Netflix stock falls after earnings miss estimates, operating profit takes a hit

Financial Performance - Netflix reported Q3 revenue of $11.51 billion, slightly below Bloomberg consensus estimates of $11.52 billion and the company's own guidance of $11.53 billion, compared to $9.82 billion in the same quarter last year [1] - Earnings per share were $5.87, missing analyst expectations of $6.94 and the company's internal forecast of $6.87, but still above the $5.40 reported a year ago [2] - For full-year 2025, Netflix expects revenue of $45.1 billion, towards the upper end of its previous forecast range of $44.8 billion to $45.2 billion [3] Operating Margin - The company reported an operating margin of 28%, below its forecast of 31.5%, due to unexpected expenses related to a dispute with Brazilian tax authorities [3] - Netflix forecasts a 2025 operating margin of 29%, slightly down from the prior expectation of 30%, reflecting the impact of the tax matter [4] Content and Engagement - Netflix noted that "engagement remains healthy" due to a strong content slate in Q3, including the Canelo vs. Crawford fight, which attracted over 41 million global viewers [5] - The animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" became Netflix's most-viewed film of all time with 325 million views, highlighting the platform's ability to create hits from relatively unknown IP [6] Advertising Business - The company is increasingly confident in its ads business, with ad revenue expected to more than double in 2025 from a small base, following a US upfront that saw commitments more than double year over year [7] - Netflix expanded its ad reach through a new Amazon DSP integration, providing marketers with more options to purchase inventory on the platform [7]