https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/20/netflix-nflx-earnings-q4-2021.html Skip Navigation logo * watchlive logo Markets * Pre-Markets * U.S. Markets * Currencies * Cryptocurrency * Futures & Commodities * Bonds * Funds & ETFs Business * Economy * Finance * Health & Science * Media * Real Estate * Energy * Climate * Transportation * Industrials * Retail * Wealth * Life * Small Business Investing * Invest In You * Personal Finance * Fintech * Financial Advisors * Trading Nation * Options Action * ETF Street * Buffett Archive * Earnings * Trader Talk Tech * Cybersecurity * Enterprise * Internet * Media * Mobile * Social Media * CNBC Disruptor 50 * Tech Guide Politics * White House * Policy * Defense * Congress * Equity and Opportunity CNBC TV * Live TV * Live Audio * Business Day Shows * The News with Shepard Smith * Entertainment Shows * Full Episodes * Latest Video * Top Video * CEO Interviews * CNBC Documentaries * CNBC Podcasts * CNBC World * Digital Originals * Live TV Schedule Watchlist Cramer * Investing Club * Charitable Trust * Mad Money PRO * Pro News * Pro Live * Subscribe * Sign In Menu * Make It * USA * INTL * watchlive Search quotes, news & videos SIGN IN logo Markets Business Investing Tech Politics CNBC TV Watchlist Cramer PRO Menu Tech Netflix shares fall 20% on slowing subscriber growth Published Thu, Jan 20 20223:33 PM ESTUpdated Moments Ago Jessica Bursztynsky@jbursz WATCH LIVE Key Points * Netflix reported fourth-quarter earnings after the bell on Thursday. * The streamer beat on both the top and bottom lines, but shares plunged in after-hours trading on slowing subscriber growth. * The company said for the first quarter of 2022, it expects to add 2.5 million subscribers, compared to the 3.98 million it added in Q1 2021. In this article * NFLX VIDEO3:1403:14 Netflix hit as paid net additions forecast way below estimates Closing Bell Netflix reported fourth-quarter earnings after the bell on Thursday. The streamer beat on both the top and bottom lines, but shares plunged more than 20% in after-hours trading, to the lowest levels since June 2020, on slowing subscriber growth. Here are the key numbers: * Earnings per share (EPS): $1.33 vs 82 cents expected in a Refinitiv survey of analysts. * Revenue: $7.71 billion vs $7.71 billion expected, according to Refinitiv. * Global paid net subscriber additions: 8.28 million vs 8.19 million expected, according to StreetAccount estimates The company added 8.28 million global paid net subscribers in the fourth quarter. Analysts had expected the company to add 8.19 million, according to StreetAccount estimates. But that's fewer than the 8.5 million subscribers Netflix added in Q4 2020, the same figured it had forecasted for Q4 2021, and its outlook was worse. The company said it expects to add 2.5 million subscribers during the first quarter of 2022, far below the 3.98 million it added in Q1 2021. Meanwhile, analysts had expected 6.93 million in the first quarter of 2022, according to StreetAccount estimates. Netflix said it plans for a more back-end weighted content slate in the first quarter, with big premieres set for March. But that's similar to the image Netflix had painted heading into Q4. Netflix and analysts had anticipated a large jump in consumers at the end of 2021 when the company released new TV shows and movies that had been pushed to the back half of the year. During the quarter, for example, Netflix released high-performing content such as "Emily in Paris," "Don't Look Up," "Red Notice" and "You." Netflix said increased competition from other companies was one reason for the slowdown, though in the past it had said companies like Apple and Disney wouldn't materially affect growth. "Consumers have always had many choices when it comes to their entertainment time - competition that has only intensified over the last 24 months as entertainment companies all around the world develop their own streaming offering," Netflix said. "While this added competition may be affecting our marginal growth some, we continue to grow in every country and region in which these new streaming alternatives have launched." VIDEO4:4604:46 This report calls into question whether Netflix can maintain its growth, says Tuna Amobi Closing Bell Disney and Roku shares also dipped more than 4% in after-hours trading. Netflix announced price increases in the U.S. and Canada last week. In the States, the monthly cost for the basic plan rose $1 to $9.99. The standard plan jumped from $13.99 to $15.49 and the premium plan rose from $17.99 to $19.99. Netflix's strategy is to increase prices as customers become even more entrenched in the company's exclusive content. Price increases can help offset waning customer growth. This is a developing story. Please refresh for updates. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. logoTV WATCH LIVElogoWATCH IN THE APP UP NEXT | ETListen logoTV WATCH LIVElogoWATCH IN THE APP UP NEXT | ETListen logo * Subscribe to CNBC PRO * Licensing & Reprints * CNBC Councils * Supply Chain Values * CNBC on Peacock * Advertise With Us * Join the CNBC Panel * Digital Products * News Releases * Closed Captioning * Corrections * About CNBC * Internships * Site Map * Podcasts * Ad Choices * Careers * Help * Contact * * * * * * * News Tips Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you. Get In Touch CNBC Newsletters Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox Sign Up Now Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. Privacy Policy|Do Not Sell My Personal Information|CA Notice|Terms of Service (c) 2022 CNBC LLC. All Rights Reserved. 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