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Netflix Inc. shares zoomed higher Tuesday afternoon, when the streaming pioneer revealed that it added more than double the new subscribers it expected amid the spread of COVID-19.
Netflix NFLX, -0.83% reported the addition of 15.77 million paid subscribers globally in the first quarter. Netflix’s biggest quarter for paid net additions to its subscriber total previously was 9.6 million in the year-ago quarter, according to FactSet. Analysts were looking for global paid streaming subscriber additions of 8.22 million on average, according to FactSet, after Netflix projected 7 million new subscribers three months ago.
Netflix reported first-quarter earnings of $709 million, or $1.57 a share, compared with $344 million, or 76 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue grew to $5.77 billion from $4.52 billion in the year-ago period. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had estimated $1.64 a share on revenue of $5.75 billion on average.
The first-quarter results, announced after the market’s close Tuesday, initially sent Netflix shares up more than 9% in after-hours trading. The streaming service’s stock has shown more than just resilience during the coronavirus pandemic, closing at a record high of $437.49 on Monday before falling 0.8% in Tuesday’s trading session.
“During the first two months of the Q1, our membership growth was similar to the prior two years, including in [the U.S. and Canada],” Netflix executives said in a letter to shareholders. “Then, with lockdown orders in many countries starting in March, many more households joined Netflix to enjoy entertainment.”
See also: Netflix may have edge on competition as coronavirus keeps people looking for new shows
Riding the success of breakout hits such as “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness” and ”Money Heist,” Netflix has been able to fend off competition from some of the world’s biggest media companies: Apple Inc.’s AAP, -1.63% Apple TV+, Walt Disney Co.’s DIS, -1.68% Disney+, Amazon.com Inc.’s AMZN, -2.73% Amazon Prime Video, and ViacomCBS Inc.’s VIAC, -2.38% CBS All Access. AT&T Inc.’s T, -3.58% WarnerMedia plans to launch HBO Max on May 27.
Netflix hit the ground running shortly after shelter-in-place orders went into effect in California, where the company is based. Within two weeks, most of its animation-production team was working from home. Post-production, meanwhile, was being performed remotely on more than 200 projects, Netflix said in the shareholder letter.
A fire hose of content is expected in the second quarter, including “Space Force,” a new comedy series created by Greg Daniels (“The Office”) and Steve Carell, starring Carell, John Malkovich and Lisa Kudrow. Other notable entries are the unscripted series “Too Hot to Handle,” “#BlackAF” from Kenya Barris and, outside the U.S., the Michael Jordan mega-documentary, “The Last Dance,” co-produced with ESPN. The latter launches on Netflix in the U.S. on July 19.
At the same time, Netflix has filled out its content roster with the acquisition of films such as “The Lovebirds” starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani for the second quarter, and “Enola Holmes” starring Millie Bobby Brown, Helena Bonham Carter, Henry Cavill and Sam Claflin, for the third quarter. “We expect to continue to be able to provide a terrific variety of new titles throughout 2020 and 2021,” company executives said in letter to shareholders.
The avalanche of programming is a distinct advantage Netflix enjoys over its streaming rivals as the appetite for digital entertainment among homebound Americans continues, according to analysts. Viewership across all subscription services is up 417% this week from the first week in March, according to Reelgood, which tracks the industry.
“Netflix is completely focused on entertaining people in their homes,” eMarketer analyst Eric Haggstrom said. “Netflix is much better equipped for this new reality than competitors reliant on theatrical releases, theme parks or live sports.”
Netflix has created a “virtual, cultural norm” that is especially resonating with consumers during this time of crisis, Wendy Johansson, vice president of experience at digital consultancy Publicis Sapient, told MarketWatch in a phone interview. “It is in the sweet spot of technology, user experience, and content.”
There is a limit to Netflix’s meteoric trajectory, its executives admit. “Hopefully, progress against the virus will allow governments to lift the home confinement soon,” they said in the shareholder letter. “As that happens, we expect viewing and growth to decline. Our internal forecast and guidance is for 7.5 million global paid net additions in Q2.”
Netflix stock is up 13.6% in the past 12 months, while the S&P 500 index SPX, -3.06% has dropped 6.7%.
