Item 16. Form 10–K Summary
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Item 16. Form 10–K Summary
None.
NETFLIX, INC.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Netflix, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Netflix, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2025, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements"). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2025, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), and our report dated January 23, 2026 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
| Content Amortization | |||||
| Description of the Matter | As disclosed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements “Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”, the Company acquires, licenses and produces content, including original programming (“Content”). The Company amortizes Content based on factors including historical and estimated viewing patterns. Auditing the amortization of the Company’s Content is complex and subjective due to the judgmental nature of amortization which is based on an estimate of future viewing patterns. Estimated viewing patterns are based on historical and forecasted viewing. If actual viewing patterns differ from these estimates, the pattern and/or period of amortization would be changed and could affect the timing of recognition of content amortization. | ||||
| How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit | We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over the content amortization process. For example, we tested controls over management’s review of the content amortization method and the significant assumptions, including the historical and forecasted viewing hour consumption, used to develop estimated viewing patterns. We also tested management’s controls to determine that the data used in the model was complete and accurate. To test content amortization, our audit procedures included, among others, evaluating the content amortization method, testing the significant assumptions used to develop the estimated viewing patterns and testing the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data. For example, we assessed management’s assumptions by comparing them to current viewing trends and current operating information including comparing previous estimates of viewing patterns to actual results. We also performed sensitivity analyses to evaluate the potential changes in the content amortization recorded that could result from changes in the assumptions. |
| /s/ Ernst & Young LLP | |||||
| We have served as the Company's auditor since 2012. | |||||
| San Jose, California | |||||
| January 23, 2026 |
NETFLIX, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | 45,183,036 | $ | 39,000,966 | $ | 33,723,297 | ||||||||||||||
| Cost of revenues | 23,275,329 | 21,038,464 | 19,715,368 | |||||||||||||||||
| Sales and marketing | 3,301,306 | 2,917,554 | 2,657,883 | |||||||||||||||||
| Technology and development | 3,391,390 | 2,925,295 | 2,675,758 | |||||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 1,888,408 | 1,702,039 | 1,720,285 | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 13,326,603 | 10,417,614 | 6,954,003 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense): | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (776,510) | (718,733) | (699,826) | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest and other income (expense) | 172,459 | 266,776 | (48,772) | |||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 12,722,552 | 9,965,657 | 6,205,405 | |||||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | (1,741,351) | (1,254,026) | (797,415) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 10,981,201 | $ | 8,711,631 | $ | 5,407,990 | ||||||||||||||
| Earnings per share: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 2.58 | $ | 2.03 | $ | 1.22 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 2.53 | $ | 1.98 | $ | 1.20 | ||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 4,249,512 | 4,295,191 | 4,415,712 | |||||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 4,343,863 | 4,392,608 | 4,494,966 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
NETFLIX, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands)
| Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 10,981,201 | $ | 8,711,631 | $ | 5,407,990 | |||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss): | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $33 million, $(7) million, and $0, respectively | 72,011 | (247,949) | 113,384 | ||||||||||||||
| Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $1 million, $(1) million, and $0, respectively | (2,511) | 2,511 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Cash flow hedges: | |||||||||||||||||
| Net unrealized gains (losses) | (1,071,168) | 921,227 | (120,023) | ||||||||||||||
| Reclassification of net (gains) losses included in net income | 68,962 | (96,795) | — | ||||||||||||||
| Net change, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $301 million, $(246) million, and $36 million, respectively | (1,002,206) | 824,432 | (120,023) | ||||||||||||||
| Fair value hedges: | |||||||||||||||||
| Net change in unrealized gains (losses) excluded from the assessment of effectiveness, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $3 million, $(2) million, and $0, respectively | (9,838) | 7,113 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total other comprehensive income (loss) | (942,544) | 586,107 | (6,639) | ||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive income | $ | 10,038,657 | $ | 9,297,738 | $ | 5,401,351 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
NETFLIX, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 10,981,201 | $ | 8,711,631 | $ | 5,407,990 | ||||||||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Additions to content assets | (17,096,617) | (16,223,617) | (12,554,703) | |||||||||||||||||
| Change in content liabilities | (610,838) | (779,135) | (585,602) | |||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of content assets | 16,422,166 | 15,301,517 | 14,197,437 | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and intangibles | 333,389 | 328,914 | 356,947 | |||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 368,449 | 272,588 | 339,368 | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency remeasurement loss (gain) on debt | 72,348 | (121,539) | 176,296 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other non-cash items | 577,451 | 494,778 | 512,075 | |||||||||||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | (442,056) | (590,698) | (459,359) | |||||||||||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Other current assets | (790,661) | 22,180 | (181,003) | |||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable | (8,039) | 121,353 | 93,502 | |||||||||||||||||
| Accrued expenses and other liabilities | 881,218 | 191,899 | 103,565 | |||||||||||||||||
| Deferred revenue | 254,917 | 77,844 | 178,708 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other non-current assets and liabilities | (793,655) | (446,351) | (310,920) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 10,149,273 | 7,361,364 | 7,274,301 | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchases of property and equipment | (688,220) | (439,538) | (348,552) | |||||||||||||||||
| Acquisitions | (17,194) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Purchases of investments | (169,965) | (1,742,246) | (504,862) | |||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from maturities and sales of investments | 1,917,067 | — | 1,395,165 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 1,041,688 | (2,181,784) | 541,751 | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of debt | — | 1,794,460 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Repayments of debt | (1,833,450) | (400,000) | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock | 666,965 | 832,887 | 169,990 | |||||||||||||||||
| Repurchases of common stock | (9,127,167) | (6,263,746) | (6,045,347) | |||||||||||||||||
| Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards | (46,165) | (8,285) | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Other financing activities | (5,806) | (29,743) | (75,446) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (10,345,623) | (4,074,427) | (5,950,803) | |||||||||||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | 386,519 | (416,331) | 82,684 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | 1,231,857 | 688,822 | 1,947,933 | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year | 7,807,337 | 7,118,515 | 5,170,582 | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year | $ | 9,039,194 | $ | 7,807,337 | $ | 7,118,515 | ||||||||||||||
| Supplemental disclosure: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest paid | 718,611 | 674,502 | 684,504 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
NETFLIX, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
| As of December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 9,033,681 | $ | 7,804,733 | ||||||||||
| Short-term investments | 28,678 | 1,779,006 | ||||||||||||
| Other current assets | 3,957,832 | 3,516,640 | ||||||||||||
| Total current assets | 13,020,191 | 13,100,379 | ||||||||||||
| Content assets, net | 32,778,392 | 32,452,462 | ||||||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 2,004,350 | 1,593,756 | ||||||||||||
| Other non-current assets | 7,794,060 | 6,483,777 | ||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 55,596,993 | $ | 53,630,374 | ||||||||||
| Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | ||||||||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||||||||
| Current content liabilities | $ | 4,084,854 | $ | 4,393,681 | ||||||||||
| Accounts payable | 900,612 | 899,909 | ||||||||||||
| Accrued expenses and other liabilities | 3,220,869 | 2,156,544 | ||||||||||||
| Deferred revenue | 1,775,730 | 1,520,813 | ||||||||||||
| Short-term debt | 998,865 | 1,784,453 | ||||||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 10,980,930 | 10,755,400 | ||||||||||||
| Non-current content liabilities | 1,579,476 | 1,780,806 | ||||||||||||
| Long-term debt | 13,463,971 | 13,798,351 | ||||||||||||
| Other non-current liabilities | 2,957,128 | 2,552,250 | ||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | 28,981,505 | 28,886,807 | ||||||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 9) | ||||||||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity: | ||||||||||||||
| Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024; no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Common stock, $0.001 par value; 49,900,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024; 4,222,162,150 and 4,277,571,000 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively | 7,286,410 | 6,252,126 | ||||||||||||
| Treasury stock at cost (346,541,145 and 259,534,600 shares at December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024) | (22,372,658) | (13,171,638) | ||||||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | (580,382) | 362,162 | ||||||||||||
| Retained earnings | 42,282,118 | 31,300,917 | ||||||||||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 26,615,488 | 24,743,567 | ||||||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 55,596,993 | $ | 53,630,374 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
NETFLIX, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands, except share data)
| Common Stock and Additional Paid-in Capital | Treasury Stock | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | Retained Earnings | Total Stockholders’ Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balances as of December 31, 2022 | 4,453,467,760 | $ | 4,637,601 | $ | (824,190) | $ | (217,306) | $ | 17,181,296 | $ | 20,777,401 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | — | 5,407,990 | 5,407,990 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | (6,639) | — | (6,639) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock | 19,265,980 | 168,203 | — | — | — | 168,203 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Repurchases of common stock | (145,137,900) | — | (6,098,010) | — | — | (6,098,010) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | — | 339,368 | — | — | — | 339,368 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balances as of December 31, 2023 | 4,327,595,840 | $ | 5,145,172 | $ | (6,922,200) | $ | (223,945) | $ | 22,589,286 | $ | 20,588,313 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | — | 8,711,631 | 8,711,631 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | 586,107 | — | 586,107 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock | 48,727,080 | 834,366 | — | — | — | 834,366 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Repurchases of common stock | (98,619,350) | — | (6,241,153) | — | — | (6,241,153) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares withheld related to net share settlement of equity awards | (132,570) | — | (8,285) | — | — | (8,285) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | — | 272,588 | — | — | — | 272,588 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balances as of December 31, 2024 | 4,277,571,000 | $ | 6,252,126 | $ | (13,171,638) | $ | 362,162 | $ | 31,300,917 | $ | 24,743,567 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | — | 10,981,201 | 10,981,201 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | (942,544) | — | (942,544) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock | 31,597,695 | 665,835 | — | — | — | 665,835 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Repurchases of common stock | (86,536,215) | — | (9,154,855) | — | — | (9,154,855) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares withheld related to net share settlement of equity awards | (470,330) | — | (46,165) | — | — | (46,165) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | — | 368,449 | — | — | — | 368,449 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balances as of December 31, 2025 | 4,222,162,150 | $ | 7,286,410 | $ | (22,372,658) | $ | (580,382) | $ | 42,282,118 | $ | 26,615,488 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
NETFLIX, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
**1.**Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Description of Business
Netflix, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated on August 29, 1997 and began operations on April 14, 1998. The Company is one of the world’s leading entertainment services offering TV series, films, games and live programming across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Stock Split
On November 14, 2025, the Company completed a ten-for-one forward stock split of the Company's issued common stock (the “Stock Split”). Each shareholder as of the record date of November 10, 2025 received nine additional shares of common stock for every share held. References made to share or per share amounts in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and applicable disclosures have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the Stock Split. See Note 10 Stockholders' Equity for additional information.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the content asset amortization policy and the recognition and measurement of income tax assets and liabilities. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates these assumptions, judgments and estimates. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted
In November 2024, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2024-03, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income-Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, requiring public entities to disclose additional information about specific expense categories in the notes to the financial statements on an interim and annual basis. ASU 2024-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2024-03.
