FBR, BTIG Weigh In On Netflix After Stock Split

Video streaming giant Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) made headlines this week when the company announced it will split its stock seven-to-one, effective July 15. The company’s stock has shot up approximately 95 percent so far this year, almost reaching $700 a share. The stock split will make Netflix shares more affordable for the everyday investor who otherwise would find it too expensive.

Netflix said the split will be in the form of a dividend in which investors will receive six additional shares for every share they currently own. Additionally, Netflix stated, “Any shares purchased between the July 2, 2015 record date and the July 14, 2015 payment date will come with a “due-bill” entitling the buyer to six additional shares for each share purchased.”

According to Smarter Analyst, FBR Capital analyst Barton Crockett weighed in on Netflix on June 24, maintaining an Outperform rating on the stock with a price target of $900. The analyst notes “the significance of the split” as a “reflection of management’s confidence in the durability of the recent stock surge.” Additionally, Bolton is confident in Netflix’s “ability to grow subs and charge more domestically and to replicate its success in key markets around the world.”

Barton Crockett has rated Netflix a total of 20 times since April 2009, earning a 67 percent success rate recommending the stock and a +31.2 percent average return per Netflix recommendation. Overall, he has a 67 percent success rate recommending stocks and a +14.1 percent average return per recommendation.

Just a day before Netflix made its official stock split announcement, BTIG analyst Richard Greenfield weighed in on the company with a Buy rating and hiked up his price target to $950 as the stock passed his original $600 price target. The analyst believes Netflix’s “business model is gaining meaningful momentum” and that “the breakdown in the traditional media ecosystem would directly benefit Netflix.”

Richard Greenfield has rated Netflix a total of 8 times since April 2013, earning a 100 percent success rate recommending the stock and a +48.2 percent average return per recommendation. He currently has an overall success rate of 64 percent recommending stocks and a +9.5 percent average return per recommendation.

Netflix’s unique business model is what has made the company so successful today. The company currently has over 62 million subscribers in over 50 countries around the world, and is still expanding. Additionally, Netflix attracts new subscribers with original content, such as Orange is the New Black and House of Cards. The company plans to release a total of 320 hours of original content by the end of this year.

Out of 27 analysts polled by TipRanks, 18 analysts have bullish ratings on Netflix, 8 analysts are Neutral, and 1 is bearish. On average, the all-analyst consensus for Netflix on TipRanks is Moderate Buy.