Netflix Just Crushed $500 Billion Market Cap. Here’s Why It’s Still a Buy—And Why You’ll Regret Sitting This Out

Despite a 33% YTD surge, Netflix's bold moves in advertising, live sports, and global expansion suggest the best is yet to come.

The 500 Billion Dollar Club: Welcome to the Big Leagues

First off, let’s call it what it is—a flex.

On May 19, 2025, Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) blew past the $500 billion market cap milestone. It's now seated at the elite table next to titans like Meta and Nvidia. And while some are shouting, “Too far, too fast!”—the real story? We’re just getting started.

Forget the nostalgia of binge-watching Stranger Things in sweatpants. Today’s Netflix is a multi-engine growth beast, firing on:

• Advertising (finally!)

• Live sports (with actual NFL games)

• Global dominance (300M+ subs and counting)

This isn't a streaming company anymore. It's an entertainment empire.

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YTD Performance: Outrunning the Herd

Let’s talk returns.

Netflix is up a blistering +33.69% YTD (as of May 20, 2025). Meanwhile, the S&P 500 has barely moved the needle at +1% YTD.

That’s not a typo. It’s what happens when:

• Revenue rockets past $10.5B in Q1

• Net income explodes to nearly $3B

• And forward guidance exudes confidence

Wall Street analysts are chasing it up the ladder—but they’re late. You don’t have to be.

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3 Growth Engines Powering Netflix 2.0

Here’s where it gets juicy. This isn't just a company catching a pandemic tailwind or riding a content binge. This is a systematically optimized growth machine. Let’s break down the trifecta fueling its next leg: