Netflix(US:NFLX) HTSC·2026-01-22 04:30Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Overweight" rating for the company with a target price of $110.82 [7] Core Insights - The company reported a 17% year-over-year revenue growth in Q4, exceeding consensus expectations by 0.7%. The gross margin improved by 0.7 percentage points, driven by an increase in paid subscribers to 325 million and a continued rise in advertising revenue, resulting in a net profit growth of 29.4%, which was 2% above expectations [1] - For 2026, the company expects revenue to reach between $50.7 billion and $51.7 billion, aligning with the consensus estimate of $51 billion, while the operating margin is projected at 31.5%, slightly below the expected 32.7% [1] - The report highlights the potential for price increases in the U.S. market, with the company’s advertising package still priced lower than competitors, indicating room for revenue growth [20] - The company’s advertising revenue for 2025 increased by over 250% to $1.5 billion, with expectations for it to double in 2026 as the advertising system matures [3] - The acquisition of Warner Bros. is expected to yield synergies, although the management indicated that the focus will not shift towards a theatrical model in the short to medium term [4] Financial Projections - Revenue forecasts for 2026 and 2027 have been adjusted downwards by 1.5% and 3% respectively, primarily due to the conclusion of some hit series. Net profit projections for the same years have been reduced by 5.5% and 1.6% to $13.4 billion and $16.6 billion respectively [27] - A new forecast for 2028 has been introduced, projecting revenue of $62.4 billion and net profit of $19.6 billion [27] - The target price has been adjusted from $123.9 to $110.82, reflecting a 35x PE for 2026, which is above the industry average of 26.1x [5] User Engagement and Content Strategy - User engagement remains stable, with a 2% year-over-year increase in viewing hours in the second half of 2025, particularly driven by original series which saw a 9% increase [2] - The company has a strong lineup of returning hit series for 2026, including "Bridgerton" Season 4 and "Night Agent" Season 3, which are expected to attract significant viewership [15] - The company is also expanding its third-party content offerings, including exclusive streaming rights to Sony films and new licensing agreements with Universal and Paramount [15] AI Integration and Advertising Strategy - AI is increasingly integrated into various business lines, enhancing content production and distribution efficiency. The report notes that AI can significantly reduce production costs and time, improving the return on investment for mid-tier content [18] - The company is testing interactive video ads and plans to roll out more features globally, which could further enhance user engagement and advertising revenue [3][19]