Should I buy Netflix stock in 2025? [NZ Edition]

What is Netflix?

How much is the Netflix stock?

The price of Netflix stock is declining this week. As of now, Netflix shares stand at $1,184.86 USD, reflecting a drop of $23.69 (-1.96%) over the past 24 hours and a modest decrease of 0.26% across the week.

With elevated valuation levels and a beta indicating above-average volatility, investors in New Zealand should be mindful of short-term price swings.

Our full analysis on the Netflix stock

After a comprehensive review of Netflix’s most recent financial results and its formidable stock performance over the past three years, our proprietary algorithms—blending quantitative metrics, technical signals, market data, and competitive analysis—highlight several critical insights. Netflix’s robust earnings momentum, alongside industry-defining strategic moves, commands attention in the global streaming landscape. So, why might Netflix stock once again become a strategic entry point into the technology and digital entertainment sector in 2025?

Recent Performance and Market Context

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) has delivered a stellar stock performance, reinforcing its dominant status in digital media. As of 30 May 2025, Netflix trades at USD $1,184.86, having scaled from a 52-week low of $587.04 to a record high of $1,215.91. The stock is up +32.93% year to date and has surged +82.94% over twelve months—far outpacing peers and outperforming benchmarks including the high-profile “Magnificent Seven” tech stocks.

• Q4 2024 results that exceeded analyst expectations across every major metric: Revenue climbed +16% year on year, net profit doubled, and subscriber growth hit an all-time quarterly record.
• Advertising strategy acceleration: The ad-supported tier now boasts 94 million global monthly users, with management targeting a doubling of advertising revenue in 2025.
• Licensing wins, such as exclusive streaming rights to Sesame Street, further reinforce Netflix’s grasp on family content and long-term subscriber retention.

The global shift from traditional TV to digital platforms continues to accelerate, with OTT (over-the-top) streaming penetration in markets such as New Zealand now among the highest worldwide. Macro trends—such as resilient consumer demand for digital entertainment, robust household internet access, and favorable USD/NZD dynamics—create a supportive backdrop for further growth.

Technical Analysis

Netflix’s current technical configuration is strikingly bullish—even at these elevated valuation levels.

• Momentum Indicators: The RSI (14) stands at 71.23, flagging a technically overbought condition. Yet, MACD at 43.74 continues to show positive divergence, supporting sustained upward price action.
• Moving Averages: NFLX is trading comfortably above all major moving averages:
• 20-day: $1,163.71
• 50-day: $1,047.45
• 100-day: $998.50
• 200-day: $886.29
• These signals are classic hallmarks of a strong, medium- and long-term uptrend commonly associated with robust institutional buying.
• Support and Resistance: Immediate technical support sits near $1,176, while the critical resistance to monitor is the $1,215.91 region (the current 52-week high). The stock’s ability to consolidate near these highs—without meaningful drawdown—suggests healthy demand and a well-established floor.

Overall, despite a stretched RSI, the chart pattern and momentum considerations point to continued bullish sentiment, further reinforced by healthy pullbacks being bought aggressively.

Fundamental Analysis

Netflix’s latest financials showcase a business firing on all cylinders:

• Revenue Growth: Q4 revenue jumped to $10.25 billion—a +16% year-on-year rally—with management guiding for $43.5–44.5 billion in full-year 2025 revenue.
• Profitability: Operating income soared +52%, driving operating margin up to 22% (from 17% a year prior). EPS for the most recent quarter was $4.27, handily beating consensus expectations.
• Subscriber Leadership: With 301.63 million paying users (adding a record 19 million in Q4), Netflix continues to dominate streaming in both scale and engagement, underpinning its pricing power and content investments.
• Valuation: The current price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) stands at 55.99. While this places NFLX in the higher end of tech growth valuations, the company’s accelerating free cash flow, brand equity, and defensible subscriber base suggest this premium is justified by structural advantages and superior earnings quality.
• Market Share and Brand: Netflix’s global reach—now eclipsing 700 million total users when accounting for shared and member accounts—cements its role as the world’s premium streaming platform. Its model remains remarkably resilient even amid inflation and cyclical uncertainty.

