Is It a Good Idea to Invest in Netflix Stock Before 2026?
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 21 2025
0mins
Should l Buy SPOT?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Netflix's Financial Performance: In the first nine months of 2025, Netflix reported a 15% increase in revenue to $33.1 billion and a 28% rise in operating income, showcasing strong fundamentals despite stock price volatility.
Market Concerns and Stock Performance: The stock is currently trading 29% below its peak, influenced by a disappointing Q3 earnings report and concerns over a proposed $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, which may involve taking on significant debt.
Content Strategy and Growth Initiatives: Netflix plans to enhance its content offerings, including exclusive podcast videos and live sports events, aiming to double ad revenue and expand its global reach in 2026.
Investment Sentiment: Despite its strong market position, Netflix is not currently favored by some analysts, with alternative investment recommendations suggesting that cautious investors may want to wait before buying into the stock.
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Analyst Views on SPOT
Wall Street analysts forecast SPOT stock price to rise
21 Analyst Rating
15 Buy
6 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 445.790
Low
525.00
Averages
750.79
High
900.00
Current: 445.790
Low
525.00
Averages
750.79
High
900.00
About SPOT
Spotify Technology SA a Luxembourg-based company, which offers digital music-streaming services. The Company enables users to discover new releases, which includes the latest singles and albums; playlists, which includes ready-made playlists put together by music fans and experts, and over millions of songs so that users can play their favorites, discover new tracks and build a personalized collection. Its users can either select Spotify Free, which includes only shuffle play or Spotify Premium, which encompasses a range of features, such as shuffle play, advertisement free, unlimited skips, listen offline, play any track and audio. The Company operates through a number of subsidiaries, including Spotify LTD and is present in over 20 countries. Its service offers a music listening experience without commercial breaks.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Spotify Reports Strong Earnings and Positive Guidance
- Strong Earnings Report: Spotify's Q4 revenue increased by 7% year-over-year to €4.53 billion ($5.39 billion), with premium user revenue rising by 8%, indicating robust performance in user growth and revenue generation.
- User Growth Expectations: Despite raising premium subscription prices in the U.S., Spotify projects a net addition of 3 million premium subscribers in Q1, bringing total subscribers to 759 million, surpassing analyst estimates of 752.45 million, showcasing the company's ongoing appeal to users.
- Improved Profitability: The company forecasts Q1 operating income of €660 million ($785 million), exceeding analyst expectations of €645 million ($768 million), while gross margin guidance of 32.8% also surpasses market forecasts, reflecting enhanced profitability.
- Strategic Investment Focus: Spotify plans significant investments in artificial intelligence to enhance personalization and is looking to expand into audiobooks and physical books, aiming to create a comprehensive media platform that strengthens its competitive position in the market.
See More
Spotify Reports Strong Q4 Results, Shares Surge
- User Growth and Price Adjustment: Spotify announced a price increase for its premium subscription in the U.S. from $11.99 to $12.99 per month, which could impact user growth; however, it projects 3 million net new premium subscribers for Q1, reaching 293 million, surpassing analyst estimates of 252 million.
- Financial Performance Exceeds Expectations: The company expects Q1 operating income to reach €660 million ($785 million), above analyst expectations of €645 million ($768 million), with a gross margin forecast of 32.8%, also exceeding the 32.2% expectation, indicating strong profitability.
- Ad Revenue and Investment Plans: Although ad-supported revenue fell 4% to €518 million ($616 million), the company plans significant investments in artificial intelligence to enhance personalization and expand into audiobooks and physical books, aiming to become a comprehensive media platform.
- Market Reaction and Valuation Considerations: Despite Spotify's results and guidance alleviating concerns about margin compression, the stock surged nearly 15% post-earnings; however, with a forward P/E ratio of 33 times 2026 estimates, its valuation may limit upside potential, prompting investors to approach with caution.
See More
Spotify Shares Surge on Strong Q4 Results and Positive Guidance
- User Growth and Price Adjustment: Spotify announced a price increase for its premium subscription in the U.S. from $11.99 to $12.99 per month, which could impact user growth; however, it projects 3 million net new premium subscribers for Q1, reaching 293 million, indicating strong market demand.
- Financial Performance Exceeds Expectations: The company expects Q1 operating income to reach €660 million ($785 million), surpassing analyst estimates of €645 million ($768 million), while gross margin guidance of 32.8% also exceeds the 32.2% expectation, reflecting enhanced profitability.
