Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) vs Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) 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 AMCX's -4.5% |
| Value | AMCX | Lower P/E (4.4x vs 26.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | NFLX | 24.3% net margin vs AMCX's -6.0% |
| Stability / Safety | NFLX | Beta 0.78 vs AMCX's 0.96 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | AMCX | +3.7% vs NFLX's -16.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NFLX | 19.8% ROA vs AMCX's -3.3%, ROIC 29.8% vs 12.1% |
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
AMC Networks is a cable and streaming entertainment company that operates a portfolio of television networks and subscription streaming services. It generates revenue primarily from affiliate fees paid by cable/satellite providers for its networks (roughly 60% of revenue) and advertising sales (about 30%), with the remainder coming from streaming subscriptions and content licensing. The company's key advantage is its portfolio of strong, recognizable cable brands—particularly AMC with its acclaimed original programming—which provides leverage in carriage negotiations and attracts loyal audiences.
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.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
NFLX leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). AMCX leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
NFLX is the larger business by revenue, generating $45.2B annually — 19.5x AMCX's $2.3B. NFLX is the more profitable business, keeping 24.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AMCX's -6.0%. On growth, NFLX holds the edge at +17.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | AMCXAMC Networks Inc. | NFLXNetflix, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.3B | $45.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $686M | $30.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$140M | $11.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $267M | $9.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +51.0% | +48.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -3.0% | +29.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -6.0% | +24.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +11.5% | +20.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -6.3% | +17.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -10.4% | +31.1% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, AMCX's 0.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than NFLX's 11.8x.
| Metric | AMCXAMC Networks Inc. | NFLXNetflix, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $86M | $350.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $86M | $355.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | — | 32.69x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 4.38x | 26.43x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.99x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 0.07x | 11.83x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.04x | 7.76x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 13.41x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 0.28x | 37.04x |
Profitability & Efficiency
NFLX delivers a 41.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $41 in annual profit, vs $-12 for AMCX. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NFLX scores 7/9 vs AMCX's 3/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | AMCXAMC Networks Inc. | NFLXNetflix, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -12.2% | +41.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -3.3% | +19.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.1% | +29.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | — | +30.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.54x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $0 | $5.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | — | $9.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $14.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.95x | 17.33x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in NFLX five years ago would be worth $15,346 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,147 for AMCX. Over the past 12 months, AMCX leads with a +3.7% total return vs NFLX's -16.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NFLX at 36.8% vs AMCX's -30.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AMCXAMC Networks Inc. | NFLXNetflix, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -18.7% | -9.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +3.7% | -16.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -67.0% | +156.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -88.5% | +53.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -88.6% | +772.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -30.9% | +36.8% |
Risk & Volatility
NFLX is the less volatile stock with a 0.78 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AMCX's 0.96 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AMCX currently trades 73.9% from its 52-week high vs NFLX's 61.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AMCXAMC Networks Inc. | NFLXNetflix, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.96x | 0.78x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $10.18 | $134.12 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $5.41 | $75.01 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +73.9% | +61.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 40.3 | 40.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 425K | 41.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AMCX as "Hold" and NFLX as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 41.8% upside for NFLX (target: $117) vs 6.4% for AMCX (target: $8).
| Metric | AMCXAMC Networks Inc. | NFLXNetflix, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $8.00 | $117.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 40 | 97 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.6% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) | 100 | 26.47 | -73.5% |
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 100 | 218.25 | +118.2% |
Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) returned +53% over 5 years vs AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX)'s -89%. A $10,000 investment in NFLX 5 years ago would be worth $15,346 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) | $2.8B | $2.3B | -16.1% |
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | $8.8B | $45.2B | +411.7% |
AMC Networks Inc.'s revenue grew from $2.8B (2016) to $2.3B (2025) — a -1.9% CAGR. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) | 9.8% | 8.4% | -14.4% |
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 2.1% | 24.3% | +1049.7% |
AMC Networks Inc.'s net margin went from 10% (2016) to 8% (2025). Netflix, Inc.'s net margin went from 2% (2016) to 24% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) | 7.5 | 3.8 | -49.3% |
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 153.6 | 37.1 | -75.8% |
AMC Networks Inc. has traded in a 4x–92x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~4x. Netflix, Inc. has traded in a 30x–154x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~33x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) | 3.74 | 0 | -100.0% |
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 0.04 | 2.53 | +5783.7% |
AMC Networks Inc.'s EPS grew from $3.74 (2016) to $0.00 (2025) — a -100% CAGR. Netflix, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.04 (2016) to $2.53 (2025) — a 57% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
AMC Networks Inc. generated $306M FCF in 2025 (+203% vs 2021). Netflix, Inc. generated $9B FCF in 2025 (+7269% vs 2021).
AMCX vs NFLX: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AMCX or NFLX a better buy right now?
Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) offers the better valuation at 32.7x trailing P/E (26.4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) a "Buy" — based on 97 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 — AMCX or NFLX?
On forward P/E, AMC Networks Inc. is actually cheaper at 4.4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AMCX or NFLX?
Over the past 5 years, Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) delivered a total return of +53.5%, compared to -88.5% for AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX). A $10,000 investment in NFLX five years ago would be worth approximately $15K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NFLX returned +772.4% versus AMCX's -88.6%. 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 — AMCX or NFLX?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.78β versus AMC Networks Inc.'s 0.96β — meaning AMCX is approximately 23% more volatile than NFLX relative to the S&P 500.
05Which has better profit margins — AMCX or NFLX?
Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) is the more profitable company, earning 24.3% net margin versus 8.4% for AMC Networks 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 5.8% for AMCX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AMCX leads at 51.0%, 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 AMCX or NFLX more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) trades at 4.4x forward P/E versus 26.4x for Netflix, Inc. — 22.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NFLX: 41.8% to $117.25.
07Which pays a better dividend — AMCX or NFLX?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend. All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
08Is AMCX or NFLX 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 0.78), +772.4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NFLX: +772.4%, AMCX: -88.6%), 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 AMCX and NFLX?
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. 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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