In December 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-10, Government Grants (Topic 832): Accounting for Government Grants Received by Business Entities, which establishes authoritative guidance on the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of government grants. Under ASU 2025-10, government grants are recognized when it is probable that the entity will both comply with the conditions of the grant and the grant will be received. The ASU provides specific accounting models for grants related to assets and grants related to income, including options to recognize government grants as deferred income or as a reduction of the asset’s cost basis. The ASU also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature of government grants, significant terms and conditions, accounting policies applied, and amounts recognized in the financial statements. ASU 2025-10 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2028, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2025-10.
In December 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-11, Interim Reporting (Topic 270): Narrow-Scope Improvements, which clarifies the guidance in Topic 270 to improve the consistency of interim financial reporting. The ASU provides a comprehensive list of required interim disclosures and introduces a disclosure principle requiring entities to disclose events since the end of the last annual reporting period that have a material impact on the entity. ASU 2025-11 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2025-11.
Recently adopted accounting pronouncements
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which requires public entities, on an annual basis, to provide disclosure of specific categories in the rate reconciliation, as well as disclosure of income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2023-09 for the year ended December 31, 2025, and applied the new disclosure requirements
prospectively to the current annual period. Prior period disclosures have not been adjusted to reflect the new disclosure requirements. See Note 11 Income Taxes in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements for further detail.
Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments
The Company considers investments in instruments purchased with an original maturity of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents. The Company also classifies amounts in transit from payment processors for customer credit card and debit card transactions that it expects to settle within several days as cash equivalents.
The Company classifies short-term investments, which consist of marketable securities with original maturities in excess of 90 days as available-for-sale. Short-term investments are reported at fair value, with allowances for credit losses included in “Interest and other income (expense)” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and unrealized gains and losses included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” within Stockholders’ equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company uses the specific identification method to determine cost in calculating realized gains and losses upon the sale of short-term investments.
Short-term investments are reviewed periodically for allowances for credit losses and impairment. When evaluating the investments, the Company reviews factors such as the extent to which the fair value of the security is less than the amortized cost basis, adverse conditions specifically related to the security, the financial condition of the issuer, the Company’s intent to sell, and whether it would be more likely than not that the Company would be required to sell the investments before the recovery of their amortized cost basis.
Content
The Company acquires, licenses and produces content, including original programming, in order to offer members unlimited viewing of video entertainment. The content licenses are for a fixed fee and specific windows of availability. Payment terms for certain content licenses and the production of content require more upfront cash payments relative to the amortization expense. Payments for content, including additions to content assets and the changes in related liabilities, are classified within “Net cash provided by operating activities” on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
The Company recognizes content assets (licensed and produced) as “Content assets, net” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For licensed content, the Company capitalizes the fee per title and records a corresponding liability at the gross amount of the liability when the license period begins, the cost of the title is known and the title is accepted and available for streaming. For produced content, the Company capitalizes costs associated with the production, including development costs, direct costs and production overhead, as costs are incurred.
Based on factors including historical and estimated viewing patterns, the Company amortizes the content assets (licensed and produced) in “Cost of revenues” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations over the shorter of each title's contractual window of availability, estimated period of use or ten years, beginning with the month of first availability. The amortization is on an accelerated basis, as the Company typically expects more upfront viewing, and film amortization is more accelerated than TV series amortization. On average, over 90% of a licensed or produced content asset is expected to be amortized within four years after its month of first availability. The Company reviews factors impacting the amortization of the content assets on a regular basis. The Company's estimates related to these factors require considerable management judgment.
In the normal course of business, the Company, or a third-party producing content on the Company's behalf, may qualify for tax incentives through eligible spend on productions. The accounting for tax incentives is dependent on the particular type of incentive, including the nature of the benefit and the location the incentive is earned. In general, tax incentives are realized as cash receipts and may be received prior to or after a title launches on the Company’s service. Any amounts the Company is eligible for through qualified production spend but has not received, are recognized in “Other current assets” or “Other non-current assets” on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as receivables. Tax incentives are generally accounted for as a reduction to the cost basis of the Company’s content assets (presented in “Content assets, net”) and reduce content amortization over the life of the title (as presented in “Cost of revenues”) on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The Company's business model is subscription based as opposed to a model generating revenues at a specific title level. Content assets (licensed and produced) are predominantly monetized as a group and therefore are reviewed in the aggregate at a group level when an event or change in circumstances indicates a change in the expected usefulness of the content or that the fair value may be less than unamortized cost. To date, the Company has not identified any such event or changes in circumstances. If such changes are identified in the future, these aggregated content assets will be stated at the lower of unamortized cost or fair value. In addition, unamortized costs for assets that have been, or are expected to be, abandoned are written off.
Acquisitions
The Company uses its best estimates and assumptions to assign fair value to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. In addition, uncertain tax positions, tax-related valuation allowances and pre-acquisition contingencies of an entity acquired in a business combination are recorded as of the acquisition date.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, generally up to 30 years, or the expected lease term for leasehold improvements, if applicable.
Trade Receivables
Trade receivables primarily consist of membership and advertising fees due to the Company. The Company evaluates the need for an allowance for credit losses based on historical collection trends, the financial condition of its payment partners, and external market factors.
Revenue Recognition
The Company's primary source of revenues is from monthly membership fees. Members are billed in advance of the start of their monthly membership and revenues are recognized ratably over each monthly membership period. Revenues are presented net of the taxes that are collected from members and remitted to governmental authorities. The Company is the principal in all its relationships where partners, including consumer electronics (“CE”) manufacturers, multichannel video programming distributors (“MVPDs”), mobile operators and internet service providers (“ISPs”), provide access to the service as the Company retains control over service delivery to its members. In circumstances in which the price that the member pays is established by a partner and there is no standalone price for the Netflix service (for instance, in a bundle), the net amount collected from the partner is recognized as revenue.
The Company also earns revenue from advertisements presented on its streaming service, consumer products, live experiences and various other sources. Revenues earned from sources other than monthly membership fees were not a material component of revenues for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023. See Note 2 Revenue Recognition to the consolidated financial statements for further information regarding revenues.
Sales and Marketing
Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of expenses for promotional activities such as digital and television advertising, and certain payments made to marketing and advertising sales partners. Our marketing partners include CE manufacturers, MVPDs, mobile operators, and ISPs. Our advertising sales partners include advertising technology providers and advertising agencies. Sales and marketing expenses also include payroll, stock-based compensation, facilities, and other related expenses for personnel that support advertising sales and marketing activities. Marketing expenses are expensed as incurred. Advertising expenses were $2,001 million, $1,779 million and $1,732 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Income Taxes
The Company records a provision for income taxes for the anticipated tax consequences of the reported results of operations using the asset and liability method. Deferred income taxes are recognized by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases as well as net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The measurement of deferred tax assets is reduced, if necessary, by a valuation allowance for any tax benefits for which future realization is uncertain. The Company accounts for the tax effects of global intangible low tax income as a current period expense.
The Company does not recognize certain tax benefits from uncertain tax positions within the provision for income taxes. The Company may recognize a tax benefit only if it is more likely than not the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such positions are then measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon settlement. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. See Note 11 Income Taxes to the consolidated financial statements for further information regarding income taxes.
Foreign Currency
The functional currency for the Company's subsidiaries is determined based on the primary economic environment in which the subsidiary operates. The Company translates the assets and liabilities of its non-U.S. dollar functional currency subsidiaries into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at the end of each period. Revenues and expenses for these subsidiaries are translated using rates that approximate those in effect during the period. Gains and losses from these translations are recognized in cumulative translation adjustment included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” in Stockholders’ equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company remeasures monetary assets and liabilities that are not denominated in the functional currency at exchange rates in effect at the end of each period. Gains and losses from these remeasurements are recognized in “Interest and other income (expense)” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Foreign exchange losses were $123 million, $18 million, and $293 million for the years ended
December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively. These losses were primarily due to the non-cash remeasurement of our Senior Notes denominated in Euro and the remeasurement of cash and content liability positions denominated in currencies other than functional currencies. Foreign exchange losses for the years ended December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 were net of hedging impacts. No hedging gains or losses were recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the year ended December 31, 2023. See Note 8 Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities for further information.
Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities
The Company uses derivative and non-derivative instruments to manage foreign exchange risk related to its ongoing business operations with the primary objective of reducing earnings and cash flow volatility associated with fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
The Company recognizes derivative instruments at fair value as either assets (presented in “Other current assets” and “Other non-current assets”) or liabilities (presented in “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” and “Other non-current liabilities”) on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company classifies derivative instruments in the Level 2 category within the fair value hierarchy.
Cash flow hedges
The Company enters into forward contracts to manage the foreign exchange risk on forecasted revenue transactions denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, as well as the foreign exchange risk on forecasted transactions and firm commitments related to the licensing and production of foreign currency-denominated content assets. These forward contracts are designated as cash flow hedges of foreign currency firm commitments and forecasted transactions and generally have maturities of 36 months or less. The hedging contracts may reduce, but do not entirely eliminate, the effect of foreign currency exchange movements, and the Company may choose not to hedge certain exposures.
The gain or loss on derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges of forecasted foreign currency revenue is initially reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) and reclassified into “Revenues” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the same period the forecasted transaction affects earnings. The gain or loss on derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges of firmly committed or forecasted transactions related to the licensing and production of content assets is initially reported as a component of AOCI and reclassified into “Cost of Revenues” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the same period the hedged transaction affects earnings, which occurs as the underlying hedged content assets are amortized. Cash flows from hedging activities are classified in the same category as the cash flows for the underlying item being hedged within “Net cash provided by operating activities” on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
In the event that the likelihood of occurrence of the underlying forecasted transactions is determined to be probable not to occur, the gains or losses on the related cash flow hedges are reclassified from AOCI to “Interest and other income (expense)” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the period of dedesignation.
Fair value hedges
The Company designates forward contracts as fair value hedges to manage the foreign exchange risk on its foreign-currency denominated debt. These hedges may reduce, but do not entirely eliminate, the effect of foreign currency exchange movements, and the Company may choose not to hedge the full amount of its exposure. The gain or loss on derivative instruments designated as fair value hedges included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness is recognized in “Interest and other income (expense),” net with the offsetting foreign currency remeasurement gains and losses on the hedged items. The Company excludes forward points from the assessment of hedge effectiveness and recognizes the initial value of the excluded component over the life of the hedging instrument in “Interest and other income (expense)” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The difference between changes in fair value of the excluded component and the amount recognized in earnings is recognized as a component in AOCI. Cash flows from hedging activities are classified in the same category as the cash flows for the underlying item being hedged within “Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities” on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Net investment hedges
The Company designates a portion of its foreign currency-denominated debt as net investment hedges to manage the foreign exchange risk on its investment in certain foreign subsidiaries. These hedges may reduce, but do not entirely eliminate, the effect of foreign currency exchange movements, and the Company may choose not to hedge certain exposures. The gains or losses on these non-derivative instruments are reported as a component of AOCI as part of the cumulative translation adjustment on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The accumulated gains and losses remain in AOCI until the hedged net investment is sold or liquidated, at which point the amounts recognized in AOCI are reclassified into earnings.
Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments
The Company enters into forward contracts to manage the foreign exchange risk on intercompany transactions and monetary assets and liabilities that are not denominated in the functional currencies of the Company and its subsidiaries. These derivative instruments are not designated as hedging instruments and may reduce, but do not entirely eliminate, the effect of foreign currency exchange movements. The gains or losses on derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments are recorded in “Interest and other income (expense)” in the
Consolidated Statements of Operations. Cash flows related to these derivative instruments are classified within “Net cash provided by operating activities” on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
See Note 8 Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities to the consolidated financial statements for further information regarding the Company’s derivative and non-derivative financial instruments.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company grants non-qualified stock options to its employees on a monthly basis. For certain executive officers, the Company grants restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance-based restricted stock units (“PSUs”). Stock-based compensation expense is based on the fair value of the stock awards at the grant date and is recognized, net of forfeitures, over the requisite service period. See Note 10 Stockholders' Equity to the consolidated financial statements for further information regarding stock-based compensation.
**2.**Revenue Recognition
The following table summarizes streaming revenues by region for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023. Total streaming revenues are inclusive of hedging gains (losses) of $(91) million and $124 million for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. No hedging gains and losses were recognized in total streaming revenues for the year ended December 31, 2023. See Note 8 Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities for further information.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| United States and Canada (UCAN) | $ | 19,957,152 | $ | 17,359,369 | $ | 14,873,783 | ||||||||||||||
| Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) | 14,514,646 | 12,387,035 | 10,556,487 | |||||||||||||||||
| Latin America (LATAM) | 5,357,521 | 4,839,816 | 4,446,461 | |||||||||||||||||
| Asia-Pacific (APAC) | 5,353,717 | 4,414,746 | 3,763,727 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Streaming Revenues | $ | 45,183,036 | $ | 39,000,966 | $ | 33,640,458 | ||||||||||||||
Deferred revenue consists of membership fees billed that have not been recognized, as well as gift and other prepaid memberships that have not been fully redeemed. As of December 31, 2025, total deferred revenue was $1,776 million, the vast majority of which was related to membership fees billed that are expected to be recognized as revenue within the next month. The remaining deferred revenue balance, which is related to gift cards and other prepaid memberships, will be recognized as revenue over the period of service after redemption, which is expected to occur over the next 12 months. Deferred revenue increased $255 million from $1,521 million as of December 31, 2024 to $1,776 million as of December 31, 2025. Deferred revenue balances may fluctuate due to the number of paid memberships and the price of our memberships.
**3.**Earnings per Share
On November 14, 2025, the Company completed the Stock Split to all shareholders of record as of November 10, 2025.
Outstanding share and per-share amounts disclosed for all periods provided have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the effects of the Stock Split.
Basic earnings per share is computed using the weighted-average number of outstanding shares of common stock during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed using the weighted-average number of outstanding shares of common stock and, when dilutive, potential outstanding shares of common stock during the period. Potential outstanding shares of common stock are calculated using the treasury-stock method and consist of incremental shares issuable upon the assumed exercise of stock options and vesting of time-based and performance-based restricted stock units. The computation of earnings per share, as adjusted for the Stock Split, is as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share data) | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic earnings per share: | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 10,981,201 | $ | 8,711,631 | $ | 5,407,990 | |||||||||||
| Shares used in computation: | |||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding | 4,249,512 | 4,295,191 | 4,415,712 | ||||||||||||||
| Basic earnings per share | $ | 2.58 | $ | 2.03 | $ | 1.22 | |||||||||||
| Diluted earnings per share: | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 10,981,201 | $ | 8,711,631 | $ | 5,407,990 | |||||||||||
| Shares used in computation: | |||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding | 4,249,512 | 4,295,191 | 4,415,712 | ||||||||||||||
| Effect of dilutive stock-based awards | 94,351 | 97,417 | 79,254 | ||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average number of shares | 4,343,863 | 4,392,608 | 4,494,966 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted earnings per share | $ | 2.53 | $ | 1.98 | $ | 1.20 |
The following table summarizes the potential shares of common stock excluded from the diluted calculation, as adjusted for the Stock Split, as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based awards | 818 | 2,432 | 41,091 |
**4.**Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, and Short-term Investments
The Company classifies short-term investments, which consist of marketable securities with original maturities in excess of 90 days as available-for-sale (“AFS”). The Company does not buy and hold securities principally for the purpose of selling them in the near future. The Company’s policy is focused on the preservation of capital, liquidity and return. From time to time, the Company may sell certain securities but the objectives are generally not to generate profits on short-term differences in price.
The following tables summarize the Company's cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments as of December 31, 2025 and 2024:
| As of December 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortized Cost | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Estimated Fair Value | Cash and cash equivalents | Short-term investments | Other Current Assets | Non-current Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash | $ | 5,214,163 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 5,214,163 | $ | 5,208,710 | $ | — | $ | 5,369 | $ | 84 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 securities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | 3,259,240 | — | — | 3,259,240 | 3,259,180 | — | — | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 2 securities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time Deposits(1) | 594,469 | — | — | 594,469 | 565,791 | 28,678 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 9,067,872 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 9,067,872 | $ | 9,033,681 | $ | 28,678 | $ | 5,369 | $ | 144 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortized Cost | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Estimated Fair Value | Cash and cash equivalents | Short-term investments | Other Current Assets | Non-current Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash | $ | 4,866,753 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 4,866,753 | $ | 4,864,207 | $ | — | $ | 2,472 | $ | 74 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 securities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | 2,676,314 | — | — | 2,676,314 | 2,676,256 | — | — | 58 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 2 securities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time Deposits(1) | 301,374 | — | — | 301,374 | 264,270 | 37,104 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Government securities | 1,738,642 | 3,260 | 1,741,902 | — | 1,741,902 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 9,583,083 | $ | 3,260 | $ | — | $ | 9,586,343 | $ | 7,804,733 | $ | 1,779,006 | $ | 2,472 | $ | 132 |
(1) The majority of the Company's time deposits are international deposits, which mature within one year.
Other current assets and non-current assets primarily consist of restricted cash for deposits related to self-insurance. The fair value of AFS securities, cash equivalents and short-term investments included in the Level 2 category is based on observable inputs, such as quoted prices for similar assets at the measurement date; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly.
