Netflix Tops Wall Street’s Lofty Expectations, Raises Forecast | Bloomberg Businessweek

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While rival media companies are unloading assets and cutting costs, Netflix Inc. continues to thrive.

The owner of the world’s most popular paid streaming service on Thursday reported second-quarter results that exceeded investor expectations in every major metric, saying revenue grew to $11.1 billion and earnings jumped to $7.19 a share. The company also raised its forecast for full-year sales and profit margins.

The second quarter is historically slow for Netflix, which typically adds more customers at the beginning and end of the year. But the company released a steady slate of popular shows, including two of the most-watched titles of the year — the third season of Ginny & Georgia and the final season of Squid Game. The company also benefited from a weaker dollar. More than two-thirds of its customers live outside the US.

Shares of Netflix have nearly doubled over the past year and the company’s market value tops $500 billion. That makes Netflix worth more than Walt Disney Co., Comcast Corp. and Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. combined.

While investors used to judge Netflix by the number of subscribers it added in any given quarter, the company has stopped disclosing how many customers pay for its service, directing them to focus on more traditional metrics such as sales and profit.

Netflix expects to generate up to $45.2 billion in sales this year and says its operating margin is now forecast to hit 29.5%. Net income is on track to exceed $10 billion for the first time, thanks to exchange rates that will boost sales and a strong slate of programs. The second-half schedule includes new seasons of the hit shows Stranger Things and Wednesday, as well as movies such as Happy Gilmore 2.

Today's show features:

Mark Douglas, CEO of MNTN on Netflix earnings and the streaming giant’s advertising strategy

Bloomberg News Economics Editor Molly Smith on monthly retail sales and imports data, as well as weekly jobless claims figures

Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Analyst for US Regional Banks Herman Chan with a roundup of regional bank earnings out this week

John Gates, CEO, Leasing Advisory, Americas at JLL on the company's Q2 2025 “US Office Market Dynamics Report”

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Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec bring together the latest news from the world of business and finance and the interesting stories of global technology, politics, economics and more by harnessing the power of Bloomberg Businessweek reporters and editors.

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