Group 1 - The fourth quarter earnings season is gaining momentum, with major financial institutions like Charles Schwab and regional banks such as Fifth Third set to report results, alongside Netflix and Intel, which are expected to be focal points of the earnings calendar [1][5] - An optimistic consensus is emerging, with 7% of S&P 500 companies having reported fourth quarter results as of January 16, and analysts projecting an 8.2% increase in earnings per share for the quarter, marking the potential for the 10th consecutive quarter of annual earnings growth for the index [2] - Analysts had initially anticipated an 8.3% increase in earnings per share heading into the reporting period, a decrease from the previous quarter's 13.6% growth rate, but expectations have been raised recently, particularly for technology companies that have been key drivers of earnings growth [3] Group 2 - The current earnings season is expected to test the improved stock market breadth observed at the beginning of 2026, with ongoing themes from 2025, such as artificial intelligence and economic policies, continuing to influence market dynamics [4] - This week's earnings releases will also include reports from notable companies such as United Airlines, 3M Company, D.R. Horton, Johnson & Johnson, GE Aerospace, Procter & Gamble, Abbott Laboratories, and Capital One [5]

Core Viewpoint - Netflix's shares experienced a significant decline in premarket trading despite the company reporting Q4 earnings that slightly exceeded Wall Street expectations, primarily due to a projected increase in spending on content and the acquisition of Warner Bros. [1] Financial Performance - Netflix reported a revenue increase of 18% year-over-year, reaching $12.05 billion in Q4, which was above Wall Street's projection of $11.97 billion [2] - Earnings per share were 56 cents, narrowly beating the forecast of 55 cents [2] - The global subscriber base grew to 325 million, up from 301 million at the end of 2024 [2] - Advertising revenue surged to $1.5 billion, which is two-and-a-half times higher than in 2024 [2] Future Projections - The company's forecasts for the current quarter fell short of Wall Street estimates, as Netflix plans to increase its spending on TV shows and movies by 10% this year [3] - The anticipated $83 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. is expected to add $275 million to Netflix's spending this year [3] Strategic Insights - CEO Ted Sarandos described the Warner Bros. acquisition as a "strategic accelerant" and emphasized the value of the mature theatrical business that Warner Bros. brings [4] - Sarandos noted that Warner films will be released in theaters with a 45-day window, highlighting the importance of the HBO brand as a prestigious asset [4] Competitive Landscape - Sarandos downplayed concerns that the Warner Bros. acquisition would harm competition, stating that Netflix competes with a wide range of platforms, including broadcast TV, YouTube, and Instagram [5] - He pointed out that the landscape of television has evolved, with major events like the Oscars and NFL being available on various platforms, indicating a shift in competition dynamics [5]

Group 1 - Netflix reported Q4 earnings that exceeded estimates, indicating strong past performance [1] - Despite the earnings beat, Netflix's stock fell by 7%, highlighting Wall Street's focus on future growth rather than historical results [1]

Nick LaFleur is one of many Americans who think a Netflix-Warner Bros tie-up might provide some relief from "subscription fatigue." ...

Listen on the go! A daily podcast of Wall Street Breakfast will be available by 8:00 a.m. on Seeking Alpha, iTunes, Spotify.Getty Images Good morning! Here is the latest in trending:Assets outlook: Ray Dalio said gold is now "the second largest reserve currency," while bitcoin (BTC-USD) is only money "for some."Affordability push: President Trump signs order to restrict large institutional investors from buying single-family homes.War of words: OpenAI's Sam Altman fires back at Elon Musk linking ChatGPT to ...

The company's 2026 revenue guidance of $50.7-$51.7 billion implies 12-14% growth, down from 16% in 2025, while first-quarter profit forecasts came in below analyst expectations. "Overall, this points to a challenging start to the year,†noted Investing.com analyst Thomas Monteiro. Warner Bros. Acquisition Creates Additional Uncertainty The stock's weakness is further compounded by Netflix's amended all-cash offer for Warner Bros. Discovery, which now values the acquisition at $27.75 per share for Warner Bros ...

The latest quarter from Netflix (NFLX) left Wall Street wanting more, and not just on the earnings front. Shares of Netflix tanked 6% in premarket trading on Wednesday as its initial outlook for 2026 fell shy of analyst forecasts. Netflix sees 2026 sales growth of 12% to 14%, short of the "whisper numbers" of 16% that circulated ahead of the report. The company also earmarked $275 million in costs related to the $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), impacting operating margin potentia ...

Core Insights - The streaming giant continues to hold a dominant position in the market, but its growth rate is experiencing a slowdown and operational costs are increasing [1] Group 1 - The company remains the leader in the streaming industry, indicating strong brand recognition and customer loyalty [1] - Recent trends show that the growth rate of subscribers is declining, suggesting potential challenges in attracting new users [1] - Increased operational expenses are impacting profitability, highlighting the need for strategic cost management [1]

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures rose on Wednesday after a significant sell-off on Tuesday, with major benchmark indices showing positive movement [1] - The S&P 500 index experienced its worst session since October 2025, dropping over 2% due to heightened risk-off sentiment following President Trump's new trade stance towards Europe [1] Trade Relations - President Trump threatened European countries with additional tariffs starting February 1 if negotiations over Greenland control fail, with potential duties increasing to 25% from June [2] - European officials warned of possible retaliation that could impact up to 25% of U.S. exports to Europe, including services, and mentioned the possibility of reducing Treasury holdings [2] Economic Indicators - The 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.27%, while the two-year bond was at 3.58% [3] - The CME Group's FedWatch tool indicates a 95% likelihood of the Federal Reserve maintaining current interest rates in January [3] Index Performance - Major indices showed slight gains in premarket trading on Wednesday: Dow Jones up 0.19%, S&P 500 up 0.27%, Nasdaq 100 up 0.23%, and Russell 2000 up 0.33% [4] - The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:SPY) increased by 0.24% to $679.18, while Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:QQQ) rose by 0.14% to $608.93 [4] Company Focus - Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) projected to report quarterly earnings of $2.46 per share on revenue of $24.16 billion, down 0.33% in premarket [8] - Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) fell 5.48% despite better-than-expected fourth-quarter results, projecting first-quarter revenue of $12.16 billion, slightly below consensus [7] - GameStop Corp. (NYSE:GME) rose 2.70% after CEO Ryan Cohen disclosed a purchase of 500,000 shares at an average price of approximately $21.12 per share [9] Analyst Insights - Professor Jeremy Siegel noted a significant market transition, with a shift from large-cap growth to small-cap and value stocks, indicating a 10% to 12% pullback in large-cap growth stocks relative to value [13] - Siegel highlighted that the economic backdrop remains supportive, with resilient growth data and stable labor markets, suggesting that small-cap stocks do not require high earnings growth to perform well [14][15] Upcoming Economic Data - Investors are awaiting the delayed report of October's construction spending and December's pending home sales data, scheduled for release at 10:00 a.m. ET [16] Commodities and Global Markets - Crude oil futures decreased by 1.18% to around $59.65 per barrel, while Gold Spot rose by 2.24% to approximately $4,870.22 per ounce [17] - Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) traded 1.64% lower at $89,347.25 per coin [19]

By Zaheer Kachwala Jan 21 (Reuters) - Netflix's co-CEOs found themselves in an unusual position after the company's latest earnings report: on the backfoot. The streaming pioneer's decision to plunk down nearly $83 billion on Warner Bros' assets marks a significant departure from ​the company's long-standing mantra: build, don't buy. Investors still aren't buying it. Shares were already under pressure even before Netflix made an ‌offer for Warner Bros Discovery's studio and streaming assets. The stoc ...