Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) 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 SPHR's -9.9% |
| Quality / Margins | NFLX | 24.3% net margin vs SPHR's -9.5% |
| Stability / Safety | NFLX | Beta 0.76 vs SPHR's 1.65, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | SPHR | +172.8% vs NFLX's -1.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NFLX | 19.8% ROA vs SPHR's -2.4%, ROIC 29.8% vs -5.0% |
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
Sphere Entertainment Co. is a live entertainment company that produces concerts, sporting events, and theatrical shows across iconic venues like Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall. It generates revenue primarily from ticket sales and event hosting at its venues — roughly 70% from live events — supplemented by its global network of dining and nightlife venues under brands like Tao and Hakkasan. The company's moat lies in its ownership of legendary, irreplaceable entertainment venues in prime locations and its portfolio of exclusive content like the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular.
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 2 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). SPHR leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
NFLX is the larger business by revenue, generating $45.2B annually — 42.6x SPHR's $1.1B. NFLX is the more profitable business, keeping 24.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SPHR's -9.5%.
| Metric | SPHRSphere Entertainm… | NFLXNetflix, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.1B | $45.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $24M | $30.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$101M | $11.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $173M | $9.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +24.5% | +48.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -22.1% | +29.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -9.5% | +24.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +16.3% | +20.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.2% | +17.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.1% | +31.1% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, NFLX's 13.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SPHR's 53.0x.
| Metric | SPHRSphere Entertainm… | NFLXNetflix, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $817M | $407.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.8B | $413.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -20.95x | 38.04x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 30.75x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.15x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 53.03x | 13.74x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.80x | 9.03x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.77x | 15.61x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 43.10x |
Profitability & Efficiency
NFLX delivers a 41.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $41 in annual profit, vs $-5 for SPHR. NFLX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.54x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SPHR's 0.63x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NFLX scores 7/9 vs SPHR's 2/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SPHRSphere Entertainm… | NFLXNetflix, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -4.7% | +41.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -2.4% | +19.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -5.0% | +29.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -6.3% | +30.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.63x | 0.54x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $959M | $5.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $560M | $9.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.5B | $14.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -2.48x | 17.33x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in SPHR five years ago would be worth $23,473 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,479 for NFLX. Over the past 12 months, SPHR leads with a +172.8% total return vs NFLX's -1.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SPHR at 62.1% vs NFLX's 44.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SPHRSphere Entertainm… | NFLXNetflix, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +26.2% | +5.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +172.8% | -1.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +325.6% | +198.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +134.7% | +74.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +191.1% | +930.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +62.1% | +44.0% |
Risk & Volatility
NFLX is the less volatile stock with a 0.76 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SPHR's 1.65 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SPHR currently trades 99.0% from its 52-week high vs NFLX's 71.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SPHRSphere Entertainm… | NFLXNetflix, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.65x | 0.76x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $120.27 | $134.12 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $23.89 | $75.01 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.0% | +71.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 69.5 | 55.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 639K | 38.8M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SPHR as "Buy" and NFLX as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 21.8% upside for NFLX (target: $117) vs 2.2% for SPHR (target: $122).
| Metric | SPHRSphere Entertainm… | NFLXNetflix, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $121.67 | $117.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 97 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.2% | +2.2% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Apr 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sphere Entertainmen… (SPHR) | 100 | 231.46 | +131.5% |
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 100 | 199.28 | +99.3% |
Sphere Entertainmen… (SPHR) returned +135% over 5 years vs Netflix, Inc. (NFLX)'s +75%. A $10,000 investment in SPHR 5 years ago would be worth $23,473 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sphere Entertainmen… (SPHR) | $1.1B | $1.0B | -7.9% |
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | $8.8B | $45.2B | +411.7% |
Sphere Entertainment Co.'s revenue grew from $1.1B (2016) to $1.0B (2025) — a -0.9% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sphere Entertainmen… (SPHR) | -6.9% | -19.5% | -182.0% |
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 2.1% | 24.3% | +1049.7% |
Sphere Entertainment Co.'s net margin went from -7% (2016) to -20% (2025). 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% |
Netflix, Inc. has traded in a 30x–154x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~38x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sphere Entertainmen… (SPHR) | -3.12 | -5.68 | -82.1% |
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 0.04 | 2.53 | +5783.7% |
Sphere Entertainment Co.'s EPS grew from $-3.12 (2016) to $-5.68 (2025). Netflix, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.04 (2016) to $2.53 (2025) — a 57% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Sphere Entertainment Co. generated $-309M FCF in 2025 (+40% vs 2021). Netflix, Inc. generated $9B FCF in 2025 (+7269% vs 2021).
SPHR vs NFLX: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SPHR or NFLX a better buy right now?
Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) offers the better valuation at 38.0x trailing P/E (30.8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) a "Buy" — based on 12 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 is the better long-term investment — SPHR or NFLX?
Over the past 5 years, Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) delivered a total return of +134.7%, compared to +74.8% for Netflix, Inc. (NFLX). A $10,000 investment in SPHR five years ago would be worth approximately $23K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NFLX returned +930.4% versus SPHR's +191.1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — SPHR or NFLX?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.76β versus Sphere Entertainment Co.'s 1.65β — meaning SPHR is approximately 116% more volatile than NFLX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 54% versus 63% for Sphere Entertainment Co. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — SPHR or NFLX?
Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) is the more profitable company, earning 24.3% net margin versus -19.5% for Sphere Entertainment Co. — 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 -21.7% for SPHR. 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.
05Is SPHR or NFLX more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NFLX: 21.8% to $117.25.
06Which pays a better dividend — SPHR 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.
07Is SPHR 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 0.76), +930.4% 10Y return). Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) carries a higher beta of 1.65 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NFLX: +930.4%, SPHR: +191.1%), 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.
08What are the main differences between SPHR 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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- Revenue Growth > 7%
- Gross Margin > 14%