Netflix today is launching a new feature that will allow users to interact with live content through voting. The streaming company said the option will be available with the premiere of its live-streamed talent show “Star Search” on January 20.Subscribers will be able to either pick a selection from a multiple-choice menu or rate someone’s performance on a scale of five stars. Votes can be cast using either a TV remote or the Netflix app. Netflix said that the feature will work globally, and on the backen ...

Group 1 - Netflix is offering cash for shares of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), revising its previous cash-and-stock deal while maintaining the valuation of $82.7 billion for WBD's movie studio and streaming assets at $27.75 per share [1][2] - The new offer aims to simplify the deal structure, provide greater certainty of value, and expedite the timeline for a shareholder vote, with Netflix financing the deal through cash, debt, and committed financing [2] - Paramount Skydance has intensified its efforts with an all-cash offer of $30 per share for WBD, backed by a $40 billion guarantee from Larry Ellison, which has led to legal actions against WBD for more information on Netflix's offer [2][3] Group 2 - WBD's board has consistently rejected Paramount's bids, arguing that a sale to Netflix would be more beneficial due to its capital strength, while expressing concerns over the risks associated with Paramount's proposal, which would incur $87 billion in debt [4] - WBD has raised questions about Paramount's ability to operate post-acquisition, citing concerns over its "junk" credit rating and negative free cash flow, which would worsen with the deal [5] - In October, WBD announced it was exploring a sale after receiving unsolicited interest, with a valuation of over $45 billion at that time, while facing challenges from declining cable viewership and competition from streaming services [6]

Earnings Reports Overview - Major earnings reports are expected this week from airlines, healthcare leaders, industrial giants, streaming services, and semiconductor companies [1] - Key companies reporting include Netflix, United Airlines, Intel, and others [1][3] Netflix Earnings Expectations - Netflix is set to release its Q4 earnings report on Tuesday, with analysts predicting earnings of 55 cents per share and revenue of $11.97 billion [2] - The company’s performance during the holiday season, driven by popular content, will be closely monitored for profitability [3] Other Companies Reporting - United Airlines and Interactive Brokers will also report earnings after the market closes on Tuesday [3] - On Thursday, GE Aerospace and Freeport-McMoRan will report before the market opens, while 3M, D.R. Horton, U.S. Bancorp, Johnson & Johnson, Halliburton, Charles Schwab, Ally Financial, Procter & Gamble, Abbott Laboratories, and Mobileye will report after the market closes [4][5][6][7] Intel's Earnings Outlook - Intel is expected to report a loss of four cents per share and revenue of $13.37 billion after Thursday's market close [8] - Analysts have updated their coverage on Intel, with Citigroup upgrading the stock to Neutral and raising the price target from $29 to $50, while KeyBanc upgraded it to Overweight with a $60 price target [9]

Group 1: Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery - Netflix has submitted an all-cash offer for Warner Bros. Discovery's assets, indicating a strategic move in the competitive media landscape [1] - This bid follows reports that Netflix was likely to adjust its offer, highlighting the ongoing negotiations and potential shifts in the media industry [1] Group 2: Market Reactions and Economic Events - U.S. stock futures have dropped significantly as investors are selling off U.S. assets, reflecting a negative market sentiment following a losing week for major indexes [1] - The World Economic Forum (WEF) has commenced in Davos, Switzerland, with business leaders expressing concerns over geoeconomic issues and misinformation [6] - U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that President Trump is demonstrating that the U.S. is "back," amidst ongoing tariff threats and international tensions [6] Group 3: Tariff Threats and Legal Challenges - President Trump has threatened to increase tariffs on eight European countries unless Greenland is sold to the U.S., with proposed tariffs starting at 10% and rising to 25% [3][4] - The legality of Trump's tariffs is under scrutiny, with the Supreme Court expected to rule on the matter soon, which could have significant implications for U.S. trade policy [8] Group 4: Stellantis Performance - Stellantis, the parent company of Jeep and Fiat, has seen its U.S.-listed stock decline approximately 43% since its merger on January 16, 2021, while Italian-listed shares have fallen about 40% [11] - The company is undergoing a turnaround under new CEO Antonio Filosa, who aims to regain market share for Jeep and Ram after a period of declining sales [12] Group 5: South Korean Food Exports - South Korea's food exports reached a record of over $13 billion last year, driven largely by instant noodle exports, which surged 22% to just over $1.5 billion [14] - The popularity of Korean food products, including cheese-flavored spicy noodles, is linked to a broader cultural interest in South Korean pop music and television [15]

Core Viewpoint - Warner Bros. Discovery has accepted a new all-cash offer from Netflix to sell its studios and streaming business for $27.75 per share, moving towards a shareholder vote amid a hostile bid from Paramount [1] Group 1: Deal Structure and Financials - The revised deal is valued at $72 billion and has prompted Warner Bros. Discovery to release new financial disclosures regarding its cable networks, providing investors with clearer insights into the business that will remain post-transaction [2] - Paramount has criticized the lack of detailed financial disclosures about the cable spinoff and the Netflix deal structure, claiming this was a key reason for escalating its hostile bid [3] - Warner Bros. Discovery has released updated projections for the cable business, which will be spun off into a separate entity named Discovery Global [5] Group 2: Market Reactions and Statements - The cable division is projected to show declining revenue and earnings over the next several years, despite generating better-than-expected cash flow [9] - Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters stated that the revised deal reflects their commitment to the transaction and accelerates the process for Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders [9]

