Consumer Discretionary

Netflix’s results have so consistently beaten expectations for the last three years that Benchmark has decided to raise its rating to hold from sell. Netflix posted record subscriber gains in 4Q and plans to raise prices across its existing US plans. “Although Benchmark does not assign price targets for hold rated stocks we will continue to estimate fair value, which we now peg at $800 vs. a prior $720 estimate,” says analyst Matthew Harrigan. Shares jump 13% to $981.70, on pace for the largest percent increase since October 19, 2023, when it rose 16.05%.

Netflix (NFLX) ended 2024 with the addition of 19 million net subscribers in Q4 and over 41 million for the full year globally, giving it a “virtually insurmountable lead in the streaming wars,” Wedbush said Wednesday in a note to clients. The investment firm lifted Netflix’s price target to $1,150 from $950 and kept its outperform rating. The streaming giant boosted marketing spending around Q4 events, while its content flow and quality improved in the last quarter after a drought caused by the strike by writers and actors in late 2023, said Wedbush analysts including Alicia Reese. “This drove global subscribers to over 300 million at just the right time, as Netflix will not have to update investors on subscriber numbers for a while,” the analysts said. “Netflix is now free to focus solely on revenue growth.” “While massive subscriber growth was the primary driver in 2024, we expect price

Netflix’s (NFLX) latest price hikes are expected to drive revenue growth this year, while its ad tier is seen accelerating sales in 2026, Wedbush Securities said Wednesday. The streaming giant’s fourth-quarter financial results exceeded estimates late Tuesday as it reported a record addition of new subscribers. Its global paid net additions totaled 18.91 million in the quarter, surpassing market expectations and taking the full-year tally to more than 41 million. For the US market, the company increased the subscription price to $24.99 from $22.99 for its premium tier. The standard package moves to $17.99 from $15.49, and to $7.99 from $6.99 for its ad-supported tier. Netflix is also raising prices in Canada, Portugal and Argentina. “When you’re going to ask for a price increase, you better make sure you have the goods and the engagement to back it up,” co-Chief Executive Ted Sarandos said on an earnings conference call, according

Netflix showed strong progress in the advertising business in 4Q results, according to Baird’s Vikram Kesavabhotla and John Rigatti, who cite management’s description of F25 as transitioning from “crawl to walk” in advertising.” The analysts also say Netflix is enjoying healthy engagement trends, and note there’s a meaningful runway ahead to support continued market share gains. Investor sentiment could further improve as the company executes longer-term initiatives, such as live programming and video games, and benefits from its scarcity value in the public markets, they write. Baird raises its price target to $1,200 from $875. Netflix climbs 10% to $957, and is up 96% in the past 12 months.

How long can Netflix’s stock stay hot? With sports and advertising both cooking, one formerly neutral analyst now sees recent business momentum continuing for years. It’s time to think about Netflix Inc.’s stock in a whole new way, according to an analyst who’s just come around to a bullish view. Previously, Rosenblatt Securities analyst Barton Crockett was cautious about Netflix’s (NFLX) outlook and saw some risk to the multiple. But after a quarter in which Netflix “delivered on so many levels,” he thinks the stock “needs to be rethought.” Crockett more than doubled his price target on Netflix shares – to $1,494 from $680 – while upgrading the stock to buy from neutral. That target is higher than any listed on FactSet, and it’s 56% above current levels. He now thinks it’s possible that the company can beat its already raised outlook, helping to support his new multiple of 45

U.S. stock indexes add to their recent rally helped by gains in AI-linked stocks after the leaders of SoftBank, Oracle and OpenAI, standing alongside President Trump, pledge $500 billion in artificial-intelligence investment in the U.S. Nvidia and Microsoft, which will also be involved, rise over 4% and ARM jumps 16%. Netflix rises 9.7% after the streaming company reports strong earnings. Procter & Gamble gains 1.9% after posting solid results while Johnson & Johnson loses 1.9% as its sales outlook disappoints. DJIA rises 130 points, or 0.3%, to 44156, the S&P 500 gains 0.6% to 6086 and the Nasdaq jumps 1.3% to 20009.

Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:NFLX) stock hit all-time highs Wednesday on the heels of a quarterly financial report that beat analyst estimates and saw record subscriber growth. With the stock price gains, Netflix is now worth more than the media companies that own the four U.S. broadcast networks and several other streaming companies combined. What Happened: Netflix reported 18.9 million net new paid subscribers in the fourth quarter, setting a new company record. The company ended the quarter with 301.6 million global paid subscribers, continuing its dominance in the streaming sector. Along with dominating the streaming sector, Netflix is also dominating the overall entertainment sector taking time away from traditional broadcasters and cable networks. The company is also seeing its valuation rise while other media companies have had falling stock prices over the last year. Netflix is now worth more than the four broadcast network parent companies combined as shown below. CBS, owned byParamount