10-QPeriod: Q3 FY2010

NETFLIX INC Quarterly Report for Q3 Ended Sep 30, 2010

Filed October 26, 2010For Securities:NFLX

Summary

Netflix, Inc. reported strong revenue growth of 30.7% for the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period last year, reaching $553.2 million. This growth was primarily driven by a significant 43.5% increase in average paying subscribers, indicating robust demand for its combined streaming and DVD-by-mail service. Despite the subscriber growth, average monthly revenue per paying subscriber declined by 8.9% due to the increasing popularity of lower-priced plans. The company demonstrated improved profitability, with net income rising by 26.0% year-over-year to $38.0 million and diluted earnings per share increasing to $0.70. Financially, Netflix ended the quarter with $113.1 million in cash and cash equivalents. The company continued to invest heavily in its content library, particularly for streaming, which led to an increase in cost of revenues. Operating expenses also saw an increase, driven by technology and development, and marketing investments aimed at expanding its subscriber base. Despite these investments, the company managed its costs effectively, leading to an expanded gross margin of 37.7% and a solid increase in operating income. The company also reaffirmed its commitment to returning value to shareholders with an ongoing stock repurchase program.

Financial Statements
Beta
Revenue$553.22M
Cost of Revenue$344.47M
Gross Profit$208.75M
R&D Expenses$42.11M
Operating Expenses$139.25M
Operating Income$69.50M
Interest Expense$4.95M
Net Income$37.97M
EPS (Basic)$0.01
EPS (Diluted)$0.01
Shares Outstanding (Basic)3.65B
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)3.78B

Key Highlights

  • 1Revenue increased by 30.7% to $553.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to the prior year period.
  • 2Total subscribers grew to 16,933,000 by the end of the third quarter of 2010, a 52.4% increase year-over-year.
  • 3Net income for the quarter was $37.97 million, a 26.0% increase compared to $30.14 million in the same period last year.
  • 4Diluted earnings per share rose to $0.70 for the three months ended September 30, 2010, up from $0.52 in the prior year quarter.
  • 5Gross margin improved to 37.7% from 34.9% in the year-ago quarter, driven by subscriber growth and content cost efficiencies.
  • 6Investments in streaming content acquisition and delivery infrastructure continue, impacting cost of revenues but supporting subscriber growth.
  • 7The company is actively repurchasing its common stock, with $240.6 million remaining authorization under its current program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Netflix experienced significant subscriber growth, with total subscribers reaching 16,933,000 by the end of the third quarter of 2010. This represents a 52.4% increase compared to the same period last year, indicating strong market adoption of its services.

Netflix is making substantial investments in its streaming content library. This investment is reflected in an increase in the cost of revenues, particularly content acquisition and licensing expenses. While this impacts short-term margins, it is a strategic move to fuel subscriber growth and the expansion of its streaming-only offerings.

Netflix generated positive cash flow from operations, although it decreased year-over-year due to increased investments in content and operating expenses. The company ended the quarter with $113.1 million in cash and cash equivalents and maintains a stock repurchase program, indicating a focus on financial flexibility and shareholder returns.

The average monthly revenue per paying subscriber decreased by 8.9% year-over-year to $12.12 for the quarter. This decline is attributed to the increasing popularity of Netflix's lower-priced subscription plans, particularly the 1 and 2-disc unlimited plans, which now constitute a larger portion of the subscriber base.