Core Viewpoint - Netflix has revised its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery's studios and streaming business to an all-cash offer of $27.75 per share, aiming to counter a competing bid from Paramount Skydance [1][2]. Group 1: Bid Details - The new offer is entirely in cash, providing "enhanced certainty" for Warner's shareholders, eliminating concerns over Netflix's stock price fluctuations [2]. - The original bid included a combination of cash and stock, offering $23.25 in cash and $4.50 in Netflix shares per WBD share [3]. - The revised cash offer of $27.75 per share represents an increase from the previous bid, indicating a strategic move to expedite the acquisition process [3]. Group 2: Timeline and Expectations - Netflix anticipates that Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders will vote on the revised offer by April 2026, suggesting a timeline for the acquisition process [2].

Photographer: Ethan Swope/Bloomberg While the chatter surrounding Netflix Inc. these days is all about its hefty bid for Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., Wall Street will get an opportunity to focus on something else, at least for a little while, when the streaming giant reports earnings after the bell. Investors have been concerned about Netflix’s slowing flow of subscribers and the sustainability of its growth. The issue sparked the worst selloff in the stock in more than three years after the company’s pr ...

Netflix submitted an amended all-cash offer for Warner Bros Discovery's studio and streaming businesses, winning the unanimous support from the HBO owner's board without increasing the $82.7 billion p... ...

Core Viewpoint - Investors are closely monitoring Netflix as it prepares to report its Q4 results, with the stock experiencing a 6% decline in early 2026, amid broader market weakness and profit-taking following a 10-1 stock split [1][2]. Group 1: Q4 Expectations - Netflix's Q4 sales are projected to increase by 17% year over year to $11.97 billion, with EPS expected to rise by 28% to $0.55 [3]. - For fiscal 2025, total sales are anticipated to grow by 15% to $45.1 billion, and annual earnings are expected to spike by 28% to $2.53 per share [3]. Group 2: Warner Bros Acquisition - Netflix has announced an agreement to acquire Warner Bros' studios and streaming businesses for $82.7 billion, which could add approximately 95-100 million subscribers, bringing Netflix's total to over 370 million [4]. - The acquisition would enhance Netflix's competitive position against Disney and Amazon, both of which have over 200 million subscribers [4]. - Netflix is considering an all-cash offer to strengthen its bid after Warner Bros rejected competing offers from Paramount and Comcast [5]. Group 3: Financial Metrics - The acquisition of Warner Bros is expected to contribute over $30 billion in annual revenue to Netflix, which has a return on invested capital (ROIC) exceeding 25%, significantly higher than the industry average of 12% [9]. - Netflix's stock is currently trading at a forward earnings multiple of 27X, which, while a premium to the industry average of 11X, is closer to the S&P 500's average of 23X [11]. Group 4: Market Sentiment - There is a growing interest in buying Netflix stock ahead of its Q4 report, with the stock currently rated as a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), but a potential buy rating could emerge if the Q4 results are strong [12].

Core Engagement and Performance - Netflix achieved its highest-ever viewing share in the U.S. at 8.6% and in the U.K. at 9.4%, indicating strong performance in key markets [1] - Since the end of 2022, viewing share has increased by 15% in the U.S. and 22% in the U.K., suggesting sustained competitive gains [2] Importance of Engagement Metrics - Engagement metrics are crucial for Netflix's monetization, enhancing pricing power, reducing churn risk, and improving advertising effectiveness [3] - Higher engagement allows Netflix to raise prices selectively without significant subscriber losses [3] Advertising Business Growth - Netflix's advertising business had its strongest quarter in Q3 2025, with record ad sales and a doubling of U.S. upfront commitments [5] - Upfront commitments will contribute to revenue starting late 2025 and into 2026, improving forecast reliability [6] Structural Drivers of Advertising Growth - Netflix offers a unique combination of global scale, engaged audiences, and advanced buying tools for advertisers [7] - The company has transitioned from an experimental phase to a more established execution phase in its advertising business [7] Future Advertising Roadmap - Netflix plans to enhance targeting and media planning tools globally and introduce more interactive ad formats [8] - Management expects advertising margins to expand as the advertising stack matures, despite potential near-term lag compared to subscription margins [9] Financial Guidance - For Q4 2025, Netflix anticipates revenue growth of 17% and an operating margin of 23.9%, with full-year revenue projected at $45.1 billion and a 29% operating margin [10][11] - The slight revision in revenue expectations is linked to tax issues rather than operational weaknesses [11] Upcoming Earnings Report Focus - The upcoming earnings report will focus on confirming margin normalization post-Brazil, continued advertising momentum, and durable engagement gains [12]