How the Bar Is Being Set Ever Higher for Netflix Growth Expectations

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Published: April 11, 2018 11:40 am

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 1:32 am

With earnings season just around the corner, we can look for some big names to kicking things off. Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) is scheduled to release its first-quarter financial results this coming Monday. Ahead of the report, analysts are hyping up the stock, and probably for good reason.

Over the past 52 weeks, Netflix has drastically outperformed the broad markets, with its stock up about 108%. In just 2018 alone, the stock is up 55%.

Looking ahead to the earnings report, Thomson Reuters consensus estimates are calling for $0.64 in earnings per share (EPS) on $3.69 billion in revenue. In the same period of last year, Netflix said it had EPS of $0.40 and $2.64 billion in revenue.

In its most recent quarter, Netflix registered global net additions of 8.3 million, the highest quarter in its history and up 18% compared to last year’s record 7.05 million net adds. This exceeded the 6.3 million forecast, due primarily to stronger than expected subscriber acquisitions, fueled by its original content slate and the ongoing global adoption of internet entertainment.

Merrill Lynch recently reiterated a Buy rating and a $300 price objective. Its earnings preview noted:

Heading into 1Q earnings, expectations are high, as the stock has appreciated +47% YTD. Netflix ended 2017 on a high note, reporting higher international net adds than in any other quarter (+6.4mn). For 1Q, we expect Netflix to report international net adds of 4.95mn and domestic net adds of 1.46mn. Like 4Q, we expect stock performance post 1Q earnings will be dependent on the strength of international net adds and 2Q18 guidance. Continued subscription momentum in international markets is key to the valuation and driving the stock higher from here.

Other analysts had this to say:

Cowen raised its price target to $325 from $275.
Goldman Sachs raised its price target from $315 to $360.
Monness Crespi Hardt has a Buy rating with a $350 price target.
JPMorgan reiterated an Overweight rating and raised its target from $285 to $328.
Morgan Stanley reiterated an Overweight rating and raised its target to $350 from $275.
CFRA (S&P) reiterated its Buy rating and $365 price target.

Shares of Netflix were last seen up about 3% at $306.92, with a consensus analyst price target of $286.62 and a 52-week range of $138.66 to $333.98.

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