Netflix, IncNasdaq: NFLX
Communication Services · Movies & Entertainment
$91.98
-1.74%
Vol: 50.3M
Research Digest
Friday, May 1, 2026
Netflix stock fell 9.7% Friday after Q1 beat but guidance disappointed; Reed Hastings leaving board in June amid $25B buyback program
Netflix reported strong Q1 2026 with 16% revenue growth to $12.25 billion, but guidance fell short of expectations causing 13% pullback over 5 sessions. Reed Hastings exiting board in June. Board authorized additional $25 billion share repurchase program. Erste Group downgraded to Hold from Buy. Company accelerating live sports expansion (football, wrestling, boxing). Mixed analyst sentiment despite fundamental strength.
Previous Market Intelligence
13 daysApr 30Netflix plummets 9.7% despite strong Q1 results; $25B buyback and 31.5% 2026 margin guidance fail to offset weak Q2 guidanceMixed▶
Netflix beat Q1 with $12.25B revenue and $1.23 EPS but stock fell 9.7% on disappointing Q2 guidance and 12-15% FY growth forecast (down from prior year). Board approved $25B share buyback; advertising business approaching $3B with 4,000+ clients (70% YoY growth). Operating margin guidance 31.5% for 2026, FCF $12.5B. Reed Hastings stepping down in June. Wall Street consensus $114.38 PT (37 Buy, 13 Hold, 1 Sell from 51 analysts). Risk: Ad growth deceleration, subscriber slowdown in mature markets.
Apr 29Netflix authorizes $25B stock buyback (April 23) amid strong Q1 with $12.25B revenue (+16%), but Q2 guidance disappoints pushing stock down 9.7%Mixed▶
Netflix posted Q1 revenue of $12.25B (+16% YoY) and $1.23 EPS, beating expectations. Operating income surged 18% YoY to $3.96B. Board authorized $25B share repurchase on April 23. However, Q2 guidance fell short of analyst expectations, causing 9.7% stock decline and 13% pullback over five trading sessions. Ads revenue projected to hit $3 billion (100% growth). Consensus analyst target is $119.23 (29% upside). Leadership: Reed Hastings leaving board in June. Content expansion ongoing.
Apr 16Netflix reports Q1 2026 earnings today April 16, 2026 after market close; Wedbush raises price target to $118 but stock has declined 23% from 52-week highMixed▶
Netflix is reporting Q1 2026 financial results after market close on April 16, 2026, with analyst expectations of $12.17 billion revenue and $0.76 adjusted EPS. The company has shifted focus to content and advertising after abandoning Warner acquisition, with $2.8 billion available for investment. Wedbush raised its Netflix price target to $118 from $115 while maintaining Buy rating. Wall Street upgraded ratings from Moderate Buy to Strong Buy. Expected subscriber base exceeds 331 million. However, NFLX has declined 23% from its 52-week high of $134.12 and is trading at $107.71.
Apr 15Netflix faces Q1 earnings report on April 16 with His & Hers setting viewership record at 98.2 million views in opening weekPositive▶
Netflix scheduled to report Q1 2026 earnings on April 16 with expected EPS of $0.79 and $12.18 billion revenue. His & Hers became Netflix No. 10 most popular English-language TV title with 98.2 million views. Goldman Sachs upgraded NFLX from Neutral to Buy with $120 target. Wedbush raised price target to $118. Consensus among 40 analysts is 30 Buy/10 Hold with $115.09 average target.
Apr 14Netflix Q1 earnings due April 16; Wedbush raises PT to $118 on ad momentumPositive▶
Q1 earnings April 16 with expected $12.17B revenue. Wedbush raised PT to $118. Ad revenue expected to double to $3B in 2026. Multiple analyst upgrades.
Apr 13Q1 2026 earnings April 16 after close; Goldman Sachs upgrades to Buy; stock +12% in 3 months; NFL expansion plansPositive▶
Netflix reports Q1 2026 earnings April 16 after-hours. Guidance: $12.16B revenue (+15.3% YoY), $0.76 EPS. Goldman Sachs upgraded to Buy from Neutral (April 5), raising target to $120 from $100. Launched Playground gaming app April 6. Stock trading at $103.21. Pursuing additional holiday NFL game + one international game. Price increases implemented across all US plans.
Apr 10Netflix guided to 31.5% operating margin for 2026 amid price hikes and rapid ad revenue growth doubling to $3B.Positive▶
Netflix will report Q1 2026 results April 16. Goldman Sachs upgraded stock from Neutral to Buy April 6 with $120 price target. Netflix launched Netflix Playground gaming app for children 8-under. Ad revenue projected to double to $3B with 31.5% operating margin guidance. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage with Overweight and $115 price target.