See Note 7 Debt and Note 8 Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities to the consolidated financial statements for further information regarding the fair value of the Company’s senior notes and derivative financial instruments.
**5.**Balance Sheet Components
Content Assets, Net
Content assets consisted of the following:
| As of December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||
| Licensed content, net | $ | 12,138,578 | $ | 12,422,309 | |||||||
| Produced content, net | |||||||||||
| Released, less amortization | 10,687,444 | 10,151,543 | |||||||||
| In production | 9,210,735 | 9,317,367 | |||||||||
| In development and pre-production | 741,635 | 561,243 | |||||||||
| 20,639,814 | 20,030,153 | ||||||||||
| Content assets, net | $ | 32,778,392 | $ | 32,452,462 |
As of December 31, 2025, approximately $6,381 million, $2,280 million, and $1,469 million of the $12,139 million unamortized cost of the licensed content is expected to be amortized in each of the next three years. As of December 31, 2025, approximately $4,309 million, $2,784 million, and $1,840 million of the $10,687 million unamortized cost of the produced content that has been released is expected to be amortized in each of the next three years.
The following table summarizes the amortization of content assets:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Licensed content | $ | 8,713,558 | $ | 7,689,014 | $ | 7,145,446 | |||||||||||
| Produced content(1) | 7,708,608 | 7,612,503 | 7,051,991 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 16,422,166 | $ | 15,301,517 | $ | 14,197,437 |
(1) Tax incentives earned on qualified production spend generally reduce the cost-basis of content assets and result in lower content amortization over the life of the title. For the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, tax incentives resulted in lower content amortization on produced content of approximately $1,000 million, $899 million and $835 million, respectively.
Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment and accumulated depreciation consisted of the following:
| As of December 31, | Estimated Useful Lives (in Years) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Land | $ | 155,664 | $ | 85,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| Buildings and improvements | 537,082 | 475,684 | 30 years | |||||||||||||||||
| Leasehold improvements | 1,263,051 | 1,026,593 | Over life of lease | |||||||||||||||||
| Furniture and fixtures | 157,984 | 134,987 | 3 years | |||||||||||||||||
| Information technology | 572,407 | 446,419 | 3-5 years | |||||||||||||||||
| Corporate aircraft | 99,164 | 99,175 | 8-10 years | |||||||||||||||||
| Machinery and equipment | 30,879 | 15,135 | 3-5 years | |||||||||||||||||
| Capital work-in-progress | 285,010 | 228,300 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Property and equipment, gross | 3,101,241 | 2,511,293 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Accumulated depreciation | (1,096,891) | (917,537) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | $ | 2,004,350 | $ | 1,593,756 |
Leases
The Company has entered into operating leases primarily for real estate. These leases generally have terms which range from 1 year to 15 years, and often include one or more options to renew. These renewal terms can extend the lease term from 1 year to 20 years, and are included in the lease term when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise the option. These operating leases are included in “Other non-current assets” on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets, and represent the Company’s right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The Company’s obligations to make lease payments are included in “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” and “Other non-current liabilities” on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. Operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The Company has entered into various short-term operating leases with an initial term of twelve months or less. These leases are not recorded on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. All operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Because the rate implicit in each lease is not readily determinable, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate to determine the present value of the lease payments. The Company has certain contracts for real estate which may contain lease and non-lease components which it has elected to treat as a single lease component.
The components of lease costs for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:
| Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating lease cost | $ | 503,637 | $ | 468,282 | $ | 430,856 | |||||||||||
| Short-term lease cost | 207,324 | 197,691 | 207,822 | ||||||||||||||
| Total lease cost | $ | 710,961 | $ | 665,973 | $ | 638,678 |
Information related to the Company's operating right-of-use assets and related operating lease liabilities were as follows:
| Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash paid for operating lease liabilities | $ | 506,624 | $ | 509,296 | $ | 451,525 | |||||||||||
| Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease obligations | 465,420 | 442,391 | 196,639 |
| As of December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| (in thousands, except lease term and discount rate) | |||||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets, net | $ | 2,207,161 | $ | 2,102,310 | |||||||
| Current operating lease liabilities | $ | 460,475 | $ | 428,482 | |||||||
| Non-current operating lease liabilities | 2,052,526 | 1,983,688 | |||||||||
| Total operating lease liabilities | $ | 2,513,001 | $ | 2,412,170 | |||||||
| Weighted-average remaining lease term | 7.0 years | 6.9 years | |||||||||
| Weighted-average discount rate | 3.8 | % | 3.5 | % |
Maturities of operating lease liabilities as of December 31, 2025 were as follows (in thousands):
| Due in 12 month period ended December 31, | |||||
| 2026 | $ | 555,684 | |||
| 2027 | 481,542 | ||||
| 2028 | 422,982 | ||||
| 2029 | 351,107 | ||||
| 2030 | 292,154 | ||||
| Thereafter | 782,470 | ||||
| 2,885,939 | |||||
| Less imputed interest | (372,938) | ||||
| Total operating lease liabilities | $ | 2,513,001 |
Other Current Assets
Other current assets consisted of the following:
| As of | ||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Trade receivables | $ | 2,031,476 | $ | 1,335,304 | ||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses | 498,054 | 431,924 | ||||||||||||
| Other(1) | 1,428,302 | 1,749,412 | ||||||||||||
| Total other current assets | $ | 3,957,832 | $ | 3,516,640 |
(1) $552 million and $653 million of receivables related to tax incentives earned on production spend are included in Other as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
6. Acquisitions
In December 2025, the Company completed an acquisition which was accounted for as a business combination for a total purchase price of approximately $28 million, consisting of cash consideration.
On December 4, 2025, the Company entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (“WBD”), to acquire WBD's streaming and studios businesses, including its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO (such transaction, the "WBD transaction"), which was then amended by the parties thereto on January 19, 2026 (as so amended and restated, the "Amended and Restated Merger Agreement"). WBD is a leading global media and entertainment company and will separate its Global Linear Networks business, Discovery Global, into a new publicly-traded company prior to the closing of the WBD transaction. See Note 9 Commitments and Contingencies for further details.
**7.**Debt
As of December 31, 2025, the Company had aggregate outstanding notes of $14,463 million, net of $56 million of issuance costs and discounts, with varying maturities (the “Notes”). As of December 31, 2024, the Company had aggregate outstanding notes of $15,583 million, net of $70 million of issuance costs and discounts. Each of the Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company. Interest is payable semi-annually at fixed rates.
A portion of the outstanding Notes is denominated in foreign currency (comprised of €4,700 million) and is remeasured into U.S. dollars at each balance sheet date (with remeasurement loss, net of hedging impacts, totaling $72 million for the year ended December 31, 2025). See Note 8 Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities to the consolidated financial statements for further information regarding the Company’s derivative and non-derivative financial instruments.
The following table provides a summary of the Company's outstanding debt and the fair values based on quoted market prices in less active markets as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024:
| Principal Amount at Par | Level 2 Fair Value as of | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | Issuance Date | Maturity | December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | (in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5.875% Senior Notes | — | 800 | February 2015 | February 2025 | — | 801 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3.000% Senior Notes(1) | — | 487 | April 2020 | June 2025 | — | 487 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3.625% Senior Notes | — | 500 | April 2020 | June 2025 | — | 497 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.375% Senior Notes | 1,000 | 1,000 | October 2016 | November 2026 | 1,006 | 998 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3.625% Senior Notes(1) | 1,526 | 1,346 | May 2017 | May 2027 | 1,550 | 1,375 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.875% Senior Notes | 1,600 | 1,600 | October 2017 | April 2028 | 1,634 | 1,607 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5.875% Senior Notes | 1,900 | 1,900 | April 2018 | November 2028 | 1,998 | 1,970 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.625% Senior Notes(1) | 1,292 | 1,139 | October 2018 | May 2029 | 1,363 | 1,220 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6.375% Senior Notes | 800 | 800 | October 2018 | May 2029 | 857 | 848 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3.875% Senior Notes(1) | 1,409 | 1,242 | April 2019 | November 2029 | 1,455 | 1,293 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5.375% Senior Notes | 900 | 900 | April 2019 | November 2029 | 939 | 918 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3.625% Senior Notes(1) | 1,292 | 1,139 | October 2019 | June 2030 | 1,322 | 1,174 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.875% Senior Notes | 1,000 | 1,000 | October 2019 | June 2030 | 1,025 | 996 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.900% Senior Notes | 1,000 | 1,000 | August 2024 | August 2034 | 1,025 | 982 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5.400% Senior Notes | 800 | 800 | August 2024 | August 2054 | 777 | 782 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 14,519 | $ | 15,653 | $ | 14,951 | $ | 15,948 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) The following Senior Notes have a principal amount denominated in Euro: 3.000% Senior Notes for €470 million, 3.625% Senior Notes for €1,300 million, 4.625% Senior Notes for €1,100 million, 3.875% Senior Notes for €1,200 million, and 3.625% Senior Notes for €1,100 million.
In the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company repaid upon maturity the $800 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.875% Senior Notes, the €470 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.000% Senior Notes, and the $500 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.625% Senior Notes.
