Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare iQIYI, Inc. (IQ) vs Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) vs The Walt Disney Company (DIS) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NFLX | 15.9% revenue growth vs IQ's -8.3% |
| Value | IQ | Lower P/E (2.5x vs 16.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | NFLX | 24.3% net margin vs IQ's -1.4% |
| Stability / Safety | NFLX | Beta 0.76 vs IQ's 1.36, lower leverage |
| Dividends | DIS | 0.9% yield; 1-year raise streak; IQ, NFLX pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | NFLX | -1.9% vs IQ's -23.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NFLX | 19.8% ROA vs IQ's -0.9%, ROIC 29.8% vs 5.8% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
iQIYI is a leading Chinese online entertainment platform that provides streaming video content including dramas, movies, variety shows, and animations. It generates revenue primarily through membership subscriptions (around 60% of revenue) and online advertising (roughly 25%), with additional income from content distribution and other services. The company's competitive advantage lies in its massive proprietary content library — particularly its popular original productions — and its deep integration within the broader Baidu ecosystem.
Netflix is a global streaming entertainment service that offers original and licensed TV shows, movies, and documentaries. It generates revenue primarily through subscription fees — with three pricing tiers — and earns additional income from licensing its original content to other platforms. Its key advantage is its massive scale and data-driven content creation, which allows it to invest billions in programming that attracts and retains subscribers worldwide.
The Walt Disney Company is a global entertainment conglomerate that creates and distributes content across film, television, and streaming platforms while operating theme parks and consumer products. It generates revenue primarily through its media networks and streaming services (Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu) — roughly 60% of revenue — and its parks, experiences, and products segment — about 30% of revenue. Disney's key competitive advantage is its unparalleled portfolio of iconic intellectual property — including Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and Disney classics — which drives cross-platform monetization and creates a powerful content flywheel.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 3 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
NFLX leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). IQ leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
DIS is the larger business by revenue, generating $95.7B annually — 3.5x IQ's $27.1B. NFLX is the more profitable business, keeping 24.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to IQ's -1.4%. On growth, NFLX holds the edge at +17.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | IQiQIYI, Inc. | NFLXNetflix, Inc. | DISThe Walt Disney C… |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $27.1B | $45.2B | $95.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $6.3B | $30.1B | $19.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$390M | $11.0B | $12.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $466M | $9.5B | $7.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +21.9% | +48.5% | +37.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +1.7% | +29.5% | +14.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -1.4% | +24.3% | +12.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +1.7% | +20.9% | +7.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -7.8% | +17.6% | +5.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -2.1% | +31.1% | -4.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 14.3x trailing earnings, IQ trades at a 63% valuation discount to NFLX's 38.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, DIS's 12.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than IQ's 24.2x.
| Metric | IQiQIYI, Inc. | NFLXNetflix, Inc. | DISThe Walt Disney C… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.9B | $407.8B | $189.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $6.4B | $413.2B | $229.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 14.25x | 38.04x | 15.48x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 2.48x | 30.75x | 16.09x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.15x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 24.24x | 13.74x | 11.96x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.14x | 9.03x | 2.01x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.80x | 15.61x | 1.68x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 17.23x | 43.10x | 18.85x |
Profitability & Efficiency
NFLX delivers a 41.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $41 in annual profit, vs $-3 for IQ. DIS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.39x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to IQ's 1.06x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), DIS scores 8/9 vs IQ's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | IQiQIYI, Inc. | NFLXNetflix, Inc. | DISThe Walt Disney C… |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -2.9% | +41.3% | +10.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.9% | +19.8% | +6.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.8% | +29.8% | +6.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.8% | +30.5% | +8.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.06x | 0.54x | 0.39x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $10.7B | $5.4B | $39.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.5B | $9.0B | $5.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $14.2B | $14.5B | $44.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.77x | 17.33x | 7.86x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in NFLX five years ago would be worth $17,479 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $629 for IQ. Over the past 12 months, NFLX leads with a -1.9% total return vs IQ's -23.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NFLX at 44.0% vs IQ's -40.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | IQiQIYI, Inc. | NFLXNetflix, Inc. | DISThe Walt Disney C… |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -21.2% | +5.8% | -5.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -23.1% | -1.9% | -5.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -79.3% | +198.8% | +9.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -93.7% | +74.8% | -44.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -89.7% | +930.4% | +20.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -40.8% | +44.0% | +2.9% |