Volume and Liquidity

Steady institutional activity underpins Netflix’s robust financial market profile:

• Volume: The 3-month average daily trading volume is strong at 4.91 million shares, driven by both US and international flows as the stock increasingly becomes a global benchmark in digital media.
• Float: With 422.72 million publicly available shares and limited insider holdings, NFLX offers ample liquidity for large investors—as well as tactical flexibility for retail traders seeking dynamic pricing opportunities.

Sustained high trading volumes, especially throughout periods of market volatility, underscore the market’s enduring confidence in Netflix’s growth trajectory.

Catalysts and Positive Outlook

A series of powerful, well-defined drivers position Netflix for further multi-year expansion:

• Content Pipeline: Upcoming launches including new seasons for international superhits (“Stranger Things,” “Wednesday”) are set to attract and retain subscribers at scale.
• Advertising Monetisation: 2025 will see the ad business hit significant scale globally. This addresses a massive TAM (total addressable market) for both brand and performance advertisers—providing additional upside without dilution to the core subscription model.
• Live Events and Sports Expansion: NFLX is trialling exclusive live broadcasts, especially in sport and specials, to enlarge its content moat.
• Operational Leverage: Management is targeting an ambitious doubling of revenue and tripling of operating income by 2030, a strategy supported by scaled content investments, ongoing geographic expansion, and sustained ARPU (average revenue per user) growth.
• ESG and Inclusion: Ongoing leadership in streaming accessibility, diversity in programming, and responsible content curation strengthens Netflix’s standing with global institutional investors focused on ESG mandates.
• Tech and AI Synergy: Links to AI and data-driven platform innovation (e.g., with Reed Hastings joining Anthropic’s board) suggest Netflix will continue to leverage emergent technology to optimise content recommendation, ad delivery, and operational efficiencies.

Investment Strategies

NFLX offers attractive entry points across multiple investor horizons, each supported by underlying market dynamics and near-term event catalysts:

• Short-Term
• Shares are consolidating just below all-time highs, with immediate support at $1,176. Entering around technical support zones may appeal to tactical traders seeking rapid momentum or responsive bounces on pullbacks, particularly ahead of Q2 earnings or major content drops.
• Medium-Term
• The 3-month and 12-month records (+23% and +83% respectively) indicate sustained institutional accumulation. Investors may look to accumulate on consolidation phases or minor technical retracements, anticipating upside from upcoming launches, advertising milestones, or further margin expansion.
• Long-Term
• With management’s vision to double revenue by 2030, ongoing cash-flow growth, and an unrivalled brand moat, Netflix presents a compelling structural growth story for NZ-based investors seeking tech and media sector exposure in offshore portfolios. The company’s global market leadership, combined with its innovation engine, makes current levels appear attractive against the potential multi-year runway.

Is it the Right Time to Buy Netflix?

In summary, Netflix combines standout operational performance, a best-in-class content engine, accelerating subscriber and revenue growth, and a forward-looking innovation pipeline. The stock’s remarkable appreciation—paired with robust support from both technical patterns and market dynamics—suggests NFLX may be entering a new bullish phase. While competition in streaming continues to intensify, Netflix’s first-mover advantage, global reach, and monetisation creativity leave it exceptionally well-placed to capitalise on sector tailwinds.

For NZ-based investors looking for exposure to one of the world’s premier digital growth franchises, Netflix seems to represent an excellent opportunity. With strong momentum, strategic catalysts on the horizon, and a business model uniquely resilient to economic cycles, the fundamentals justify renewed interest in this technology leader. The combination of technical strength, operational momentum, and scalable future catalysts makes Netflix a stock that truly deserves a position on any watchlist for 2025 and beyond.

As the streaming era evolves into its next phase, Netflix’s blend of innovation, market execution, and financial quality sets the stage for further outperformance—inviting serious consideration from investors seeking global growth with proven staying power.

How to buy Netflix stock in NZ?

Buying Netflix Stock Online: Simple, Secure and Flexible Methods

Purchasing Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) shares online is now accessible to New Zealand investors through regulated brokers that offer both simplicity and security. Today, you can buy Netflix stock either by direct (spot) purchase, owning the shares in your name, or by trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs) to speculate on price movements without owning the asset. Each method comes with its own features and costs, giving investors the flexibility to match their strategy to their goals. To help you get started, you’ll find a broker comparison tool further down the page.

