Netflix Testing Bull Market High

Netflix Inc. (NFLX) reversed at an all-time high in July after lowering H2 2020 guidance and issuing conservative Q3 new subscriber estimates of just 2.5 million. A few hedge funds took profits after the news, including Stanley Druckenmiller’s Duquesne Capital and David Tepper’s Appaloosa Management. However, the streaming giant may have ‘low-balled’ estimates because folks over 60 are still hiding in their homes to avoid COVID-19. This represents an untapped market opportunity because they’ve subscribed in smaller numbers than younger demographics.

Netflix Adding Older Subscribers

Bernstein’s Todd Juenger highlighted this set-up in an August note, commenting the company “added 5.7 million subs in H1 2020, bringing total subs to 72.9 million, up from 67.7 million at the end of 2019. That’s a lot of growth for a market that was already supposedly saturated. Nielsen’s latest Total Audience Report provides some important clues into where that growth came from and where the leading streaming services sit in terms of engagement and value”.

The analyst saved the best for last, concluding “our two biggest takeaways: Netflix’s sub growth was largely fueled by older age cohorts. We have argued, adamantly, for a long time that contrary to popular belief; Netflix is not fully penetrated in North America, because of the low penetration among older age cohorts. Over time, there will be a natural growth tailwind as younger cohorts age and carry-forward their higher penetration rates. We have estimated this aging benefit to be worth 23 million U.S. subs over the next 15 years.”

Wall Street And Technical Outlook

Wall Street consensus hasn’t changed much in recent weeks, highlighting persistent conflict about potential upside, with a ‘Moderate Buy’ rating based upon 20 ‘Buy’ and 9 ‘Hold’ recommendations. Notably, 5 analysts now recommend that shareholders take profits and move to the sidelines. Price targets range from a low of $220 to a street-high $625 while Netflix is now trading more than $25 above the median 519 target.

The selloff that started in July found support above 460 while a successful August test at that level has fortified buying interest into September. The stock has now rallied within 30 points of the July high but it will take a lot of buying power to trigger a breakout and sustained trend advance toward 600. Even so, the long-term technical outlook is highly bullish, with the potential to mount the 1,000 level in the next one to two years.