Will a Recent Addition Boost Netflix?

With shares of Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) trading around $220, is NFLX an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE or STAY AWAY? Let's analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock's Movement

Netflix is an Internet subscription service streaming television shows and movies. The company's subscribers can watch unlimited television shows and movies streamed over the Internet to their televisions, computers, and mobile devices. In the United States, subscribers can also receive DVDs delivered to their homes. Netflix has revolutionized the television and movie industry with its services.

Recently, a deal was struck with Dreamworks (NASDAQ:DWA) that is fueling demand for Netflix stock as the streaming service is ramping-up its original programming menu with popular choices from the maker of Shrek, Madagascar, and Kung Fu Panda. Consumers in the United States and around the world look to access their favorite shows and movies via Internet mediums at increasing rates. Look for Netflix's increasing popularity to lead it to rising profits.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart are Strong

Netflix stock has witnessed powerful moves up and down over the last few years. The stock is now surging higher and looks to have previous all-time highs in its crosshairs. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages. What are the key moving averages? The 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, Netflix is trading slightly above its rising key averages which signal neutral to bullish price action in the near-term.

(Source: Thinkorswim)

Taking a look at the implied volatility (red) and implied volatility skew levels of Netflix options may help determine if investors are bullish, neutral, or bearish.

	Implied Volatility (IV)	30-Day IV Percentile	90-Day IV Percentile
Netflix Options	63.30%	96%	95%

What does this mean? This means that investors or traders are buying a very significant amount of call and put options contracts, as compared to the last 30 and 90 trading days.

	Put IV Skew	Call IV Skew
July Options	Flat	Average
August Options	Flat	Average

As of today, there is an average demand from call buyers or sellers and low demand by put buyers or high demand by put sellers, all neutral to bullish over the next two months. To summarize, investors are buying a very significant amount of call and put option contracts and are leaning neutral to bullish over the next two months.

On the next page, let's take a look at the earnings and revenue growth rates and the conclusion.

E = Earnings Are Mixed Quarter-Over-Quarter

Rising stock prices are often strongly correlated with rising earnings and revenue growth rates. Also, the last four quarterly earnings announcement reactions help gauge investor sentiment on Netflix's stock. What do the last four quarterly earnings and revenue growth (Y-O-Y) figures for Netflix look like and more importantly, how did the markets like these numbers?

	2013 Q1	2012 Q4	2012 Q3	2012 Q2
Earnings Growth (Y-O-Y)	162.50%	-78.96%	-88.79%	-91.27%
Revenue Growth (Y-O-Y)	17.72%	7.96%	10.13%	12.75%
Earnings Reaction	24.28%	42.22%	-11.87%	-25.01%

Netflix has seen mixed earnings and rising revenue figures over the last four quarters. From these numbers, the markets have been very excited with Netflix's recent earnings announcements.

P = Excellent Relative Performance Versus Peers and Sector

How has Netflix stock done relative to its peers, Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA), Outerwall (NASDAQ:OUTR), and sector?

	Netflix	Amazon	Comcast	Outerwall	Sector
Year-to-Date Return	17.84%	13.18%	10.12%	15.86%	14.27%

Netflix has been a relative performance leader, year-to-date.

Conclusion

Netflix provides entertainment through its video streaming subscription service. The company continue to add programming that consumers across the nation enjoy. The stock has moved swiftly up and down and seems ready to head towards previous all-time high prices. Over the last four quarters, earnings have been mixed while revenue figures have been on the rise which has really impressed investors in the company. Relative to its peers and sector, Netflix has been a year-to-date performance leader. Look for Netflix to continue to OUTPERFORM.