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SPOT vs NFLX
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Entertainment
SPOT vs NFLX — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Internet Content & Information | Entertainment |
| Market Cap | $86.00B | $370.67B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $17.60B | $45.18B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.72B | $10.98B |
| Gross Margin | 32.3% | 48.5% |
| Operating Margin | 13.7% | 29.5% |
| Forward P/E | 32.3x | 24.5x |
| Total Debt | $2.32B | $14.46B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $5.26B | $9.03B |
SPOT vs NFLX — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotify Technology … (SPOT) | 100 | 230.9 | +130.9% |
| Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) | 100 | 208.4 | +108.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SPOT vs NFLX
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
SPOT is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth 9.7%, EPS growth 91.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 13.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.57, Low D/E 27.9%, current ratio 1.72x
NFLX carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- beta 0.35
- 8.7% 10Y total return vs SPOT's 180.4%
- Beta 0.35, current ratio 1.19x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 15.9% revenue growth vs SPOT's 9.7% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (24.5x vs 32.3x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 24.3% margin vs SPOT's 15.5% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.35 vs SPOT's 0.57 | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | -23.6% vs SPOT's -36.2% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 19.8% ROA vs SPOT's 19.3%, ROIC 29.8% vs 40.5% |
SPOT vs NFLX — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
SPOT vs NFLX — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NFLX leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NFLX is the larger business by revenue, generating $45.2B annually — 2.6x SPOT's $17.6B. NFLX is the more profitable business, keeping 24.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SPOT's 15.5%. On growth, NFLX holds the edge at +17.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $17.6B | $45.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.5B | $30.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.7B | $11.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $3.2B | $9.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +32.3% | +48.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +13.7% | +29.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +15.5% | +24.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +18.1% | +20.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +10.0% | +17.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.3% | +31.1% |
Valuation Metrics
SPOT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 33.9x trailing earnings, SPOT trades at a 2% valuation discount to NFLX's 34.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NFLX's 12.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SPOT's 30.6x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $86.0B | $370.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $82.6B | $376.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 33.88x | 34.58x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 32.28x | 24.52x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.05x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 30.59x | 12.50x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.26x | 8.20x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 9.00x | 14.19x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 25.52x | 39.18x |
Profitability & Efficiency
SPOT leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NFLX delivers a 41.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $41 in annual profit, vs $35 for SPOT. SPOT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.28x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NFLX's 0.54x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NFLX scores 7/9 vs SPOT's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +35.3% | +41.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +19.3% | +19.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +40.5% | +29.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +26.7% | +30.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.28x | 0.54x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$2.9B | $5.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $5.3B | $9.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.3B | $14.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 84.99x | 17.33x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — SPOT and NFLX each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SPOT five years ago would be worth $18,309 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,974 for NFLX. Over the past 12 months, NFLX leads with a -23.6% total return vs SPOT's -36.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SPOT at 42.5% vs NFLX's 38.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -27.3% | -3.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -36.2% | -23.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +189.1% | +164.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +83.1% | +79.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +180.4% | +866.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +42.5% | +38.2% |
Risk & Volatility
NFLX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NFLX is the less volatile stock with a 0.35 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SPOT's 0.57 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NFLX currently trades 65.2% from its 52-week high vs SPOT's 53.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.57x | 0.35x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $785.00 | $134.12 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $405.00 | $75.01 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +53.2% | +65.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 33.1 | 35.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.0M | 42.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SPOT as "Buy" and NFLX as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 49.0% upside for SPOT (target: $623) vs 32.1% for NFLX (target: $116).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $622.62 | $115.59 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 52 | 99 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.6% | +2.5% |
NFLX leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Risk & Volatility). SPOT leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
SPOT vs NFLX: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SPOT or NFLX a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Netflix, Inc.
(NFLX) is the stronger pick with 15. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 7% for Spotify Technology S. A. (SPOT). Spotify Technology S. A. (SPOT) offers the better valuation at 33. 9x trailing P/E (32. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Spotify Technology S. A. (SPOT) a "Buy" — based on 52 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 — SPOT or NFLX?
On trailing P/E, Spotify Technology S.
A. (SPOT) is the cheapest at 33. 9x versus Netflix, Inc. at 34. 6x. On forward P/E, Netflix, Inc. is actually cheaper at 24. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SPOT or NFLX?
Over the past 5 years, Spotify Technology S.
A. (SPOT) delivered a total return of +83. 1%, compared to +79. 7% for Netflix, Inc. (NFLX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NFLX returned +866. 6% versus SPOT's +180. 4%. 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 — SPOT or NFLX?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Netflix, Inc.
(NFLX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 35β versus Spotify Technology S. A. 's 0. 57β — meaning SPOT is approximately 60% more volatile than NFLX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Spotify Technology S. A. (SPOT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 28% versus 54% for Netflix, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SPOT or NFLX?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Netflix, Inc.
(NFLX) is pulling ahead at 15. 9% versus 9. 7% for Spotify Technology S. A. (SPOT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Spotify Technology S. A. grew EPS 91. 1% year-over-year, compared to 27. 6% for Netflix, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SPOT leads at 13. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — SPOT or NFLX?
Netflix, Inc.
(NFLX) is the more profitable company, earning 24. 3% net margin versus 12. 9% for Spotify Technology S. A. — 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 12. 8% for SPOT. 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.
07Is SPOT or NFLX more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Netflix, Inc.
(NFLX) trades at 24. 5x forward P/E versus 32. 3x for Spotify Technology S. A. — 7. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SPOT: 49. 0% to $622. 62.
08Which pays a better dividend — SPOT 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.
09Is SPOT 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. 35), +866. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NFLX: +866. 6%, SPOT: +180. 4%), 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.
10What are the main differences between SPOT 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.
In terms of investment character: SPOT is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; NFLX is a large-cap high-growth stock. 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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