Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) Shares Up 6% – What’s Next?

Shares of Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) rose 6% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $83.12 and last traded at $82.7140. Approximately 67,594,562 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 39% from the average daily volume of 48,610,539 shares. The stock had previously closed at $78.04.

Trending Headlines about Netflix

Here are the key news stories impacting Netflix this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Netflix formally declined to match Paramount Skydance’s higher offer for Warner Bros., ending the bidding war and securing a large breakup / termination payment that preserves cash and avoids taking on a complex, debt‑heavy asset. Netflix Receives Termination Fee After WBD Deal Collapse
• Positive Sentiment: Investors cheered the exit as it reduces near‑term strategic risk and potential integration headaches; commentators and analysts framed the decision as disciplined capital allocation, which helped lift shares. Netflix, Paramount shares jump as months-long fight for Warner ends
• Positive Sentiment: Regulatory and political risk eased — a planned Senate antitrust hearing tied to the deal was canceled after Netflix withdrew, removing a headline risk that would have attracted more scrutiny. After Netflix Drops Warner Bros. Bid, GOP Senator Cancels Planned Antitrust Hearing
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and brokers responded with upgrades and higher price targets (Wolfe, Arete, Evercore coverage appears), supporting the rally and signaling refreshed bullish conviction. Wolfe Research adjusts price target on Netflix to $110 from $95; maintains outperform
• Positive Sentiment: Operational news also helped sentiment: Netflix expanded live sports/content reach by partnering with Apple to co‑broadcast the Canadian F1 Grand Prix, reinforcing content momentum outside M&A headlines. Apple and Netflix team up to air Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix
• Neutral Sentiment: Market structure changed: Paramount Skydance looks set to win the Warner Bros. deal, which removes one strategic path for Netflix but also eliminates a costly contest; outcome may affect industry dynamics long‑term rather than Netflix’s near‑term earnings. Project Warrior: How Paramount beat Netflix in $110bn battle for Warner
• Negative Sentiment: Some opinion pieces warn of political/antitrust fallout and reputational/strategic implications from the episode (claims the fight became politicized and that Netflix’s positioning could invite scrutiny). These narratives could re‑emerge if Netflix pursues other large deals. Opinion | Why Netflix Lost Warner to Paramount

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently issued reports on NFLX shares. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Netflix in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. President Capital upgraded shares of Netflix from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $130.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Arete Research upgraded shares of Netflix from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday. Citic Securities decreased their price target on shares of Netflix from $109.00 to $95.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn set a $120.00 price target on shares of Netflix in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have assigned a Buy rating and fifteen have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Netflix currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $115.91.

Netflix Stock Performance

The stock’s 50 day moving average is $85.83 and its two-hundred day moving average is $104.52. The firm has a market capitalization of $406.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick 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, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.55 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $12.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $11.97 billion. Netflix had a net margin of 24.30% and a return on equity of 43.26%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 17.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.43 earnings per share. Netflix has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.760-0.760 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Netflix, Inc. will post 24.58 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Reed Hastings sold 390,970 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.63, for a total transaction of $32,696,821.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 3,940 shares in the company, valued at approximately $329,502.20. The trade was a 99.00% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider David A. Hyman sold 5,727 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $81.06, for a total transaction of $464,230.62. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 316,100 shares in the company, valued at $25,623,066. This represents a 1.78% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 1,399,163 shares of company stock valued at $129,899,103 in the last ninety days. 1.37% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Netflix

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Netflix by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 38,521,322 shares of the Internet television network’s stock worth $46,183,983,000 after acquiring an additional 142,238 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Capital Markets Europe S.A. raised its position in Netflix by 171.4% in the third quarter. CIBC Capital Markets Europe S.A. now owns 66,503 shares of the Internet television network’s stock valued at $79,732,000 after purchasing an additional 42,000 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its position in Netflix by 6.6% in the third quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 302,182 shares of the Internet television network’s stock valued at $362,292,000 after purchasing an additional 18,837 shares during the period. NEOS Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in Netflix by 64.6% during the third quarter. NEOS Investment Management LLC now owns 177,297 shares of the Internet television network’s stock worth $212,565,000 after purchasing an additional 69,570 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bornite Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Netflix during the third quarter worth $29,973,000. 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.