Netflix Inc. (NFLX) is having a pretty good Tuesday, all things considered. While the broader tech sector faces selling pressure, the streaming giant's shares climbed over 3% in afternoon trading, brushing off both a price target reduction from JPMorgan and lingering jitters from its recent 10-for-1 stock split.
Why the Disconnect?
Earlier Tuesday, JPMorgan analyst Doug Anmuth maintained his Neutral rating on Netflix but trimmed his price target from $127.50 to $124. His concerns? The usual suspects: media dealmaking drama, intensifying competition, and questions about what comes next in Netflix's growth story. He pointed out that the stock has lagged the S&P 500 lately, dropping 11% since third-quarter earnings dropped.
But here's the thing—investors seem to be looking past the near-term noise and zeroing in on what Netflix is actually building. The company's advertising business has hit what Anmuth calls "critical scale," with 190 million monthly active ad viewers now on the platform. That's not just impressive; it's potentially transformative. Anmuth projects ad revenue will more than double in 2025 and surge another 46% to reach $4.3 billion in 2026.
The Bigger Picture
While the Nasdaq-100 dealt with sector rotation headwinds, Netflix found solid support. The market appears to be shaking off worries about M&A distractions and instead focusing on the company's organic growth execution. With projected 2026 revenue hitting $50 billion and robust free cash flow estimates, the long-term fundamentals look compelling enough to override short-term concerns.
MarketDash stock rankings show a particularly strong Quality score of 85.21 for Netflix, indicating high operational excellence and financial health—exactly the kind of foundation that can help a stock weather volatile markets.
NFLX Price Action: Netflix shares were up 3.51% at $114.11 at the time of publication on Tuesday.
How To Buy NFLX Stock
If you're interested in getting exposure to Netflix, buying shares is straightforward through most brokerage accounts. Many platforms now offer fractional shares, so you don't need to buy a full share to participate.
For those looking to bet against the company, things get more complex. You'll need access to an options trading platform or a broker that allows short selling. With options, you can buy a put option or sell a call option at a strike price above current trading levels—either strategy lets you profit if shares decline. Just remember that shorting stocks and trading options carry significant risks and aren't suitable for everyone.