Netflix Says Demand ‘Stable' Amid Recession Fears

Core Viewpoint - Netflix reported first-quarter earnings that exceeded expectations, with stable demand despite macroeconomic challenges, supported by a low-cost ad-supported plan [1][2][6] Financial Performance - Netflix's first-quarter net income was $2.89 billion, or $6.61 per diluted share, compared to $2.33 billion, or $5.28 per share in the same quarter last year [7] - Revenue for the quarter reached $10.54 billion, up from $9.37 billion, aligning with Wall Street's expectations of $10.5 billion [7] Subscriber Growth and Market Position - The company has 302 million subscribers, leading the online streaming market, followed by Prime Video with over 200 million and Disney+ with 125 million [6] - Subscriber growth was described as "healthy," although specific numbers were not disclosed for the first time [8] Macroeconomic Context - Netflix executives noted no significant impact from macroeconomic factors, including tariffs, on their business outlook [2][3] - The company believes that entertainment remains resilient during economic downturns, as people continue to consume content regardless of economic conditions [4][5] Future Aspirations - Netflix aims for a $1 trillion market cap by 2030, with plans to double revenue to around $80 billion and achieve $9 billion in global ad sales [10][11] - The company also targets to triple its operating income to $30 billion and increase subscriber count to 410 million by 2030 [11] Strategic Insights - Netflix's strategy focuses on organic growth rather than costly acquisitions, avoiding overspending on major sports programming [14][15] - This approach allows Netflix to avoid managing a declining legacy business and expensive sports contracts, positioning it for future growth [15]