Goldman Sachs Raises Netflix Price Target Ahead Of Q1 Print

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) is scheduled to report first-quarter results April 16 after the close. The print is likely to come in ahead of consensus estimates due to a strong content slate, new distribution partners and returns from marketing investments, according to Goldman Sachs.

The Analyst

Goldman Sachs' Heath Terry maintains a Buy rating on Netflix's stock with a price target lifted from $315 to $360.

The Thesis

Terry is modeling for the following metrics in Netflix's Q1 report. (See the analyst's track record here.) 

• 1.7 million net subscriber additions in the U.S. market and 5.6 million international net subscribers versus Netflix's guidance of 1.45 million and 4.9 million, respectively.
• Average revenue per user growth of 10.5 percent domestically and 20.5 percent internationally.
• Revenue of $3.7 billion.
• Incremental marketing spend that will result in marketing deleverage of 320 basis points versus last year.
• Net income of $284.1 million.
• Earnings per share of 63 cents.

Beyond Q1, Terry said he expects the following from Netflix: 

• Cash burn that grows from $2 billion in 2017 to $3 billion for the full year 2018.
• 6 million net adds in the second quarter versus the consensus estimate of 5.2 million net adds.
• Longer-term subscriber growth and profit that exceeds consensus estimates.

Price Action

Shares of Netflix were trading higher by 3.75 percent at the time of publication Wednesday morning.

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