The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Netflix, Disney, Amazon and AT&T

The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Netflix, Disney, Amazon and AT&T Read More...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL –October 14, 2019 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Netflix Inc. NFLX, Disney DIS, Amazon AMZN and AT&T T.

Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:

What to Expect from Netflix (NFLX) Earnings?

Netflix Inc. is set to report third-quarter 2019 results on Oct 15.

Notably, the company’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters, the average being 24.1%.

In the last reported quarter, the company delivered earnings of 60 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4 cents and also bettering management’s guidance of 55 cents. However, earnings declined 29.4% year over year.

Meanwhile, revenues of $4.92 billion increased 26% year over year but lagged the consensus mark as well as management’s guidance of $4.93 billion. The lower-than-anticipated subscriber addition in the second quarter, apparently due to weak content slate in the quarter and a price hike in January, was a dampener.

Guidance and Estimates for Q3

For the third quarter, the company forecasts earnings of $1.04 per share, implying 16.9% growth from the year-ago reported figure. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has been steady at $1.05 over the past 30 days.

The company expects total revenues including the DVD business to be $5.25 billion, indicating a 31.3% rise from the year-earlier reported number. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is currently pegged at $5.25 billion, suggesting a 31.3% surge from the prior-year reported figure.

In the third quarter, the company expects to add 7 million paid subscribers, denoting a 15.3% rise from the figure reported in the same period last year.

Let’s see how things are shaping up for this announcement.

Factors to Consider

Netflix’s third-quarter results are likely to be aided by its loyal subscriber base. The company’s robust and engaging content portfolio is a key driver in this regard. Moreover, its focus on streaming quality content including original productions is an upside.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="The company’s stronger content slate for the third quarter, which saw new seasons for Stranger Things and La Casa de Papel (Money Heist), and the final season of Orange is the New Black among others raise optimism for its subscriber addition.” data-reactid=”33″>The company’s stronger content slate for the third quarter, which saw new seasons for Stranger Things and La Casa de Papel (Money Heist), and the final season of Orange is the New Black among others raise optimism for its subscriber addition.

Further, the company’s efforts to offer content catering to various genres have been a key catalyst in bracing user engagement. Good news is that this year at Emmys, Netflix won 27 awards, up from 23 last year.

The company has also been ramping up its efforts to boost regional programming, which in turn, is helping it expand its international presence. The launch of a mobile-only product for India is likely to have encouraged adoption in the country.

However, stiff competition from Disney’s Hulu, YouTube, AT&T’s HBO and Amazon’s Prime Video poses a key threat to the company’s subscriber addition.

Also, an anticipated decline in US subscriber addition in the quarter under review is a downside. Moreover, weakness in the key international markets like Brazil and UK is likely to have been an overhang.

With competition in the streaming space set to soar in the coming month, management’s commentary on the same will be keenly followed by investors this earnings call.

Netflix currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?

Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.

Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.

>” data-reactid=”44″>See the pot trades we’re targeting>>

Media Contact

Zacks Investment Research

800-767-3771 ext. 9339

[email protected]

https://www.zacks.com

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.” data-reactid=”50″>Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.