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Netflix (NFLX) will announce its second quarter 2025 financials on Thursday, July 17. Heading into the earnings, NFLX stock has shown a solid upward trend, with shares of the streaming giant climbing nearly 36% in three months.
This impressive growth stems from Netflix’s robust financial performance, driven by its core subscription business. The company has also seen promising momentum in its ad-supported tier, signaling potential for further expansion. Despite heightened competition in the streaming space, Netflix has maintained its leadership position.
The first quarter of the year showcased Netflix’s resilience and financial strength despite macroeconomic uncertainty. The company reported a 12.5% year-over-year increase in revenue, surpassing analyst expectations. Operating income rose by 27% to $3.3 billion. Further, operating margin expanded to 32%, up from 28%. Its solid revenue and margin expansion reflect the company’s ability to deliver strong revenue growth even at a large scale and its effective cost management strategies. Its Q1 earnings per share (EPS) exceeded analysts’ forecasts, climbing 25% year-over-year to $6.61.
As Netflix stock is trending higher ahead of Q2 earnings, let’s take a look at analysts’ expectations.
Netflix: Q2 Expectations
Netflix is preparing to unveil its second-quarter earnings, and expectations are running hot on Wall Street. After a solid start to the year, analysts are forecasting even stronger performance this time around, with both revenue and earnings projected to accelerate compared to the first quarter.
Analysts expect Netflix to post earnings of $7.05 per share, reflecting a 44.47% increase compared to the $4.88 it delivered in the same period a year ago. Notably, Netflix has a track record of outperforming analysts’ earnings expectations. The streaming giant has exceeded the Street’s bottom-line estimate in the last four consecutive quarters. In Q1, Netflix delivered a 16.17% earnings beat. Its solid earnings surprise history indicates that Netflix could once again deliver better-than-expected bottom-line performance.
Netflix’s revenue, too, is projected to rise at a healthy clip. Management is forecasting revenue of $11.04 billion, reflecting year-over-year growth of 15.4% for Q2. This forecast reflects a sequential acceleration in its top-line growth rate.
Several key drivers are behind the solid momentum in Netflix’s top line. Steady subscriber growth, higher pricing on premium tiers, and meaningful gains in advertising revenue will push its sales higher. This quarter will also reflect a full three months of benefit from Netflix’s latest price adjustments, adding a tailwind to the top line.
Beyond revenue, Netflix’s profitability is expected to strengthen. Management has guided toward an operating margin of 33%, a notable 6% improvement from the same quarter last year. With accelerating revenue and expanding margins, Netflix is expected to deliver solid earnings and cash flows.
Is Netflix Stock a Buy Ahead of Q2 Earnings?
Netflix is firing on all cylinders, delivering strong subscriber growth, expanding profit margins, and increasing revenue from its ad-supported tier. Despite a challenging economic backdrop, Netflix’s core business appears resilient. Engagement on the platform remains high, subscriber retention is solid, and users aren’t showing much sensitivity to its tiered pricing strategy. Even recent price hikes in major markets have gone smoothly, reflecting the strength of its platform.
Despite these strengths, there are some concerns about valuation. Netflix shares are currently trading above the average Wall Street price target of $1,222.08, suggesting that positives may already be baked into the price.
With a forward price-earnings ratio of 49.35x, the stock looks expensive, especially considering that earnings are projected to grow about 28% in 2025 and 21.9% in 2026. Its high valuation reflects the market’s confidence in Netflix’s continued success, but it also implies limited room for error.
Given the strong fundamentals but lofty valuation, analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus on the stock.
As Q2 earnings approach, Netflix presents a balanced risk-reward profile, solid growth drivers on one hand, and a stretched valuation on the other. Investors should wait and watch earnings closely to see whether Netflix can keep justifying its premium price tag.