Spot Buying

Cash buying means purchasing real Netflix shares in your own name through a licensed online broker. Once purchased, you truly own a stake in the company and can hold or sell your shares at any time. New Zealand brokers generally charge a fixed commission per order—typically around NZ$5 to NZ$15.

Example of Spot Buying

For example, if Netflix is trading at US$1,184.86 (about NZ$1,950), a NZ$1,000 investment allows you to buy approximately 0.51 shares, factoring in a brokerage fee of NZ$5.
✔️ Gain Scenario: If the Netflix share price rises by 10%, your holding grows to NZ$1,100.
Result: +NZ$100 gross gain, or +10% on your investment.

Trading via CFD

CFD trading involves entering into a contract to capture the price movements of Netflix shares without actually owning them. This method typically charges fees as a spread (the difference between buy and sell price) and applies overnight financing costs if you hold the position open after market hours. CFDs also allow for leverage, amplifying both potential gains and losses. For instance, with NZ$1,000 and 5x leverage, your market exposure increases to NZ$5,000.

Example of CFD Trading

✔️ Gain Scenario: If Netflix rises by 8%, your position gains 8% × 5 = 40%.
Result: +NZ$400 (excluding fees), on a NZ$1,000 margin.

Final Advice

Before buying Netflix shares, take time to compare brokers’ fees, regulations, and product features. Each method—spot buying or CFD trading—suits different investment goals and risk profiles. Your final choice should reflect your objectives, investment horizon, and appetite for risk. For a comprehensive comparison of the best brokers for New Zealand investors, see the detailed table further down the page.

Our 7 tips for buying Netflix stock

The latest news about Netflix

Netflix has delivered exceptional Q4 2024 results, with revenue up 16% and a record 19 million new paid subscribers. This robust financial performance, announced within the last week, far exceeded analyst expectations in both revenue and earnings per share (EPS), which reached $4.27 against a consensus of $4.20. The company’s operating margin improved markedly to 22%, while net income nearly doubled year-on-year. For New Zealand investors, this underscores Netflix’s operational excellence and global momentum, reinforcing its status as a reliable growth stock even in competitive digital entertainment markets.

Netflix’s ad-supported tier now reaches 94 million monthly users globally, with ad revenue expected to double in 2025. This strategic pivot to scalable advertising, which became a major talking point over the last several days, bolsters Netflix’s diversification beyond the traditional subscription model. It opens new monetisation avenues, benefiting local audiences and advertisers in New Zealand as the platform continues to invest in regionally-relevant advertising and localised content partnerships, further anchoring its relevance and presence in the NZ streaming landscape.

Technical and market indicators signal ongoing strength: Netflix is up +32.93% YTD, with multiple technical buy signals in place. Even as the stock temporarily dipped -1.96% intraday, medium- to long-term momentum remains robust as moving average and MACD signals remain positive, backed by a bullish price trend over one, three, and twelve months. This performance, outperforming the “Magnificent Seven” peers, strengthens confidence among institutional and retail investors in New Zealand who track US tech sector benchmarks with exposure through local brokerage platforms and retirement schemes.

Strategic content deals and premium releases—such as the new Sesame Street streaming contract—continue to drive global and local engagement. This exclusive content strategy ensures a constant influx of high-demand material, including upcoming returns of top franchises like "Stranger Things" and "Wednesday," both popular among New Zealand audiences. These releases serve as culturally-relevant catalysts, supporting subscriber growth and engagement throughout the Oceania region at a time when premium video-on-demand competition intensifies.

Market sentiment remains highly optimistic, with upward-revised 2025 guidance and strong structural advantages supporting further expansion in New Zealand and globally. Netflix’s guidance now anticipates 2025 revenue of $43.5–44.5 billion and free cash flow of $8 billion, and further signals a long-term plan to double revenue and triple operational profit by 2030. Its dominant subscriber base, innovation in proprietary ad-tech, and resilient business model position the company to capture additional market share and investment flows—factors closely monitored by NZ-based equity analysts and institutional asset managers considering global growth exposure.

FAQ

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.