• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Tech

Netflix Is Winning the Streaming Race—But for How Long?

By
Mathew Ingram
Mathew Ingram
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Mathew Ingram
Mathew Ingram
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 10, 2017, 4:40 PM ET

There’s no question that Netflix is currently the king of the over-the-top streaming-video providers, with a service that reaches more than 80 million users in over 200 countries, and hit shows that drive millions of those users to “binge-watch” entire seasons in a matter of days.

All this has put Netflix in an enviable spot, with enough cash to acquire whatever movie and TV projects it chooses to bid on, and a market cap in the $60 billion range—the same league as media and entertainment giants like 21st Century Fox and Time Warner. There has even been talk that Apple might want to acquire the company.

As dominant as Netflix (NFLX) is, however, not everyone is convinced that this leadership position is going to last as more and more competitors move into the streaming space, especially in the United States.

Count Morningstar Research as one of the skeptics. In a recent research report that took a look at the video-on-demand market, the investment management firm said that while Netflix is the clear winner in the space right now: “We have reservations about its ability to meet or exceed market expectations around future subscriber growth and margin expansion.”

The reasons for that skepticism include increasing competition from companies like Amazon (AMZN), which recently expanded its Prime Video offering to more than 200 countries, and has even deeper pockets that Netflix. It is expected to spend as much as $5 billion on content this year.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

In addition to the online retailing giant, there’s also Hulu—which is launching a “skinny bundle” cable-killer service soon—and a growing list of smaller providers such as CBS All Access (CBS).

Although the company has expanded internationally, Morningstar’s analysts say they see battles in the future with local content providers, and also a risk that demand runs head-first into a lack of broadband access in some of those developing markets.

In the U.S., Netflix has been able to compensate for some of the churn in its user base (from people unsubscribing) and the tightening of its margins by boosting its prices, including a recent “un-grandfathering” exercise that removed some of the early discounts that users got.

Morningstar, however, believes that U.S. consumers “have greater price sensitivity than previously expected,” and that this could serve to cap Netflix’s ability to raise prices and combat churn.

Competition from Amazon, Hulu, and others could lead to Netflix having to pay higher prices for the content it wants, which could also impact margins, the research firm says. Movie festivals like Sundance have already turned into a kind of bidding war between Netflix and Amazon.

The streaming giant has also expanded into new content areas, including comedy and “unscripted” or reality TV shows, both into which Netflix has been pouring money. But each foray into a new area also brings the risk that the content isn’t going to generate the returns Netflix requires.

Bottom line: Morningstar believes Netflix has a “fair market value” of just $73 a share. Because the stock is currently trading for $140 a share, that means a potential decline of almost 50% in value if it were to return to what Morningstar thinks is a fair price. It hasn’t been that low since 2015.

Instead of investing in Netflix, the research firm argues that investors who want exposure to the streaming-video market should be buying some of the traditional content companies instead, including 21st Century Fox (FOX) and Disney (DIS). These companies have a wider “moat” protecting them from competitors than Netflix does, the company says.

Although Netflix will likely continue to be one of the industry’s strongest players, Morningstar says, its valuation is stretched to the breaking point based on some of the risks and challenges the company is going to face over the coming months.

About the Author
By Mathew Ingram
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

jerry
CommentaryEducation
The college degree isn’t dead. But the wrong kind could cost you $2 million
By Jerry BalentineMarch 26, 2026
1 minute ago
Successthe future of work
The scientist who helped create AI says it’s only ‘a matter of time’ before every single job is wiped out—even safer trade jobs like plumbing
By Orianna Rosa RoyleMarch 26, 2026
11 minutes ago
Photo: Donald Trump
EconomyMarkets
Trump says he wants the war wrapped up as fuel prices nuzzle up to $9 a gallon in California
By Jim EdwardsMarch 26, 2026
27 minutes ago
NewslettersFortune Tech
Meta’s back-to-back courtroom losses: a harsh reality check to delusional hubris
By Alexei OreskovicMarch 26, 2026
30 minutes ago
MagazineInvestment
Should you trust AI to manage your money? The finance industry is betting you will
By Jeff John RobertsMarch 26, 2026
1 hour ago
Mike Johnson stands a podium and speaks
AISilicon Valley
Washington and Silicon Valley have found their common enemy: China
By Jacqueline MunisMarch 26, 2026
3 hours ago

Most Popular

Magazine
The youngest-ever female CEO of a Fortune 500 company is fighting Trump's cuts to keep Medicaid strong
By Fortune EditorsMarch 24, 2026
2 days ago
Success
Palantir’s billionaire CEO says only two kinds of people will succeed in the AI era: trade workers — ‘or you’re neurodivergent’
By Fortune EditorsMarch 24, 2026
2 days ago
Commentary
The Treasury just declared the U.S. insolvent. The media missed it
By Fortune EditorsMarch 23, 2026
3 days ago
Success
JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon says remote work breeds ‘rope-a-dope politics’ and stunts young workers’ growth
By Fortune EditorsMarch 25, 2026
20 hours ago
C-Suite
'I didn’t want anybody shooting me': Five Guys CEO gave away $1.5 million bonus to employees over botched BOGO burger birthday celebration
By Fortune EditorsMarch 25, 2026
15 hours ago
Success
The job market is so bad that ‘reverse recruiters’ are charging $1,500 a month just to help people look for jobs
By Fortune EditorsMarch 25, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.