Each of the Notes are repayable in whole or in part upon the occurrence of a change of control, at the option of the holders, at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal plus accrued interest. The Company may redeem the Notes prior to maturity in whole or in part at an amount equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and an applicable premium. The Notes include, among other terms and conditions, limitations on the Company's ability to create, incur or allow certain liens, and consolidate or merge with, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the Company's and its subsidiaries assets, to another person. Certain of the Notes additionally limit the ability to enter into sale and lease-back transactions and create, assume, incur or guarantee additional indebtedness of certain of the Company's subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Company was in compliance with all related covenants.
Revolving Credit Facility
On April 12, 2024, the Company entered into a five-year, $3 billion unsecured revolving credit facility that matures on April 12, 2029 (the “Revolving Credit Agreement”), to replace its previous $1 billion unsecured revolving credit facility. As of December 31, 2025, no amounts have been borrowed under the Revolving Credit Agreement.
The borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement bear interest, at the Company’s option, of either (i) a floating rate per annum equal to a base rate (the “Alternate Base Rate”) plus an applicable margin or (ii) a per annum rate equal to an adjusted term SOFR rate (the “Adjusted Term SOFR Rate”) plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin for Alternate Base Rate loans will range from 0.00% to 0.25%, and the applicable margin for Adjusted Term SOFR Rate loans will range from 0.75% to 1.25%, each based on the Company’s credit ratings.
The Revolving Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative covenants and negative covenants (and customary baskets and exceptions with respect thereto) for a credit facility of this size and type and requires the Company to maintain a minimum ratio of consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense of 3.0 to 1.0 as of the last day of each fiscal quarter. As of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Company was in compliance with all related covenants and ratios.
Commercial Paper Program
In May 2025, the Company established a $3 billion commercial paper program (the “Commercial Paper Program”) under which it may issue short-term unsecured commercial paper notes. Net proceeds from this program may be used for general corporate purposes. There were no borrowings outstanding under the Commercial Paper Program as of December 31, 2025.
WBD Financing
On December 4, 2025, the Company entered into a bridge commitment letter pursuant to which the commitment parties agreed to provide, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, a $59 billion senior unsecured bridge term loan facility to finance the purchase price for the WBD transaction, to pay fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the WBD transaction and, at the Company’s option, to refinance certain indebtedness (the “Bridge Facility Commitments”). As of December 31, 2025, no amounts have been utilized under the Bridge Facility Commitments and the Bridge Facility Commitments have been reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the amounts of the Transactions Revolving Credit Agreement and the DDTL Credit Agreement described below to $34 billion.
On December 19, 2025, the Company entered into a $5 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Transactions Revolving Credit Agreement”). Borrowings under the Transactions Revolving Credit Agreement may be used for working capital and general corporate purposes and to finance the purchase price for the WBD transaction, to pay fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the WBD transaction and, at the Company’s option, to refinance certain indebtedness. Revolving loans under the Transactions Revolving Credit Agreement may be borrowed, repaid and reborrowed until the date that is the earliest of (i) the date that is the third anniversary of the date of the consummation of the WBD transaction, (ii) the date the Amended and Restated Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms and (iii) December 19, 2030, at which time all amounts borrowed must be repaid. Borrowings under the Transactions Revolving Credit Agreement bear interest, at the Company’s option, at either (i) the Alternate Base Rate plus an applicable margin or (ii) a per annum rate equal to a term SOFR rate (the “Term SOFR Rate”) plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin for Alternate Base Rate loans will range from 0% to 0.10%, and the applicable margin for Term SOFR Rate loans will range from 0.60% to 1.10%, each based on the Company’s credit ratings. The Transactions Revolving Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative covenants and negative covenants (and customary baskets and exceptions with respect thereto) for a credit facility of this size and type. The Transactions Revolving Credit Agreement requires the Company to maintain a minimum ratio of consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense of 3.0 to 1.0 as of the last day of each fiscal quarter. As of December 31, 2025, the Company was in compliance with all related covenants and ratios and no amounts have been borrowed under the Transactions Revolving Credit Agreement.
On December 19, 2025, the Company entered into a senior unsecured delayed draw credit facility (the “DDTL Credit Agreement”). The DDTL Credit Agreement provides for a two-year $10 billion unsecured delayed draw term loan credit facility (the “2Y DDTL Facility”) and a three-year $10 billion unsecured delayed draw term loan credit facility (the “3Y DDTL Facility”). Borrowings under each of the 2Y DDTL Facility and the 3Y DDTL Facility may be used to finance the purchase price for the WBD transaction, to pay fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the WBD transaction and, at the Company’s option, to refinance certain indebtedness. Delayed draw term loans under the DDTL Credit Agreement will bear interest, at the Company’s option, at either (i) the Alternate Base Rate plus an applicable margin or (ii) the Term SOFR Rate plus an applicable margin. For the 2Y DDTL Facility, the applicable margin for Alternate Base Rate loans will range from 0% to 0.125%, and the applicable margin for Term SOFR Rate loans will range from 0.850% to 1.125%, each based on the Company’s credit ratings. For the 3Y DDTL Facility, the applicable margin for Alternate Base Rate loans will range from 0% to 0.25%, and the applicable margin for Term SOFR Rate loans will range from 0.95% to 1.25%, each based on the Company’s credit ratings. The DDTL Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative covenants and negative covenants (and customary baskets and exceptions with respect thereto) for a credit facility of this size and type. The DDTL Credit Agreement requires the Company to maintain a minimum ratio of consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense of 3.0 to 1.0 as of the last day of each fiscal quarter. As of December 31, 2025, the Company was in compliance with all related covenants and ratios and no amounts have been borrowed under the DDTL Credit Agreement.
See Note 9 Commitments and Contingencies and Note 14 Subsequent Event for further information on the financing arrangements the Company has entered into in connection with the WBD transaction.
**8.**Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities
The Company uses derivative and non-derivative instruments to manage foreign exchange risk related to its ongoing business operations with the primary objective of reducing earnings and cash flow volatility associated with fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
Notional Amount of Derivative Contracts
The net notional amounts of the Company’s outstanding derivative instruments were as follows:
| As of December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||
| Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: | |||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | |||||||||||
| Cash flow hedges | $ | 21,066,760 | $ | 18,508,390 | |||||||
| Fair value hedges | 2,884,792 | 3,819,817 | |||||||||
| Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments: | |||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | 1,555,502 | 1,432,136 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 25,507,054 | $ | 23,760,343 |
As of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, approximately $1.9 billion and $1.0 billion, respectively, of the Company’s Euro–denominated Senior Notes were designated as hedges of the foreign exchange risk of the Company’s net investment in certain foreign subsidiaries.
As of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the carrying amount of the Company's Euro-denominated Senior Notes (included in “Long-term debt” on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets), which were designated as the hedged items in fair value hedges, was approximately $2.9 billion and $3.6 billion, respectively.
See Note 7 Debt for further information on the Company’s debt obligations.
Fair Value of Derivative Contracts
The fair value of the Company’s outstanding derivative instruments was as follows:
| As of December 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative Assets | Derivative Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other current assets | Other non-current assets | Accrued expenses and other liabilities | Other non-current liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | $ | 192,828 | $ | 88,985 | $ | 426,341 | $ | 214,574 | |||||||||||||||
| Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | 3,463 | — | 11,704 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 196,291 | $ | 88,985 | $ | 438,045 | $ | 214,574 | |||||||||||||||
| As of December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative Assets | Derivative Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other current assets | Other non-current assets | Accrued expenses and other liabilities | Other non-current liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | $ | 580,065 | $ | 406,677 | $ | 303,425 | $ | 83 | |||||||||||||||
| Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | 16,211 | — | 14,492 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 596,276 | $ | 406,677 | $ | 317,917 | $ | 83 | |||||||||||||||
The Company classifies derivative instruments in the Level 2 category within the fair value hierarchy. These instruments are valued using industry standard valuation models that use observable inputs such as interest rate yield curves, and forward and spot prices for currencies.
As of December 31, 2025, the pre-tax net accumulated loss on our foreign currency cash flow hedges included in AOCI on the Consolidated Balance Sheets expected to be recognized in earnings within the next 12 months is $275 million.
Master Netting Agreements
In order to mitigate counterparty credit risk, the Company enters into master netting agreements with its counterparties for its foreign currency exchange contracts which permit the parties to settle amounts on a net basis under certain conditions. The Company has elected to present its derivative assets and liabilities on a gross basis on its Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company also enters into collateral security arrangements with its counterparties that require the parties to post cash collateral when certain contractual thresholds are met. Cash collateral received is presented in “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” representing the Company’s obligation to return counterparty cash collateral. Cash collateral posted is presented in “Other current assets” representing the Company’s right to reclaim the cash collateral. The Company does not offset the fair value of its derivative instruments against the fair value of cash collateral posted or received.
