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Netflix Membership Momentum Builds: Is Growth Reaccelerating?
ZACKS· 2026-01-22 17:45
Core Insights - Netflix's global streaming platform has surpassed 325 million paid memberships, with significant room for growth as penetration remains below 10% of total television viewing time in major markets [1][10] Membership Dynamics - Membership growth is reaccelerating, with branded original content viewership up 9% in the second half of 2025 and total viewing hours increasing by 2% annually [2] - The ad-supported membership tier is expanding Netflix's addressable market by attracting price-sensitive consumers, contributing to incremental growth [2] Content Strategy - Netflix's 2026 content strategy includes returning franchises and new productions, aiming to sustain membership growth [3] - The platform is diversifying into video podcasts and live programming, enhancing content variety through partnerships with major studios [3] Financial Projections - Netflix projects 2026 revenue between $50.7 billion and $51.7 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 12-14% driven by membership additions [4][10] - The consensus estimate for Netflix's 2026 EPS is $3.20, indicating a 26.48% increase from the previous year [13] Competitive Landscape - Netflix faces competition from Disney and Amazon, each employing different strategies to capture subscribers [5][6][7] - Disney+ targets family-oriented subscribers with franchise content and bundle discounts, while Amazon integrates streaming with its Prime ecosystem [6][7] Valuation and Performance - Netflix shares have declined 28.3% over the past six months, compared to a 12.9% decline in the broader industry [8] - The stock appears overvalued, trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 7.05X, significantly higher than the industry's 4.3X [11]