Netflix Blows Out Estimates and Limits Worry on Net Neutrality Fears

Earnings came in at $0.79 in earnings per share on revenue of $1.18 billion. The Thomson Reuters estimates were $0.66 EPS (vs. $0.13 year ago) and $1.17 billion. The company added 2.33 million users, up from the 2 million or slightly higher expectation.

Netflix is targeting next quarter at $0.78 in earnings per share versus expectations of $0.77 per share. Netflix is also forecasting that it will add 2.25 million domestic subscribers in the coming quarter.

All in all, the translation is that Netflix ended 2013 with over 44 million members, with higher domestic net additions than in 2012. It now expects to end the first quarter with some 48 million members.

Reed Hastings is also tempering any concern of membership price increases or changes to its plan. He said, “If we do make pricing changes for new members, existing members would get generous grandfathering of their existing plans and prices, so there would be no material near-term revenue increase from moving to this potential broader set of options. We are in no rush to implement such new member plans and are still researching the best way to proceed.”

Netflix shares closed up 1.5% at $333.73, and the shares are up more than 15% around $390.00 in the after-hours session. The 52-week range is $97.02 to $389.16.