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Up More Than 40% This Year, Can Netflix Stock Keep Rising?
The Motley Foolยท 2025-09-12 08:33
Core Viewpoint - Netflix's stock has shown significant growth in 2025, driven by increased subscriber engagement, revenue from its ad-supported tier, and strong pricing power globally [1][2] Financial Performance - In Q2, Netflix's revenue increased by approximately 16% year-over-year to $11.1 billion, while operating income surged by 45% to $3.8 billion, resulting in an operating margin expansion from 27% to 34% [4] - Earnings per share rose to $7.19 from $4.88, indicating strong profitability [4] - The company raised its full-year revenue guidance to approximately $44.8 billion to $45.2 billion, up from a previous estimate of $43.5 billion to $44.5 billion [5] Cash Flow and Investment - Netflix generated $2.3 billion in free cash flow in Q2 and $2.7 billion in Q1, totaling around $4.9 billion year-to-date, providing ample capacity for content investment and share repurchases [6] Advertising Strategy - The rollout of Netflix Ads Suite has been completed, with the ad-supported plan reaching over 94 million monthly active users, positioning the company to potentially double its ad business by 2025 [7] Growth Potential - The investment case for Netflix relies on earnings growth rather than multiple expansion, with shares trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of about 40, which is lower than the trailing multiple in the low-50s [8] - Catalysts for continued growth include live events, selective licensing, and improved product discovery, alongside disciplined content investment [9] Long-term Outlook - Netflix is expected to continue compounding earnings, with a focus on durable profit growth rather than short-term stock price increases, suggesting steady returns over the long term [11]