The potential offsetting effect to the Company’s derivative assets and liabilities under its master netting agreements and collateral security agreements were as follows:
| As of December 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Amount Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Amount Recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets | Gross Amount Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets | Net Amount Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets | Financial Instruments | Collateral Received and Posted | Net Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative assets | $ | 285,276 | $ | — | $ | 285,276 | $ | (282,469) | $ | — | $ | 2,807 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative liabilities | 652,619 | — | 652,619 | (282,469) | — | 370,150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Amount Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Amount Recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets | Gross Amount Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets | Net Amount Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets | Financial Instruments | Collateral Received and Posted | Net Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative assets | $ | 1,002,953 | $ | — | $ | 1,002,953 | $ | (316,320) | $ | (1,800) | $ | 684,833 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative liabilities | 318,000 | — | 318,000 | (316,320) | — | 1,680 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Effect of Derivative and Non-Derivative Instruments on Consolidated Financial Statements
The pre-tax gains (losses) on the Company’s cash flow hedges, fair value hedges, and net investment hedges recognized in AOCI were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash flow hedges: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount included in the assessment of effectiveness | $ | (1,393,364) | $ | 1,195,738 | $ | (155,730) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value hedges: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount excluded from the assessment of effectiveness | (71,999) | (14,334) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net investment hedges: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency-denominated debt | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount included in the assessment of effectiveness | (144,656) | 32,400 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | (1,610,019) | $ | 1,213,804 | $ | (155,730) |
The gains (losses) on hedged items and derivative instruments recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | Cost of Revenues | Interest and other income (expense) | |||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total amounts presented in the Consolidated Statements of Operations | $ | 45,183,036 | $ | 23,275,329 | $ | 172,459 | |||||||||||
| Gains (losses) on derivatives in cash flow hedging relationship | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | |||||||||||||||||
| Amount of gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI | (91,143) | 1,437 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Gains (losses) on derivatives in fair value hedging relationship | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | |||||||||||||||||
| Hedged items | — | — | (470,441) | ||||||||||||||
| Derivatives designated as hedging instruments | — | — | 481,416 | ||||||||||||||
| Amount excluded from assessment of effectiveness and recognized in earnings based on amortization approach | — | — | (59,201) | ||||||||||||||
| Losses on derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | — | — | (97,865) |
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | Cost of Revenues | Interest and other income (expense) | |||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total amounts presented in the Consolidated Statements of Operations | $ | 39,000,966 | $ | 21,038,464 | $ | 266,776 | |||||||||||
| Gains on derivatives in cash flow hedging relationship | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | |||||||||||||||||
| Amount of gains reclassified from AOCI | 124,010 | 1,629 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Gains (losses) on derivatives in fair value hedging relationship | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | |||||||||||||||||
| Hedged items | — | — | 196,660 | ||||||||||||||
| Derivatives designated as hedging instruments | — | — | (201,239) | ||||||||||||||
| Amount excluded from assessment of effectiveness and recognized in earnings based on amortization approach | — | — | (23,567) | ||||||||||||||
| Gains on derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | — | — | 63,291 |
No gains or losses on derivative instruments were reclassified from AOCI into the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the year ended December 31, 2023.
9. Commitments and Contingencies
Content
At December 31, 2025, the Company had $24.0 billion of obligations comprised of $4.1 billion included in “Current content liabilities” and $1.6 billion of “Non-current content liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and $18.4 billion of obligations that are not reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as they did not yet meet the criteria for recognition.
At December 31, 2024, the Company had $23.2 billion of obligations comprised of $4.4 billion included in “Current content liabilities” and $1.8 billion of “Non-current content liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and $17.0 billion of obligations that are not reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as they did not yet meet the criteria for recognition.
The expected timing of payments for these content obligations is as follows:
| As of December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||
| Less than one year | $ | 11,528,030 | $ | 11,424,696 | |||||||
| Due after one year and through three years | 8,376,160 | 8,113,910 | |||||||||
| Due after three years and through five years | 3,041,538 | 2,809,834 | |||||||||
| Due after five years | 1,093,500 | 900,491 | |||||||||
| Total content obligations | $ | 24,039,228 | $ | 23,248,931 |
Content obligations include amounts related to the acquisition, licensing and production of content. Obligations that are in non-U.S. dollar currencies are translated to the U.S. dollar at period end rates. An obligation for the production of content includes non-cancelable commitments under creative talent and employment agreements as well as other production related commitments. An obligation for the acquisition and licensing of content is incurred at the time the Company enters into an agreement to obtain future titles. Once a title becomes available, a content liability is recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Certain agreements include the obligation to license rights for unknown future titles, the ultimate quantity and/or fees for which are not yet determinable as of the reporting date. Traditional film output deals, or certain TV series license agreements where the number of seasons to be aired is unknown, are examples of such license agreements. The Company does not include any estimated obligation for these future titles beyond the known minimum amount. However, the unknown obligations are expected to be significant.
Acquisitions
On December 4, 2025, the Company entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger with WBD to acquire WBD's streaming and studios businesses, including its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO, which was then amended by the parties thereto on January 19, 2026, by the Amended and Restated Merger Agreement. Under the terms of the Amended and Restated Merger Agreement, each WBD stockholder will receive $27.75 in cash (as may be adjusted in accordance with the terms of the Amended and Restated Merger Agreement) for each share of WBD common stock outstanding as of immediately prior to the closing of the WBD transaction, for a total equity value of approximately $72.0 billion and an enterprise value of approximately $82.7 billion (in each case, as of December 4, 2025). The total equity value and enterprise value of the WBD transaction may fluctuate based on WBD's capitalization as of the closing of the WBD transaction. The Company expects the WBD transaction to close in 12-18 months from December 4, 2025, subject to receipt of required regulatory approvals, approval of WBD stockholders, the consummation of the separation and distribution of Discovery Global and other customary closing conditions. The Amended and Restated Merger Agreement provides that, upon termination of the Amended and Restated Merger Agreement under specified circumstances, a termination fee of $5.8 billion may be payable by Netflix to WBD. See Note 7 Debt and Note 14 Subsequent Event for further information on the financing arrangements the Company has entered into in connection with its transaction with WBD.
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, in the normal course of its operations, the Company is subject to litigation matters and claims, including claims relating to employee relations, business practices and patent infringement. Litigation can be expensive and disruptive to normal business operations. Moreover, the results of complex legal proceedings are difficult to predict and the Company's view of these matters may change in the future as the litigation and events related thereto unfold. The Company expenses legal fees as incurred. The Company records a provision for contingent losses when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. An unfavorable outcome to any legal matter, if material, could have an adverse effect on the Company's operations or its financial position, liquidity or results of operations.
The Company is involved in litigation matters not listed herein but does not consider the matters to be material either individually or in the aggregate at this time. The Company's view of the matters not listed may change in the future as the litigation and events related thereto unfold.
Non-Income Taxes
The Company is routinely under audit by various tax authorities with regard to non-income tax matters. The subject matter of non-income tax audits primarily arises from disputes on the tax treatment and tax rate applied to our revenue in certain jurisdictions. We accrue, as operating expenses, non-income taxes that may result from examinations by, or any negotiated agreements with, these tax authorities when a loss is probable and reasonably estimable.
Similar to other U.S. companies doing business in Brazil, the Company is involved in a number of matters with the local tax authorities as they pertain to non-income tax assessments. There is inherent complexity and uncertainty regarding these matters, and the final outcomes may be materially different from our expectations. During the year ended December 31, 2025, developments in another taxpayer’s judicial proceedings influenced our evaluation of the Company’s most significant non-income tax matter in Brazil and we now believe that it is probable that a loss will be incurred. The cumulative loss recognized as an operating expense in the third quarter of the current year related to non-income tax assessments with the Brazilian tax authorities was approximately $619 million. We continue to accrue incremental non-income taxes that the Company believes are probable of being assessed.
Guarantees—Indemnification Obligations
In the ordinary course of business, the Company has entered into contractual arrangements under which it has agreed to provide indemnification of varying scope and terms to business partners and other parties with respect to certain matters, including, but not limited to, losses arising out of the Company’s breach of such agreements and out of intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties. In these circumstances, payment may be conditional on the other party making a claim pursuant to the procedures specified in the particular contract.
The Company’s obligations under these agreements may be limited in terms of time or amount, and in some instances, the Company may have recourse against third parties for certain payments. In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and certain of its officers that will require it, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers. The terms of such obligations vary.
It is not possible to make a reasonable estimate of the maximum potential amount of future payments under these or similar agreements due to the conditional nature of the Company’s obligations and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular agreement. No amount has been accrued in the accompanying consolidated financial statements with respect to these indemnification guarantees.
**10.**Stockholders’ Equity
Voting Rights
The holders of each share of common stock shall be entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the Company’s stockholders.
Equity Incentive Plans
The Netflix, Inc. 2020 Stock Plan is a stockholder-approved plan that provides for the grant of incentive stock options to employees and for the grant of non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and restricted stock units to employees, directors and consultants.
Restricted Stock Unit Awards
The Company grants time-based restricted stock unit (“RSU”) awards and performance-based restricted stock unit (“PSU”) awards to certain executive officers. RSU awards vest quarterly over a three-year period subject to the executive’s continued employment or service with the Company through the vesting date. PSU awards have performance periods ranging from one to three years and vest depending on the Company’s achievement of predetermined market-based performance targets.
Stock Split
On October 30, 2025, the Company's Board of Directors approved the Stock Split to all shareholders of record as of November 10, 2025. The Stock Split was effected on November 14, 2025.
On November 14, 2025, the Company's Board of Directors adopted an amendment to the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, to proportionately increase the number of shares of the Company's authorized common stock from 4,990,000,000 to 49,900,000,000.
References made to share or per-share amounts disclosed for all periods presented have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the effects of the Stock Split.
