Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) Trading Up 2.2% – Here’s Why

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)’s share price rose 2.2% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $78.85 and last traded at $78.67. Approximately 30,718,772 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 37% from the average daily volume of 48,772,586 shares. The stock had previously closed at $77.00.

Netflix News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Netflix this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts reaffirm bullish views — Wedbush kept an “outperform” rating with a $115 price target and Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed its buy stance, giving investors a confidence boost that the long-term story remains intact. Wedbush reaffirmation / Benzinga Sanford C. Bernstein Reaffirmation
• Positive Sentiment: Large insider/institutional buying: reports that billionaire Philippe Laffont bought ~10.2M Netflix shares (after trimming Nvidia) signals conviction from a respected investor, which can attract momentum buyers. Blockonomi: Laffont buys Netflix
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and experts say Netflix can thrive even if it doesn’t land Warner Bros. Discovery — reducing binary takeover risk and reassuring investors worried about overpaying or integration risk. Investopedia: Experts on Netflix without WBD
• Neutral Sentiment: Netflix says it has the firepower to increase its bid if needed — this underscores financial flexibility (positive) but also highlights the potential for a costly bidding war (negative), leaving valuation concerns unresolved. Reuters: Netflix can raise offer
• Neutral Sentiment: Netflix pushed a regulatory/antitrust case in an analyst briefing (deploying senior legal and affairs executives) arguing its deal has a cleaner path than Paramount’s rival bid — useful for investor perception but not decisive. Proactive Investors: Netflix briefing on regulatory path
• Negative Sentiment: Paramount/Skydance cleared a major U.S. antitrust milestone, strengthening a competing $108B bid and making a protracted auction and higher price more likely — a direct threat to Netflix’s deal economics and strategy. FT: Paramount clears antitrust hurdle
• Negative Sentiment: High-profile criticism (e.g., James Cameron) and public letters to lawmakers spotlight antitrust and cultural concerns about a Netflix–WBD tie-up, which could complicate approvals and raise reputational risk. FastCompany: James Cameron criticism

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently issued reports on NFLX shares. Susquehanna upgraded Netflix to a “positive” rating and set a $112.00 price target for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Wedbush restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $115.00 target price on shares of Netflix in a report on Friday. New Street Research decreased their target price on Netflix from $100.00 to $96.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Arete Research increased their price target on Netflix from $83.30 to $108.40 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Finally, Barclays reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $110.00 price target on shares of Netflix in a research report on Friday, December 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-three have assigned a Buy rating and sixteen have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $116.08.

Netflix Trading Up 2.2%

The company has a market capitalization of $332.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.13, a P/E/G ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.71. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $86.91 and a 200 day simple moving average of $105.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.19.

Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 20th. The Internet television network reported $0.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.55 by $0.01. Netflix had a net margin of 24.30% and a return on equity of 43.26%. The business had revenue of $12.05 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.97 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.43 earnings per share. Netflix’s quarterly revenue was up 17.6% on a year-over-year basis. Netflix has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.760-0.760 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Netflix, Inc. will post 24.58 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Reed Hastings sold 390,970 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.63, for a total value of $32,696,821.10. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 3,940 shares in the company, valued at approximately $329,502.20. This trade represents a 99.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Gregory K. Peters sold 27,312 shares of Netflix stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.24, for a total value of $2,273,450.88. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 122,140 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,166,933.60. This trade represents a 18.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 1,399,163 shares of company stock worth $129,899,103. 1.37% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Netflix

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Imprint Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Netflix during the third quarter worth $25,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new position in shares of Netflix in the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of Netflix during the 3rd quarter worth about $28,000. Rossby Financial LCC acquired a new stake in shares of Netflix during the 2nd quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Steph & Co. boosted its position in shares of Netflix by 188.9% during the 3rd quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 26 shares of the Internet television network’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 17 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.93% of the company’s stock.

Netflix Company Profile

Netflix, Inc (NASDAQ: NFLX) is a global entertainment company that provides subscription-based streaming of films, television series, documentaries and other video content. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph and headquartered in Los Gatos, California, the company began as a DVD-by-mail rental service and introduced streaming video in 2007. Netflix later expanded into producing and distributing original programming, beginning notable original hits in the 2010s, and now operates a content production and distribution ecosystem alongside its licensing activity.

The company’s primary product is its on-demand streaming service, which can be accessed on a wide range of internet-connected devices and delivered through a suite of apps and web platforms.