- Advertising Revenue and Investment Plans: Although ad-supported revenue fell 4% to €518 million ($616 million), the company plans significant investments in artificial intelligence to enhance personalization and user experience, which is expected to drive future advertising revenue growth.
- Market Reaction and Valuation Considerations: Despite Spotify's stock rising nearly 15% post-earnings report, analysts remain cautious due to a forward P/E ratio of 33 times, suggesting potential limitations on stock price upside and advising investors to be cautious about chasing short-term rallies.
See More
Media Stocks Plummet Amid AI Threat Concerns
- Media Stock Sell-off: Media companies faced a significant sell-off on Thursday as investors assessed the risks posed by AI-generated content, with Disney's stock dropping 5% and Fox plunging nearly 8%.
- Year-to-Date Declines: Since the beginning of the year, Spotify and Fox have seen declines of 23% and 19%, respectively, while Netflix and Disney have fallen 19% and 10%, reflecting market concerns over traditional media's vulnerability to AI threats.
- Rise of AI Content: Analysts noted that short-form user-generated content on YouTube captures 13% to 14% of audience time, and the quality of such content may improve with AI tools, further threatening traditional media.
- Market Reaction Lacks Nuance: Despite the real threat of new competition, analysts believe the market's reaction to AI video platforms lacks nuance, asserting that visual elements alone do not constitute professional content, leaving room for traditional media to continue attracting audiences.
See More
Linde Reports Strong Quarterly Earnings Exceeding Expectations
- Quarterly Revenue Growth: Linde reported quarterly revenue of $18.98 billion on January 30, reflecting a 10% year-over-year increase that surpassed the analyst consensus estimate of $18.92 billion, indicating strong performance in the industrial gas sector and boosting investor confidence.
- Earnings Beat Expectations: On February 5, Linde announced earnings per share of $4.20, exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of $4.18, demonstrating effective management in cost control and market demand, which further solidifies its market position.
- Strong Sales Figures: The company achieved quarterly sales of $8.764 billion, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $8.644 billion, reflecting Linde's competitiveness and growth potential in the global market, likely attracting more investor interest.
- Stock Performance: Linde's shares rose 1.1% to close at $472.86 on Thursday, indicating a positive market reaction to its financial performance, which may support future investment decisions.
See More
Fear & Greed Index Declines, Mixed Stock Market Performance
- Market Sentiment Index: The CNN Money Fear & Greed Index recorded a reading of 46.1 on Tuesday, remaining in the 'Neutral' zone but down from 48.6, indicating a weakening market sentiment that could negatively impact investor confidence.
- Mixed Stock Market Performance: While the Dow Jones rose by approximately 52 points to close at 50,188.14, marking a record high, the Nasdaq Composite fell by over 100 points during the session, highlighting weakness in tech stocks and significant internal market divergence.
- Retail Sales Data: U.S. retail sales stalled in December, failing to meet market expectations of a 0.4% increase, reflecting a slowdown in consumer spending that may affect overall economic growth prospects.
- Sector Performance Disparity: Most sectors on the S&P 500 closed lower, with communication services, financials, and consumer staples suffering the largest losses, while utilities and real estate sectors bucked the trend by closing higher, indicating varied market reactions across different sectors.
See More
Spotify Reports Strong Earnings and Positive Guidance
- Strong Earnings Report: Spotify's Q4 revenue increased by 7% year-over-year to €4.53 billion ($5.39 billion), with premium user revenue rising by 8%, indicating robust performance in user growth and revenue generation.
- User Growth Expectations: Despite raising premium subscription prices in the U.S., Spotify projects a net addition of 3 million premium subscribers in Q1, bringing total subscribers to 759 million, surpassing analyst estimates of 752.45 million, showcasing the company's ongoing appeal to users.
- Improved Profitability: The company forecasts Q1 operating income of €660 million ($785 million), exceeding analyst expectations of €645 million ($768 million), while gross margin guidance of 32.8% also surpasses market forecasts, reflecting enhanced profitability.
- Strategic Investment Focus: Spotify plans significant investments in artificial intelligence to enhance personalization and is looking to expand into audiobooks and physical books, aiming to create a comprehensive media platform that strengthens its competitive position in the market.
See More
Spotify Reports Strong Q4 Results, Shares Surge
- User Growth and Price Adjustment: Spotify announced a price increase for its premium subscription in the U.S. from $11.99 to $12.99 per month, which could impact user growth; however, it projects 3 million net new premium subscribers for Q1, reaching 293 million, surpassing analyst estimates of 252 million.