Stock Option Activity
The following table summarizes the activities related to the Company’s stock options, as adjusted for the Stock Split:
| Options Outstanding | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Shares | Weighted- Average Exercise Price (per share) | Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years) | Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Balances as of December 31, 2022 | 198,968,610 | $ | 24.22 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Granted | 17,292,180 | 37.25 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercised | (19,265,980) | 8.73 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Expired | (43,720) | 3.64 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Balances as of December 31, 2023 | 196,951,090 | $ | 26.89 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Granted | 5,758,560 | 62.09 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercised | (48,460,480) | 17.22 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Expired | (59,150) | 5.61 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Balances as of December 31, 2024 | 154,190,020 | $ | 31.25 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Granted | 4,171,629 | 108.79 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercised | (30,638,245) | 21.73 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Expired | (43,600) | 9.11 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Balances as of December 31, 2025 | 127,679,804 | $ | 36.07 | 4.79 | $ | 7,430,160 | |||||||||||||||||
| Vested and exercisable as of December 31, 2025 | 127,679,804 | $ | 36.07 | 4.79 | $ | 7,430,160 |
The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pretax intrinsic value (the difference between the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of 2025 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been
received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on the last trading day of 2025. This amount changes based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock.
A summary of the amounts related to option exercises, is as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total intrinsic value of options exercised | $ | 2,560,914 | $ | 2,352,829 | $ | 610,594 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash received from options exercised | 666,965 | 832,887 | 169,990 |
The total fair value of stock options that vested during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 was $251 million, $242 million and $311 million, respectively.
Restricted Stock Unit Activity
The following table summarizes the activities related to the Company’s unvested RSUs and PSUs, as adjusted for the Stock Split:
| Unvested Restricted Stock Units | |||||||||||
| Number of Shares | Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value (per share) | ||||||||||
| Balances as of December 31, 2023 | — | $ | — | ||||||||
| Granted | 1,599,780 | 68.64 | |||||||||
| Vested | (266,600) | 56.20 | |||||||||
| Forfeited | — | — | |||||||||
| Balances as of December 31, 2024 | 1,333,180 | $ | 71.12 | ||||||||
| Granted(1) | 1,227,850 | 111.18 | |||||||||
| Vested(1) | (959,450) | 76.48 | |||||||||
| Forfeited | (16,320) | 93.12 | |||||||||
| Balances as of December 31, 2025 | 1,585,260 | $ | 98.68 |
(1) Amounts exclude 264,300 incremental PSU awards that will be granted and 528,600 incremental PSU awards that will vest based on the achievement of market-based performance targets during the performance period ended December 31, 2025, but have not been settled as of December 31, 2025.
The total fair value of RSUs that vested during the year ended December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 was $52 million and $15 million, respectively. No RSUs or PSUs were granted in the year ended December 31, 2023.
Stock-Based Compensation
The following table summarizes total stock-based compensation expense and the related income tax impact:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total stock-based compensation expense | $ | 368,449 | $ | 272,588 | $ | 339,368 | ||||||||||||||
| Total income tax impact on provision | 54,338 | 43,876 | 61,588 |
As of December 31, 2025, $47 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested RSUs and PSUs is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.53 years.
Stock Repurchases
In September 2023, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $10 billion of the Company’s common stock, with no expiration date, and in December 2024, the Board of Directors increased the share repurchase authorization by an additional $15 billion, also with no expiration date. Stock repurchases may be effected through open market repurchases in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, including through the use of trading plans intended to qualify under Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, privately-negotiated
transactions, accelerated stock repurchase plans, block purchases, or other similar purchase techniques and in such amounts as management deems appropriate. The Company is not obligated to repurchase any specific number of shares, and the timing and actual number of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of factors, including the Company’s stock price, general economic, business and market conditions, and alternative investment opportunities. The Company may discontinue any repurchases of its common stock at any time without prior notice. During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company repurchased 86,536,215 shares for an aggregate amount of $9.1 billion (excluding the 1% excise tax on stock repurchases as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022). As of December 31, 2025, $8.0 billion remains available for repurchases. Shares repurchased by the Company are accounted for when the transaction is settled. As of December 31, 2025, there were no unsettled share repurchases. Direct costs incurred to acquire the shares are included in the total cost of the shares.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The following table summarizes the changes in accumulated balances of other comprehensive income (loss):
| Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments | Net Investment Hedge Gains (Losses) | Change in Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Cash Flow Hedges | Change in Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Excluded Component of Fair Value Hedges | Change in Unrealized Gains (Losses) on AFS Securities | Tax (Expense) Benefit | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balances as of December 31, 2022 | $ | (217,306) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (217,306) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | 113,384 | — | (155,730) | — | — | 35,707 | (6,639) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | 113,384 | — | (155,730) | — | — | 35,707 | (6,639) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balances as of December 31, 2023 | (103,922) | — | (155,730) | — | — | 35,707 | (223,945) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | (272,911) | 32,400 | 1,195,738 | (14,334) | 3,260 | (279,408) | 664,745 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | — | — | (125,639) | 23,567 | — | 23,434 | (78,638) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | (272,911) | 32,400 | 1,070,099 | 9,233 | 3,260 | (255,974) | 586,107 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balances as of December 31, 2024 | (376,833) | 32,400 | 914,369 | 9,233 | 3,260 | (220,267) | 362,162 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | 183,218 | (144,656) | (1,393,364) | (71,999) | (3,139) | 373,107 | (1,056,833) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | — | — | 89,706 | 59,201 | (121) | (34,497) | 114,289 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | 183,218 | (144,656) | (1,303,658) | (12,798) | (3,260) | 338,610 | (942,544) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balances as of December 31, 2025 | $ | (193,615) | $ | (112,256) | $ | (389,289) | $ | (3,565) | $ | — | $ | 118,343 | $ | (580,382) |
The following tables summarize the amounts reclassified from AOCI to the Consolidated Statement of Operations:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | Cost of Revenues | Interest and other income (expense) | Provision for Income Taxes | Total Reclassifications | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 121 | $ | (23) | $ | 98 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gains (losses) on derivatives in cash flow hedging relationship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI | (91,143) | 1,437 | — | 20,744 | (68,962) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gains (losses) on derivatives in fair value hedging relationship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount excluded from assessment of effectiveness and recognized in earnings based on amortization approach | — | — | (59,201) | 13,776 | (45,425) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | (91,143) | $ | 1,437 | $ | (59,080) | $ | 34,497 | $ | (114,289) |
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | Cost of Revenues | Interest and other income (expense) | Provision for Income Taxes | Total Reclassifications | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gains (losses) on derivatives in cash flow hedging relationship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI | $ | 124,010 | $ | 1,629 | $ | — | $ | (28,844) | $ | 96,795 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gains (losses) on derivatives in fair value hedging relationship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount excluded from assessment of effectiveness and recognized in earnings based on amortization approach | — | — | (23,567) | 5,410 | (18,157) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 124,010 | $ | 1,629 | $ | (23,567) | $ | (23,434) | $ | 78,638 |
No amounts were reclassified from AOCI into the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the year ended December 31, 2023.
11. Income Taxes
Income before provision for income taxes was as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| United States | $ | 12,198,273 | $ | 9,101,391 | $ | 5,602,762 | |||||||||||
| Foreign | 524,279 | 864,266 | 602,643 | ||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | $ | 12,722,552 | $ | 9,965,657 | $ | 6,205,405 |
The components of provision for income taxes for all periods presented were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Current tax provision: | |||||||||||||||||
| Federal | $ | 1,317,011 | $ | 1,093,667 | $ | 854,170 | |||||||||||
| State | 311,863 | 214,814 | 181,684 | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign | 561,577 | 536,915 | 304,539 | ||||||||||||||
| Total current | 2,190,451 | 1,845,396 | 1,340,393 | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax provision: | |||||||||||||||||
| Federal | (155,477) | (520,510) | (412,760) | ||||||||||||||
| State | (34,115) | (41,700) | (55,475) | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign | (259,508) | (29,160) | (74,743) | ||||||||||||||
| Total deferred | (449,100) | (591,370) | (542,978) | ||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | $ | 1,741,351 | $ | 1,254,026 | $ | 797,415 |
A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes to the amount computed by applying the 21% statutory U.S. federal income tax rate to income before income taxes after the adoption of ASU 2023-09 is as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | Percent | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tax at U.S. Statutory Rate | $ | 2,671,734 | 21.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| State and Local Income Taxes(1) | 191,271 | 1.5 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Tax Effects | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Brazil | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Withholding tax on services | 238,233 | 1.9 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Others | (77,189) | (0.6) | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Other foreign jurisdictions | 23,290 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Effect of Cross-Border Tax Laws | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign-derived intangible income | (656,828) | (5.2) | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign tax credit for withholding taxes | (292,148) | (2.3) | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Other | 32,815 | 0.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Tax Credits | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Research and development tax credits | (184,709) | (1.5) | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Other | (9,748) | (0.1) | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Changes in Valuation Allowances | (8,615) | (0.1) | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Nontaxable and Nondeductible items | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based payment awards | (393,156) | (3.1) | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Others | 80,904 | 0.6 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Changes in Unrecognized Tax Benefits | 130,400 | 1.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Other Adjustments | (4,903) | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Effective Tax Rate | $ | 1,741,351 | 13.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||
(1) The states and local jurisdictions that contribute to the majority (greater than 50%) of the tax effect in this category include New York state and city, California, Illinois, New Jersey, and New Mexico.
