Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) saw significant growth in the third quarter of 2023, adding nine million subscribers and recording an annual revenue increase to $8.5 billion, up 8% from the previous year. The company's net income also rose nearly 20% to $1.6 billion, according to data released on Wednesday. The surge was attributed to an increase in global subscribers, which now total 247 million.
InvestingPro data reveals that Netflix's market cap stands at an impressive $154.17 billion, with a P/E ratio of 36.37, suggesting that investors are willing to pay a high price for the company's earnings. The company's revenue for the last twelve months was $32,126.45 million, marking a growth of 3.53% from the previous year.
The company's content budget for the year stands at $13 billion, down from $17 billion due to ongoing Hollywood strikes. Despite this reduction, Netflix, a prominent player in the Entertainment industry as per InvestingPro Tips, has maintained its competitive edge with successful original series like "One Piece" and "Suits".
In line with its pricing strategy, Netflix implemented a price hike for its premium ad-free service from $19.99 to $22.99 in the U.S., U.K., and France. This move aims to drive users towards its cheaper ad-inclusive service priced at $6.99 per month. This strategy has received criticism from industry analysts, such as Mike Proulx of Forrester Research (NASDAQ:FORR) who argued that consumers expect more value for their money and recent price hikes do not offer additional benefits.
Despite these concerns and a weak ad market, Netflix reported a 70% increase in ad-tier memberships and a 30% uptake of the cheaper plan in the 12 countries where this tier was available. The company has also made successful efforts in combating password sharing.
Looking ahead, Netflix expects a drop in net income in Q4 due to higher marketing costs associated with new releases like “The Crown” and Zack Snyder’s “Rebel Moon.” However, InvestingPro Tips suggest that analysts predict the company will remain profitable this year, and it has been profitable over the last twelve months.
In other developments, Netflix downsized its animation department, leading to cuts and halting two films' production. However, the streaming giant announced a multiyear agreement with Skydance Animation, led by ex-Pixar chief John Lasseter, to develop animated movies directly for Netflix starting from 2024.
As part of their analysis, InvestingPro also noted that despite the company's stock price falling significantly over the last three months, it has seen a high return over the past decade. This, combined with Netflix's high return on invested capital, suggests that stockholders can expect high returns on book equity. For more insights like these, consider exploring InvestingPro's additional tips tailored to individual companies.
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