- Financial Performance Exceeds Expectations: The company expects Q1 operating income to reach €660 million ($785 million), above analyst expectations of €645 million ($768 million), with a gross margin forecast of 32.8%, also exceeding the 32.2% expectation, indicating strong profitability.
- Ad Revenue and Investment Plans: Although ad-supported revenue fell 4% to €518 million ($616 million), the company plans significant investments in artificial intelligence to enhance personalization and expand into audiobooks and physical books, aiming to become a comprehensive media platform.
- Market Reaction and Valuation Considerations: Despite Spotify's results and guidance alleviating concerns about margin compression, the stock surged nearly 15% post-earnings; however, with a forward P/E ratio of 33 times 2026 estimates, its valuation may limit upside potential, prompting investors to approach with caution.
See More
Spotify Shares Surge on Strong Q4 Results and Positive Guidance
- User Growth and Price Adjustment: Spotify announced a price increase for its premium subscription in the U.S. from $11.99 to $12.99 per month, which could impact user growth; however, it projects 3 million net new premium subscribers for Q1, reaching 293 million, indicating strong market demand.
- Financial Performance Exceeds Expectations: The company expects Q1 operating income to reach €660 million ($785 million), surpassing analyst estimates of €645 million ($768 million), while gross margin guidance of 32.8% also exceeds the 32.2% expectation, reflecting enhanced profitability.
- Advertising Revenue and Investment Plans: Although ad-supported revenue fell 4% to €518 million ($616 million), the company plans significant investments in artificial intelligence to enhance personalization and user experience, which is expected to drive future advertising revenue growth.
- Market Reaction and Valuation Considerations: Despite Spotify's stock rising nearly 15% post-earnings report, analysts remain cautious due to a forward P/E ratio of 33 times, suggesting potential limitations on stock price upside and advising investors to be cautious about chasing short-term rallies.
See More
Media Stocks Plummet Amid AI Threat Concerns
- Media Stock Sell-off: Media companies faced a significant sell-off on Thursday as investors assessed the risks posed by AI-generated content, with Disney's stock dropping 5% and Fox plunging nearly 8%.
- Year-to-Date Declines: Since the beginning of the year, Spotify and Fox have seen declines of 23% and 19%, respectively, while Netflix and Disney have fallen 19% and 10%, reflecting market concerns over traditional media's vulnerability to AI threats.
- Rise of AI Content: Analysts noted that short-form user-generated content on YouTube captures 13% to 14% of audience time, and the quality of such content may improve with AI tools, further threatening traditional media.
- Market Reaction Lacks Nuance: Despite the real threat of new competition, analysts believe the market's reaction to AI video platforms lacks nuance, asserting that visual elements alone do not constitute professional content, leaving room for traditional media to continue attracting audiences.
See More
Linde Reports Strong Quarterly Earnings Exceeding Expectations
- Quarterly Revenue Growth: Linde reported quarterly revenue of $18.98 billion on January 30, reflecting a 10% year-over-year increase that surpassed the analyst consensus estimate of $18.92 billion, indicating strong performance in the industrial gas sector and boosting investor confidence.
- Earnings Beat Expectations: On February 5, Linde announced earnings per share of $4.20, exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of $4.18, demonstrating effective management in cost control and market demand, which further solidifies its market position.
- Strong Sales Figures: The company achieved quarterly sales of $8.764 billion, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $8.644 billion, reflecting Linde's competitiveness and growth potential in the global market, likely attracting more investor interest.
- Stock Performance: Linde's shares rose 1.1% to close at $472.86 on Thursday, indicating a positive market reaction to its financial performance, which may support future investment decisions.
See More
Fear & Greed Index Declines, Mixed Stock Market Performance
- Market Sentiment Index: The CNN Money Fear & Greed Index recorded a reading of 46.1 on Tuesday, remaining in the 'Neutral' zone but down from 48.6, indicating a weakening market sentiment that could negatively impact investor confidence.
- Mixed Stock Market Performance: While the Dow Jones rose by approximately 52 points to close at 50,188.14, marking a record high, the Nasdaq Composite fell by over 100 points during the session, highlighting weakness in tech stocks and significant internal market divergence.
- Retail Sales Data: U.S. retail sales stalled in December, failing to meet market expectations of a 0.4% increase, reflecting a slowdown in consumer spending that may affect overall economic growth prospects.
- Sector Performance Disparity: Most sectors on the S&P 500 closed lower, with communication services, financials, and consumer staples suffering the largest losses, while utilities and real estate sectors bucked the trend by closing higher, indicating varied market reactions across different sectors.
See More
