Netflix: Is Now A Good Time To Buy?

Jan 28, 2022

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The mixture of broad market risk-aversion and widespread considerations that stay-at-home shares might have peaked has been taking a hefty toll on Netflix (NASDAQ:) shares.

Up to now, the Los Gatos, California-based leisure behemoth has seen its market-cap drop greater than 40% year-to-date, making it the second-worst performer within the Index. Since reaching a report excessive of $700.99 on Nov. 17, the inventory has fallen about 45%, closing Tuesday at $386.7.

Netflix Weekly Chart

Netflix’s plunge accelerated after the corporate launched its newest final week, displaying that subscriber development isn’t coming again as rapidly as analysts had anticipated. In contrast with 4 million a yr earlier, the corporate now expects so as to add simply 2.5 million subscribers within the present quarter.

It additionally barely missed its subscriber estimate for the fourth quarter, including 8.3 million subscribers as a substitute of the projected 8.5 million.

Nonetheless, we consider that this drastic correction gives a fantastic entry level for buyers desirous about shopping for the most effective streaming leisure inventory out there at a a lot cheaper price.

A Exceptional Firm

Submit-earnings weak point isn’t one thing new for Netflix buyers. In keeping with Bloomberg information, shares have superior on the day after earnings simply twice out of the previous 12 quarters, excluding the latest quarter.

However Netflix has usually recovered strongly from the stoop, helped by its superior content material and know-how. Savvy buyers are already shifting their money to reap the benefits of this large draw back transfer.

Pershing Sq.’s Invoice Ackman bought greater than 3.1 million shares of Netflix this week, making him a top-20 shareholder. He mentioned Netflix’s substantial inventory worth decline was additional exacerbated by current market volatility in a tweeted letter.

“I’ve lengthy admired Reed Hastings and the outstanding firm he and his workforce have constructed. We’re delighted that the market has offered us with this chance.”

In a contrarian transfer, long-time bear Benchmark Co. upgraded Netflix, saying the selloff appeared overdone.

What makes Netflix buy-on-the-dip candidate is its rising slate of unique content material. Netflix spent about $17 billion on unique content material final yr, a 40% leap from the earlier yr.

For the present quarter, Netflix has a powerful content material lineup of flicks and TV reveals, together with new seasons of The Witcher, You, Bridgerton, considered one of its largest hits, and The Adam Challenge, a a lot anticipated time-travel-themed film starring Ryan Reynolds and Jennifer Garner.

Whereas spending large quantities on new content material, Netflix has expanded its margins from 7.2% in 2017 to 18.3% in 2020 and 21% in 2021.

One other optimistic improvement that long-term buyers ought to take into account is that Netflix isn’t depending on debt to gasoline its development. After years of borrowing to fund manufacturing, the corporate mentioned it not wants to boost exterior financing to assist day-to-day operations.

Backside Line

Netflix inventory has develop into a sexy purchase after its newest stoop, which, in our view, is overdone. After solidifying its money and aggressive positions through the pandemic growth, the corporate is healthier positioned to return to development.

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