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Here's Why You Should Hold Netflix Stock in Your Portfolio

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Netflix Inc. (NFLX - Free Report) is gaining from its sustained focus on building a robust original content portfolio, which is helping it boost global subscriber growth.

With expected long-term earnings per share growth rate of 30% and a market cap of $148.57 billion, it seems to be a stock that investors should retain in their portfolio for now.

Let’s take a look at the factors that have been driving the company’s performance.

Netflix has enhanced its focus on original content with an aim to increase subscribers. Notably, its total subscribers in second-quarter 2018 missed management’s expectations.

Most recently, the company announced that the lead actor of Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp, Paul Rudd will feature in one of its original content shows. The eight-episode comedy series will be called Living With Yourself and will have Rudd playing a double role.

The company has roped in Matt Groening to create another Netflix original, Disenchantment, which will be available as a 10-episode series. The company is banking on the longest running American sitcom creator to bring it more success than Twenty-First Century Fox (FOXA - Free Report) experienced with the hit show, The Simpsons.

The company enriched its talent pool in August with Kenya Barris, the creator of the renowned comedy series Black-ish that was aired on ABC Studios. The deal, valued at $100 million, will be valid for three years and will have Barris producing exclusive content for Netflix.

Additionally, the company has been adding executives from other prominent firms like Facebook and Walt Disney (DIS - Free Report) . Netflix recently hired Rachel Whetstone as its new Chief Communications Officer from Facebook as well as Christie Fleischer, a former Walt Disney executive.

Apart from robust investment in original content, Netflix is also strengthening its top management, which is expected to provide it with a competitive advantage against its peers.

However, expansion and content additions have resulted in cost escalations, which along with stiff competition can thwart growth prospects. Increasing competition took a toll on the company’s subscriber addition pace in the last reported quarter.

Nevertheless, focus on providing quality content, expanding original movie slate, strong regional content portfolio and aggressive spending are key growth catalysts.

All these justify this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock’s retention in investors’ portfolio.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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