Netflix Investors: Subscriber Growth Is Overrated, Pay Attention To Price Elasticity Instead!

Netflix, Inc. NFLX are flirting with $100 a day after the company beat Wall Street's earnings and revenue expectations. The company also trounced consensus subscriber numbers 5.59 million to 5.15 million.

On Wednesday morning, Drexel Hamilton's Tony Wible maintained a Buy rating on Netflix after the results, adding that 2016 full year subscriber growth is on pace to beat his expectations. "While often overlooked, the DVD business beat on subs, ARPU, and margin, which provides capital for the streaming operation," he reminded readers.

Related Link: Netflix Lower Despite Data Beat

Of note, Wible warned some investors may "put too much weight" behind subscriber growth when, in reality, price elasticity is more important. " A $1 increase in pricing across 170 million future subs is a far bigger driver of revenue than one million extra US subs," he explained. The company can -- theoretically -- increase average revenue per user without affecting subscriber growth.

What Risks Remain?

Wible outlined two main risks facing Netflix: re-pricing from studios that could increase OTT competition and make it harder for Netflix to scale content spending, along with stricter government scrutiny.

Here's what traders are watching in the stock.

Netflix is down 6 percent on Wednesday thus far.

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Posted In: Analyst ColorLong IdeasNewsEducationEventsAnalyst RatingsMoversTechTrading IdeasGeneralDrexel HamiltonTony WibleWall Street
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