Core Viewpoint - Netflix stock has nearly doubled over the last 12 months, currently trading around $1,270, driven by initiatives like password sharing crackdown and the expansion of advertising-supported streaming [1][6] - Despite strong Q2 results with a 16% revenue growth, there are concerns about potential downside risks due to macroeconomic uncertainties and slowing subscriber growth [1][5] Group 1: Financial Performance - In 2024, Netflix added over 40 million subscribers, reaching nearly 302 million paid users, significantly contributing to the stock's rally [6] - The company's Q2 earnings showed improved margins, but there are warnings that operating margins could trend lower in the second half of 2025 due to rising content amortization and marketing costs [8][7] - Netflix's current stock price reflects a valuation of around 50 times consensus 2025 earnings, which is considered expensive compared to a valuation of about 20 times earnings in mid-2022 [11] Group 2: Subscriber Growth and Market Dynamics - Key initiatives like the password-sharing crackdown and ad-supported plans have been rolled out, but these may have pulled forward demand, leading to potential slower subscriber additions in the future [5][6] - The decision to stop reporting subscriber numbers starting in 2025 may indicate internal expectations of slower growth [5] - Economic factors such as inflation and rising costs could negatively impact consumer spending, which is crucial for Netflix's subscription model [7] Group 3: Historical Context and Volatility - Historical data shows that Netflix stock has experienced significant declines in past downturns, including a 75.9% drop from November 2021 to May 2022 [10] - The stock has shown resilience during downturns, performing slightly better than the S&P 500 in some cases [9] - The potential for a 50% to 60% correction from current levels is highlighted as a possibility based on historical performance [1][2]