Apr 9Netflix rallies above $100 on price hikes, ad revenue growth guidance to $3B, and live sports expansion strategyPositive▶
Netflix is raising prices across all subscription tiers while guiding 31.5% operating margin for 2026 and ad revenue to double to $3B. Goldman Sachs upgraded to Buy with $120 target on improving unit economics. Launched Playground app for kids to drive engagement. Abandoned Warner Bros acquisition after Paramount-Skydance deal. Q1 2026 guidance projects record $12.2B revenue (up 15.3% YoY) and $0.76 EPS. Analyst consensus is "Buy" with 12-month target of $119.40, up 20.13%. Earnings release April 16.
Apr 8Goldman Sachs upgrades Netflix to Buy with $120 PT on price hikes, ad growth, and live sports.Positive▶
Goldman Sachs upgraded Netflix from Neutral to Buy and raised price target to $120 from $100. Netflix pivoting toward revenue growth via subscription price hikes and ad business after exiting Paramount merger ($2.8B termination fee). Launched Netflix Playground gaming app for children. FY2025 revenue $45.18B (+15.85%). Q1 2026 EPS expected $0.76 (15% growth) on revenue $12.17B. Earnings April 16.
Apr 7Goldman Sachs upgrades Netflix to Buy, raises PT to $120 from $100; stock up 3.24% on price hike/ad revenue growth outlookPositive▶
Goldman Sachs upgraded Netflix from Neutral to Buy on April 6, raising 12-month PT to $120 from $100. NFLX opened +3.24% on announcement. Upgrade drivers: valuation PEG ratio 1.1x (vs. 5-year avg 1.65x); price hikes (Standard ad-free +$2 to $19.99, Premium +$2 to $26.99, ad-supported +$1 to $8.99); Goldman projects ad revenue growth from ~$1.5B (2025) to ~$9.5B (2030). Share repurchases: ~$21B since 2023 (~90% annual FCF). Q1 2026 earnings April 16 after close; Street expects 15.3% YoY revenue growth to $12.157B. Legal risk: Rome court April 3 ruling deemed 2017-2024 price increases unlawful, ordering potential €500 refunds per affected Italian consumer. Netflix appeals, claims compliance. MLB Opening Night scored 3M U.S. viewers.
Apr 6Netflix raises US prices to fund $20B content budget; Q1 earnings April 16; founder selling signals mixed sentiment.Neutral▶
Netflix raised US prices (Standard $19.99, Premium $26.99, ad-supported $8.99) to support $20B content budget including live sports. Q1 2026 earnings April 16. Co-founder Reed Hastings sold $40.1M April 1; CFO Neumann sold 28,630 shares April 2. Abandoned Warner Bros Discovery bid (paid $2.8B breakup fee); $8B buyback remains. Trading at $98.28. Rome court ruled Netflix unlawfully raised prices 2017-2024.
Apr 3Netflix raises prices across all tiers and announces $42.2 billion Warner Bros. acquisition while pushing into live sports.Positive▶
Netflix implemented price increases across all subscription tiers. The company is pursuing a $42.2 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. to expand content library. Netflix is negotiating to expand its NFL package from two games to four. Director Reed Hastings sold $40.1 million in stock on April 1. Management reported solid 2025 results (16% revenue growth, 30% operating profit growth) with ambitious 2026 guidance: $51B revenue and 31.5% operating margin. Stock trades at $98.28 ahead of April 16 earnings.
Apr 1Netflix raises prices across all US plans by $1+ per month; Q1 2026 earnings report scheduled for April 16; JPMorgan estimates $1.7 billion incremental revenue opportunity.Positive▶
Netflix announced price increases across all US subscription tiers effective March 26: ad-supported plan to $8.99 (up $1), standard plan to $19.99 (up $2), and premium plan to $26.99 (up $2). JPMorgan estimates increases could generate additional $1.7 billion in annualized revenue with minimal subscriber churn risk. The company is planning to expand its two-game package to four games. Q1 2026 earnings will be announced April 16, 2026. CFRA upgraded stock to Buy on March 6 with $115 price target. Stock trading at $96.09.
Sector Peers
| Company | Price | Day | 1M | Fwd P/E | Beta | Mkt Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFLXNETFLIX | $91.98 | -1.74% | -5.4% | 24.4x | 1.67 | $394.2B |
| DISWALT | $103.39 | -0.35% | +7.8% | 14.2x | 1.44 | $183.8B |
| LYVLIVE | $158.18 | +0.15% | -1.4% | 70.9x | 1.15 | $37.1B |
| TKOTKO | $186.00 | -0.05% | -5.5% | 46.8x | 0.41 | $14.0B |
| PSKYPARAMOUNT | $11.09 | +8.25% | +4.0% | 10.9x | 1.39 | $11.4B |
Key Fundamentals
RSI (14-Day)
52-Week Range
Moving Averages
Price below 200d MA — bearish structure.