Why Netflix Still Stands Out in a Competitive Streaming Market

On the surface, the continued success of Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) might seem surprising.

Although it pioneered the streaming industry, its success spawned numerous competitors. It now must contend against content giants like Google-parent Alphabet, Disney, and Amazon, among an array of legacy media companies and others with extensive content libraries.

Despite this fact, it has not lost its edge, and three reasons explain why.

Image source: Netflix.

1. Its first-mover advantage

Netflix was not the first company to offer video streaming. In fact, it built its brand renting DVDs by mail.

Through that enterprise, it developed a significant following and brand recognition, which facilitated the transition to streaming that began in 2007. By that time, improved technology addressed the content-delivery issues that had stymied prior attempts to build streaming platforms. Consequently, Netflix's streaming efforts proved successful, so much so that they eventually made its DVD rental businesses obsolete and inspired millions to discontinue their cable TV subscriptions.

Its huge subscriber base gave it another key advantage: a massive treasure trove of viewer data. Today, this helps it produce more appealing content, and now that it has waded into the ad business, it can use that data to more effectively get marketers' ads in front of their desired audiences.

2. Its content development and global reach

As competing streaming services emerged, one way Netflix worked to differentiate itself was by developing proprietary content. Instead of relying on acquiring the streaming rights to media owned by companies like Disney, Paramount Skydance, or Comcast's Universal, it kept subscribers on the site with its own movies and television shows.

Admittedly, this demanded significant recurring capital expenditures. Nonetheless, the decision was a success, and shows like House of Cards, Stranger Things, and Cobra Kai cemented the service's popularity.

This also made Netflix a Hollywood studio in its own right. That allowed it to keep competing effectively with the likes of Disney and Paramount as those companies launched their own streaming services.

Netflix also began expanding outside of the U.S. in 2010, eventually reaching over 190 countries. Over time, its studio also began developing an array of content specifically for the audiences in those international markets -- such as Spanish thriller The Crystal Cuckoo and the South Korean dystopian drama Squid Game.

3. Financial success

All of this growth did not come without some challenges. Netflix's free cash flows were negative throughout the 2010s due to its massive content development expenses, and the free cash flow bump it experienced in 2020 amid the early stages of the pandemic proved temporary. But it responded to that adversity by making a move its leadership had long resisted -- adding an advertising-supported tier.

This move into selling commercials has proved successful. Free cash flow has been consistently positive and growing since 2023. Over the past four reported quarters, its free cash flow was nearly $9.0 billion, well above the $7.1 billion reported in the previous 12-month period.

Moreover, since the stock hit a cyclical bottom during the tech sector slump of 2022, it has risen by more than 530%. That increase led management to engage in a 10-for-1 stock split last month. Although such financial maneuvers have no direct impact on a company's value, splits do bode well for their future success and can help attract even more investor interest.

Can the boom continue?

Ultimately, Netflix appears on track to maintain its competitive advantages.

While dozens of streaming services offer programming today, Netflix now owns a studio through which it can create large volumes of new content to keep viewers engaged. Also, the massive amounts of data it owns have helped make it a major video ad platform.

Additionally, it operates in nearly every market in the world, including many where it has less streaming competition, and its ability to develop content in multiple languages should keep it popular in many local markets.

With those successes, challenges remain. Revenue growth is slowing: Analysts forecast 16% revenue growth this year and 13% in 2026.

Also, investors are now paying 43 times forward earnings for Netflix, which might amount to a modest premium. However, as long as its free cash flows continue to grow at a rapid pace, Netflix stock should stay on a long-term uptrend.

Will Healy has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Netflix, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool recommends Comcast. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.