, 2025
2.
Following certain periods of volatility in the market price of our securities, we became the subject of securities litigation. Q4, 2025
3.
The WBD transaction may not be completed on the currently contemplated timeline or terms, or at all. Q4, 2025

Netflix Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
$329.50B32.7342.76%15.49%35.54%
69
Neutral
$187.87B15.6211.65%1.10%3.61%152.34%
68
Neutral
$22.80B13.4716.87%0.75%14.91%9.30%
68
Neutral
$72.29B154.051.36%-4.29%
64
Neutral
$12.93B160.573.43%16.61%83.98%
60
Neutral
$48.67B4.58-11.27%4.14%2.83%-41.78%
50
Neutral
$11.47B-38.94-1.90%1.48%-0.48%97.09%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
NFLX
Netflix
96.24
-1.82
-1.85%
PSKY
Paramount Skydance
11.18
>-0.01
-0.09%
DIS
Walt Disney
106.04
-6.52
-5.79%
ROKU
Roku
93.47
9.96
11.93%
FOXA
Fox
56.82
-0.24
-0.42%
WBD
Warner Bros
28.80
17.34
151.31%

Netflix Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyM&A TransactionsPrivate Placements and Financing
Netflix Receives Termination Fee After WBD Deal Collapse
Negative
Feb 27, 2026

On January 19, 2026, Netflix entered into an amended merger agreement under which it would have acquired a reorganized Warner Bros. Discovery entity holding the company’s Streaming & Studios businesses, leaving WBD’s Global Linear Networks and certain other assets separated. This structure was designed to make the retained WBD streaming and studio operations a wholly owned Netflix subsidiary, supported by a package of committed bridge and term financing arrangements.

However, on February 26, 2026, Warner Bros. Discovery notified Netflix that a revised offer from Paramount Skydance Corporation constituted a superior proposal under the merger agreement. Netflix waived its right to negotiate changes, and on February 27, 2026, WBD terminated the deal with Netflix to sign a merger agreement with Paramount Skydance, triggering a $2.8 billion termination fee payable to Netflix.

Concurrent with the termination of the merger agreement on February 27, 2026, all related financing commitments arranged by Netflix, including a bridge commitment letter, incremental bridge facility, a 2025 revolving credit facility and a delayed draw term loan, were automatically canceled. These facilities had been intended to fund the proposed acquisition and associated costs, so their termination effectively unwinds the capital structure Netflix had put in place for the abandoned transaction.

The most recent analyst rating on (NFLX) stock is a Buy with a $120.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Netflix stock, see the NFLX Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyM&A TransactionsPrivate Placements and Financing
Netflix Revises Warner Bros. Acquisition Into All-Cash Deal
Positive
Jan 20, 2026

On January 19–20, 2026, Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery amended their merger agreement to convert Netflix’s pending acquisition of Warner Bros. into a simplified, all-cash deal valued at $27.75 per WBD share, with WBD investors also set to receive shares in Discovery Global after its planned spin-off. The revised structure, unanimously approved by both boards, is financed through a larger $42.2 billion bridge facility alongside cash and existing credit lines, is designed to increase value certainty for WBD shareholders, accelerate a stockholder vote now targeted by April 2026, and preserve Netflix’s balance sheet while it absorbs WBD’s retained streaming and studios business; the transaction, expected to close 12–18 months after the original 2025 agreement, remains subject to regulatory approvals, completion of the Discovery Global separation, and WBD stockholder approval, and would significantly expand Netflix’s production capacity and competitive position in global film and television.

The most recent analyst rating on (NFLX) stock is a Buy with a $125.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Netflix stock, see the NFLX Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyM&A TransactionsPrivate Placements and Financing
Netflix Secures Major Financing Facilities for Warner Merger
Positive
Dec 22, 2025

On December 19, 2025, Netflix replaced part of a previously arranged bridge financing with longer-term, lower-cost debt facilities to support its pending merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The company entered into a $5 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility that can be drawn for the cash portion of the merger purchase price, related transaction fees, refinancing of certain existing debt, and general corporate purposes, with flexible borrowing, prepayment and maturity extension options and interest rates linked to Netflix’s credit rating. On the same date, Netflix also secured a total of $20 billion in senior unsecured delayed draw term loan facilities, split between two- and three-year tranches, likewise earmarked primarily for funding the merger consideration and related expenses, and carrying rating-based pricing and standard financial covenants, including a minimum interest coverage ratio; together, these new facilities meaningfully de-risk the merger financing, improve funding visibility, and reduce reliance on more expensive bridge commitments for Netflix and its stakeholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (NFLX) stock is a Buy with a $125.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Netflix stock, see the NFLX Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyM&A Transactions
Netflix Announces Acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery
Positive
Dec 5, 2025

On December 4, 2025, Netflix announced an agreement to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD) for a total enterprise value of $82.7 billion, following the separation of WBD’s Global Networks division. This strategic acquisition aims to combine Netflix’s streaming capabilities with Warner Bros.’ extensive library and franchises, enhancing Netflix’s content offerings and strengthening its position in the entertainment industry. The transaction, which is expected to close in 12-18 months, will provide more choice and value for consumers, create opportunities for the creative community, and generate significant shareholder value.

The most recent analyst rating on (NFLX) stock is a Buy with a $152.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Netflix stock, see the NFLX Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 28, 2026