Netflix Earnings Shine On Blockbuster Growth

When it comes to Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), how the stock behaves after earnings hinges on one thing. Sure, investors are interested in continuing revenue growth, and they want to see the contribution margin going in the right direction. There's curiosity about the average selling price and the depths of the negative free cash flow. We even want to know the schedule of the new releases and what the most-watched titles are.

This article originally appeared in the Motley Fool.

But all of that pales in comparison to the single most-watched metric: subscriber growth.

When Netflix released its financial results for the first quarter of 2018, all eyes were on the additions to the company's growing cache of viewers -- and in that regard, investors were not disappointed.

Massive Subscriber Increases

Netflix increased its total net subscribers by 7.41 million, up 50% year over year, and more than a million higher than the 6.35 million the company forecast at the end of last quarter. Analysts had been expecting 6.6 million subscribers, slightly higher than the company's guidance. This also represented a first-quarter record for subscriber additions.

Breaking that down, Netflix added 1.96 million domestic viewers, soaring past the 1.45 million it guided for. International subs grew at an even faster pace, gaining 5.46 million, vastly exceeding the 4.90 million it forecast. This brought total members to 125 million, up 27% year over year, with 56.71 million in the U.S. and 68.29 million in international markets.

Since the company's financial metrics live or die by subscribers, the rest of the numbers were better than expected. Netflix revenue grew to $3.701 billion, up 40% year over year. This beat the company's own estimates of $3.686 billion, as well as analysts' consensus estimates of $3.69 billion. Net income of $290 million jumped 63% over the prior-year quarter and generated earnings per share of $0.64 per share. This beat both the company's and analysts' expectations of $0.63 per share.

The average subscription price (ASP) rose 14%, driven by recent price increases.

Continuing The Focus On Original Content

The company shared a number of other points that should be of interest to investors.

This quarter, La Casa de Papel (released as Money Heist in English-language territories), a Spanish-language crime thriller, became the most-watched non-English series on Netflix...ever. The company also pointed out O Mecanismo (The Mechanism), which was inspired by the corruption scandal in Brazil. Netflix said the program is tracking to be one of its most-viewed originals in that country.

Netflix also highlighted its deal with creator Ryan Murphy, the mind behind American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson, Nip/Tuck, Glee, and American Horror Story. This partnership "comes on the heels of similar deals with Shonda Rhimes, Shawn Levy and Jenji Kohan." Netflix said, "Instead of having to license their shows ... we will own the projects we produce with them." This ongoing strategy of owning its own content will result in lower costs on a per-subscriber basis, over time.

This quarter, viewers can look forward to watching new seasons of fan favorites like Luke Cage, 13 Reasons Why, and GLOW.

​

Looking Ahead

For the upcoming second quarter, Netflix expects to add a total of 6.2 million net new subscribers, with 1.20 million domestically, and 5 million in foreign markets -- much higher than the 5.24 million expected by analysts.

The company is forecasting revenue of $3.934 billion, an increase of 41.2% year over year. It also expects operating income of $469 million, more than triple the $128 million in the prior-year quarter. Netflix expects net income of $358 million -- more than five times the $66 million in the same period last year. That will produce earnings per share of $0.79. The company is targeting operating margins of 11.9%, up from 4.6% last year.

Netflix keeps providing enthusiastic forecasts, and the company's "beat and raise" strategy will eventually have to end -- but not today.

Danny Vena owns shares of Netflix. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Netflix. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.