Shares of Netflix Inc. slumped 2.3% in premarket trading, as investors expressed disappointment that the streaming video giant’s third-quarter results and subscriber guidance didn’t beat expectations by enough. That said, no less than 19 of the 48 analysts surveyed by FactSet raised their stock price targets and one lowered their target, while Deutsche Bank’s Bryan Kraft went as far as downgrading the stock. Kraft cut his rating to hold from buy, while keeping his price target at $590, which is 8.3% below Tuesday’s closing price of $639.00. “While, on the one hand, we share the market’s enthusiasm toward Netflix’s very strong 4Q content slate and the optionality it brings to 4Q net adds; on the other hand, we think a 4Q subscriber beat is already more than priced into the stock,” Bryan wrote in a note to clients. Meanwhile, J.P. Morgan’s Doug Anmuth reiterated his overweight rating but raised his price target to $750 from $705, saying a strong content slate increases visibility into year-end, and “ho-hum” earnings after such a strong recent rally for the stock might actually be “healthier” over time. The stock has soared 20.3% over the past three months through Tuesday while the S&P 500 has gained 4.6%.
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