Risk & Volatility
NFLX is the less volatile stock with a 0.76 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than IQ's 1.36 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. DIS currently trades 85.0% from its 52-week high vs IQ's 56.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | IQiQIYI, Inc. | NFLXNetflix, Inc. | DISThe Walt Disney C… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.36x | 0.76x | 1.10x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $2.84 | $134.12 | $124.69 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $1.50 | $75.01 | $80.10 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +56.3% | +71.8% | +85.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 30.6 | 55.8 | 45.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 7.4M | 38.8M | 9.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: IQ as "Buy", NFLX as "Buy", DIS as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 35.0% upside for IQ (target: $2) vs 21.8% for NFLX (target: $117). DIS is the only dividend payer here at 0.94% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | IQiQIYI, Inc. | NFLXNetflix, Inc. | DISThe Walt Disney C… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $2.16 | $117.25 | $139.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 22 | 97 | 63 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — | +0.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | — | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — | $1.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.2% | +1.8% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| iQIYI, Inc. (IQ) | 100 | 8.36 | -91.6% |
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 100 | 217.16 | +117.2% |
| The Walt Disney Com… (DIS) | 100 | 87.06 | -12.9% |
Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) returned +75% over 5 years vs iQIYI, Inc. (IQ)'s -94%. A $10,000 investment in NFLX 5 years ago would be worth $17,479 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| iQIYI, Inc. (IQ) | $11.2B | $29.2B | +160.1% |
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | $8.8B | $45.2B | +411.7% |
| The Walt Disney Com… (DIS) | $55.6B | $94.4B | +69.7% |
Netflix, Inc.'s revenue grew from $8.8B (2016) to $45.2B (2025) — a 19.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| iQIYI, Inc. (IQ) | -27.4% | 2.6% | +109.6% |
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 2.1% | 24.3% | +1049.7% |
| The Walt Disney Com… (DIS) | 16.9% | 13.1% | -22.2% |
Netflix, Inc.'s net margin went from 2% (2016) to 24% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 153.6 | 37.1 | -75.8% |
| The Walt Disney Com… (DIS) | 18.9 | 16.6 | -12.2% |
Netflix, Inc. has traded in a 30x–154x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~38x. The Walt Disney Company has traded in a 13x–142x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~15x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| iQIYI, Inc. (IQ) | -11.45 | 0.77 | +106.7% |
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 0.04 | 2.53 | +5783.7% |
| The Walt Disney Com… (DIS) | 5.73 | 6.85 | +19.5% |
Netflix, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.04 (2016) to $2.53 (2025) — a 57% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
iQIYI, Inc. generated $2B FCF in 2024 (+130% vs 2021). Netflix, Inc. generated $9B FCF in 2025 (+7269% vs 2021).
IQ vs NFLX vs DIS: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is IQ or NFLX or DIS a better buy right now?
iQIYI, Inc. (IQ) offers the better valuation at 14.3x trailing P/E (2.5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate iQIYI, Inc. (IQ) a "Buy" — based on 22 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — IQ or NFLX or DIS?
On trailing P/E, iQIYI, Inc. (IQ) is the cheapest at 14.3x versus Netflix, Inc. at 38.0x. On forward P/E, iQIYI, Inc. is actually cheaper at 2.5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — IQ or NFLX or DIS?
Over the past 5 years, Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) delivered a total return of +74.8%, compared to -93.7% for iQIYI, Inc. (IQ). A $10,000 investment in NFLX five years ago would be worth approximately $17K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NFLX returned +930.4% versus IQ's -89.7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — IQ or NFLX or DIS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.76β versus iQIYI, Inc.'s 1.36β — meaning IQ is approximately 78% more volatile than NFLX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Walt Disney Company (DIS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 39% versus 106% for iQIYI, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — IQ or NFLX or DIS?
Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) is the more profitable company, earning 24.3% net margin versus 2.6% for iQIYI, Inc. — meaning it keeps 24.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NFLX leads at 29.5% versus 6.2% for IQ. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NFLX leads at 48.5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is IQ or NFLX or DIS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, iQIYI, Inc. (IQ) trades at 2.5x forward P/E versus 30.8x for Netflix, Inc. — 28.3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IQ: 35.0% to $2.16.
07Which pays a better dividend — IQ or NFLX or DIS?
In this comparison, DIS (0.9% yield) pays a dividend. IQ, NFLX do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is IQ or NFLX or DIS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.76), +930.4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NFLX: +930.4%, IQ: -89.7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between IQ and NFLX and DIS?
Both stocks operate in the Communication Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. In terms of investment character: IQ is a small-cap deep-value stock; NFLX is a large-cap quality compounder stock; DIS is a mid-cap deep-value stock. DIS pays a dividend while IQ, NFLX do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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