The world's largest video streaming company – Netflix (NFLX) – has
badly been victimized by momentum stock sell-off in early April.
This high-flying stock of 2013 dropped 24% from its record highs
reached on March 4. This trend is expected to change following the
strong earnings announcement for the first quarter and an
optimistic outlook (read: The Momentum Stock Crash Puts These ETFs
in Focus).
This is especially true as NFLX shares rose about 6.8% in
after-hours trading on Monday driven by an earnings beat, robust
subscriber gains and a bullish outlook.
Netflix Earnings in Focus
The company reported earnings per share of 86 cents, outpacing the
Zacks Consensus Estimate of 83 cents and improving substantially
from the year-ago earnings of 5 cents. Revenues climbed 24% year
over year to $1.27 billion, in line with Zacks Consensus
Estimate.
Netflix added 2.25 million domestic and 1.75 million international
subscribers, thus having a total customer base of 48.4 million. The
second season of its original show ‘House of Cards’, which debuted
in February, attracted a huge number of subscribers during the
quarter.
The company provided an upbeat guidance for the second quarter. It
expects earnings per share to come in at $1.12, a penny above the
Zacks Consensus Estimate. Stepped up subscriber growth, with the
expected addition of 0.52 million in the U.S. and 0.94 million
internationally, bodes well for the company.
Solid Outlook Ahead
Amid stiff competitive pressures, Netflix has maintained its lead
in online video streaming as it continues to expand its original
content offerings and plans to launch more television shows and
movies (read: Guide to Internet ETFs).
These include new seasons of the Ricky Gervais series, Derek
(expected to launch on May 30), Orange Is the New Black (expected
to launch on June 6) and Hemlock Grove (expected to launch in
summer); final season of The Killing (expected to launch in
summer); and the animated comedy series BoJack Horseman (expected
to launch in summer).
Further, the company expects this momentum to continue throughout
this year and in the next with many other offerings such as a new
slate of cartoons from DreamWorks Animation, a Marco Polo series
from the Weinstein Co, a psychological thriller from the creators
of Damages, Marvel‘s Daredevil, sci-fi drama Sense 8 from the
Wachowskis, and an action drama series Narcos. These would be
accretive to subscriber growth going forward.
Further, Netflix is seeking to expand in international markets, in
particular Europe. If this wasn’t enough, the company raised the
subscription price for new customers by a modest $1–$2 per month,
indicating increased confidence in its content offerings that would
likely drive revenues and profits higher.
Moreover, Netflix currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy),
suggesting strong optimism in its growth story and smooth trading
in the coming days (read: Technology ETFs: Pain or Gain
Ahead?).
ETFs to Consider
Given this, investors might want to capitalize NFLX growth and the
upcoming surge in its share price with lesser risk in the form of
ETFs. For those investors, we have highlighted three ETFs with a
higher allocation to Netflix and potential to be big movers in the
coming days. These have a Zacks Rank of 2 or ‘Buy’ rating,
suggesting that these would outperform in the coming months.
PowerShares Dynamic Media Portfolio (PBS)
The fund seeks to offer capital appreciation by investing in 31
media companies that are selected on a variety of investment merit
criteria, including price momentum, earnings momentum, quality,
management action and value. It follows the Dynamic Media
Intellidex Index.
Netflix occupies the seventh position in the basket with 4.21% of
total assets. Within the media sector, Internet software &
services make up for one-fifth of the portfolio alone while cable
& satellite and broadcasting round off the next two spots with
double-digit exposure (read: 3 Consumer Discretionary ETFs Set to
Surge).
The ETF has amassed nearly $189 million in its asset base while
trades in solid volume of roughly 201,000 shares a day. Expense
ratio came in at 0.63%. The fund has lost nearly 9%
year-to-date.
PowerShares Nasdaq Internet Portfolio (PNQI)
This fund follows the Nasdaq Internet Index, giving investors
exposure to the broad Internet industry. The fund holds about 100
stocks in its basket with AUM of $330.2 million while charging 60
bps in fees per year. It trades in moderate volume of more than
85,000 shares a day.
Netflix takes the ninth spot with 3.53% of assets. In terms of
industrial exposure, Internet software & services makes up for
more than two-third share in the basket, followed by Internet &
catalog retail. PNQI is down 6% so far this year.
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index (FDN)
This is one of the popular and liquid ETFs in the broad tech space
with AUM of over $1.9 billion and average daily volume of about
485,000 shares. The fund tracks the Dow Jones Internet Composite
Index and charges 42 bps in fees per year (see: all the Technology
ETFs here).
Netflix occupies the tenth position in the basket with 3.40% share.
From a sector look, Internet mobile applications account for more
than half the portfolio while Internet retail accounts for 23% of
assets. The ETF has lost nearly 4.2% year-to-date.
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FT-DJ INTRNT IX (FDN): ETF Research Reports
NETFLIX INC (NFLX): Free Stock Analysis Report
PWRSH-DYN MEDIA (PBS): ETF Research Reports
PWRSH-ND INTRNT (PNQI): ETF Research Reports
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