Netflix (NFLX) earnings report card

The latest results graded A to F: sales, earnings per share and profit margin against what analysts expected and against a year ago, with a plain-English take.

D+
NFLX · Netflix
Q3 2026 results · reported Tue, 20 Oct 2026
Score 46/100
Our take

A weak quarter: operating margin widened 6.4 points: it's keeping more of each dollar of sales, but sales missed forecasts by 2.0%.

  • Operating margin widened 6.4 points: it's keeping more of each dollar of sales.
  • Sales missed forecasts by 2.0%.
ActualExpectedDifference
Revenue$12.87bn$13.13bn▼ −2.0% miss
Earnings per share$0.87$0.84▲ +4% beat
Net profit margin29.4%27.8%▲ +1.6 pts
Compared with a year ago
Operating margin +6.4 pts
The quarter in detailThis quarterA year agoChange
Gross margin52.8%46.4%▲ +6.3 pts
Operating margin34.6%28.2%▲ +6.4 pts
Net margin28.5%22.1%▲ +6.3 pts
Revenue vs the quarter before$12.87bn$12.56bn (quarter before)▲ +2.5%
How the grade is worked out
Revenue vs forecast2.2 / 20−2.0%: +2.5% or more scores full marks, −2.5% or worse scores nothing
EPS vs forecast11.8 / 20+4%: +20% or more scores full marks, −20% or worse scores nothing
Margin vs forecast11.5 / 15+1.6 pts: 3 points or more above forecast scores full marks

Score = points ÷ points available × 100, using whatever figures are known. A from 80, B from 65, C from 50, D from 35, F below; + and − mark the top and bottom of each band. The share price reaction is shown but doesn't count towards the grade.

Expected = analysts' average forecast before the results. Net margin vs forecast uses earnings per share × diluted shares; the quarter in detail uses the company's SEC filing once it's out. A grade of what was reported, not a recommendation.

Reported 20 Oct 2026 · Sources: Finnhub (results and analyst forecasts), SEC EDGAR (company filings)

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