A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes to the amount computed by applying the 21% statutory U.S. federal income tax rate to income before income taxes for years prior to the adoption of ASU 2023-09 is as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected tax expense at U.S. federal statutory tax rate | $ | 2,092,710 | $ | 1,303,123 | |||||||||||||||||||
| State income taxes, net of federal income tax effect | 166,311 | 104,717 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign earnings at other than U.S. rates | 13,909 | (32,292) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Research and development tax credit | (185,312) | (87,036) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Excess tax benefits on stock-based compensation | (435,909) | (119,043) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign-derived intangible income deduction | (502,968) | (426,597) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Nontaxable and nondeductible items | 70,386 | 41,782 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 34,899 | 12,761 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | $ | 1,254,026 | $ | 797,415 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Effective Tax Rate | 13 | % | 13 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
The components of deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows:
| As of December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||
| Deferred tax assets: | |||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | $ | 438,684 | $ | 440,889 | |||||||
| Tax credits and net operating loss carryforwards | 835,529 | 834,402 | |||||||||
| Capitalized research expenses | 969,243 | 1,075,474 | |||||||||
| Accruals and reserves | 370,568 | 152,142 | |||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | 520,170 | 522,489 | |||||||||
| OCI hedging losses | 116,492 | — | |||||||||
| Unrealized losses | 41,988 | 12,157 | |||||||||
| Other | 29,426 | 18,197 | |||||||||
| Total deferred tax assets | 3,322,100 | 3,055,750 | |||||||||
| Valuation allowance | (617,575) | (540,272) | |||||||||
| Net deferred tax assets | 2,704,525 | 2,515,478 | |||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Depreciation & amortization | (32,780) | (370,709) | |||||||||
| Operating right-of-use lease assets | (448,313) | (449,661) | |||||||||
| OCI hedging gains | — | (220,009) | |||||||||
| Acquired intangibles | (261,493) | (282,187) | |||||||||
| Other | (7,136) | (15,354) | |||||||||
| Total deferred tax liabilities | (749,722) | (1,337,920) | |||||||||
| Net deferred tax assets | $ | 1,954,803 | $ | 1,177,558 |
The following table shows the deferred tax assets and liabilities within our Consolidated Balance Sheets:
| As of December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||
| Total deferred tax assets: | |||||||||||
| Other non-current assets | $ | 2,062,078 | $ | 1,290,160 | |||||||
| Total deferred tax liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Other non-current liabilities | (107,275) | (112,602) | |||||||||
| Net deferred tax assets | $ | 1,954,803 | $ | 1,177,558 |
As of December 31, 2025, for tax return purposes, the Company had $823 million of California R&D tax credit carryforwards which can be carried forward indefinitely, $1,018 million of state net operating loss carryforwards, which will begin to expire in 2029, $48 million of U.S. foreign tax credit carryforwards which will begin to expire in 2033, $190 million of foreign net operating loss carryforwards which will begin to expire in 2026 and $51 million of foreign local tax credit carryforwards, which can be carried forward indefinitely.
In evaluating its ability to realize the net deferred tax assets, the Company considered all available positive and negative evidence, including its past operating results and the forecast of future market growth, forecasted earnings, future taxable income, and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. As of December 31, 2025, the valuation allowance of $618 million was primarily related to California R&D tax credits, state net operating loss carryforwards, and U.S. foreign tax credits that the Company does not expect to realize.
The unrecognized tax benefits that are not expected to result in payment or receipt of cash within one year are classified as “Other non-current liabilities” and a reduction of deferred tax assets, which is classified as “Other non-current assets” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits was $566 million and $432 million, respectively, of which $336 million and $251 million, respectively, if recognized, would favorably impact the Company’s effective tax rate. The aggregate changes in the Company’s total gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits are summarized as follows:
| As of December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||
| Balance at the beginning of the year | $ | 432,280 | $ | 327,105 | $ | 226,977 | |||||
| Increases related to tax positions taken during the current period | 96,108 | 93,325 | 65,630 | ||||||||
| Increases related to tax positions taken during prior periods | 50,285 | 15,751 | 76,794 | ||||||||
| Decreases related to tax positions taken during prior periods | (3,195) | (3,901) | (10,117) | ||||||||
| Decreases related to settlements with taxing authorities | (9,115) | — | (32,179) | ||||||||
| Decreases related to expiration of statute of limitations | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Balance at the end of the year | $ | 566,363 | $ | 432,280 | $ | 327,105 |
The Company includes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the provision for income taxes and in “Other non-current liabilities” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. During the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded $38 million, $16 million, and $25 million, respectively, of net interest and penalties in the provision for income taxes. The amount of interest and penalties accrued at December 31, 2025 and 2024 was $82 million and $44 million, respectively.
The Company files U.S. federal, state and foreign tax returns. The Company is currently under examination by the IRS for years 2016 through 2022 and is subject to examination for 2023 and 2024. The Company is also generally subject to examination by various state and foreign jurisdictions for years 2018 through 2024. While the Company is in various stages of inquiry and examination with certain taxing authorities and believes that its tax positions will more likely than not be sustained, it is nonetheless possible that future obligations related to these matters could arise. The Company believes that adequate amounts have been reserved for any adjustments that may ultimately result from an examination.
The amounts of cash income taxes paid by the Company were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||
| 2025 | |||||
| (in thousands) | |||||
| Federal | $ | 1,120,172 | |||
| State and local | 273,976 | ||||
| Foreign | |||||
| Brazil | 275,106 | ||||
| Korea | 195,302 | ||||
| All other foreign | 355,828 | ||||
| Income taxes, net of amounts refunded | $ | 2,220,384 |
The amount of cash income taxes paid by the Company during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $1,642 million and $1,155 million, respectively.
12. Employee Benefit Plan
The Company maintains a 401(k) savings plan covering substantially all of its employees. Eligible employees may contribute up to 80% of their annual salary through payroll deductions, but not more than the statutory limits set by the Internal Revenue Service. The Company matches employee contributions at the discretion of the Board. During the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, the Company’s matching contributions totaled $144 million, $128 million and $114 million, respectively.
Multiemployer Benefit Plans
The Company contributes to various multiemployer defined pension plans under the terms of collective bargaining agreements that cover our union-represented employees. The risks of participating in multiemployer pension plans are different from single-employer plans such that (i) contributions made by the Company to the multiemployer pension plans may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers; (ii) if the Company chooses to stop participating in the multiemployer pension plans, it may be required to pay those plans an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan; and (iii) if a company stops contributing to the multiemployer pension plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may become the obligation of the remaining participating employers. The Company also contributes to various other multiemployer benefit plans that provide health and welfare benefits to both active and retired participants. The Company does not participate in any multiemployer benefit plans that are individually significant to the Company.
The following table summarizes the Company's contributions to multiemployer pension and health plans for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Pension benefits | $ | 92,643 | $ | 89,707 | $ | 57,285 | |||||||||||
| Health benefits | 127,671 | 134,079 | 85,157 | ||||||||||||||
| Total contributions | $ | 220,314 | $ | 223,786 | $ | 142,442 |
13. Segment and Geographic Information
The Company operates as one operating segment. The Company's chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) is its co-chief executive officers, who review financial information presented on a consolidated basis. The CODM uses consolidated operating margin and net income to assess financial performance and allocate resources. These financial metrics are used by the CODM to make key operating decisions, such as the determination of the rate at which the Company seeks to grow global operating margin and the allocation of budget between cost of revenues, sales and marketing, technology and development, and general and administrative expenses.
The following table presents selected financial information with respect to the Company’s single operating segment for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | 45,183,036 | $ | 39,000,966 | $ | 33,723,297 | |||||||||||
| Less: | |||||||||||||||||
| Content amortization | 16,422,166 | 15,301,517 | 14,197,437 | ||||||||||||||
| Other cost of revenues | 6,853,163 | 5,736,947 | 5,517,931 | ||||||||||||||
| Sales and marketing | 3,301,306 | 2,917,554 | 2,657,883 | ||||||||||||||
| Technology and development | 3,391,390 | 2,925,295 | 2,675,758 | ||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 1,888,408 | 1,702,039 | 1,720,285 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 13,326,603 | 10,417,614 | 6,954,003 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating margin | 29.5 | % | 26.7 | % | 20.6 | % | |||||||||||
| Other income (expense) | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (776,510) | (718,733) | (699,826) | ||||||||||||||
| Interest and other income (expense)(1) | 172,459 | 266,776 | (48,772) | ||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 12,722,552 | 9,965,657 | 6,205,405 | ||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | (1,741,351) | (1,254,026) | (797,415) | ||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 10,981,201 | $ | 8,711,631 | $ | 5,407,990 |
(1) Includes interest income of $295 million, $294 million and $281 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
See the consolidated financial statements for other financial information regarding the Company’s operating segment.
Total U.S. revenues were $18.5 billion, $16.1 billion and $13.8 billion for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. See Note 2 Revenue Recognition for additional information about streaming revenue by region.
The Company's long-lived tangible assets, as well as the Company's operating lease right-of-use assets recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets were located as follows:
| As of December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||
| United States | $ | 3,075,477 | $ | 2,769,828 | |||||||
| International | 1,136,034 | 926,238 |
14. Subsequent Event
On January 19, 2026, the Company entered into the Amended and Restated Merger Agreement, which amended and restated in its entirety the agreement and plan of merger entered into with WBD and the other parties thereto on December 4, 2025. See Note 6 Acquisitions and Note 9 Commitments and Contingencies for further information.
Also on January 19, 2026, in connection with the Amended and Restated Merger Agreement, the Company entered into a bridge facility incremental commitments agreement (the “Incremental Commitments Agreement”). The Incremental Commitments Agreement increased the existing commitments under the Company’s bridge commitment letter, dated as of December 4, 2025, from $34 billion to $42.2 billion of senior unsecured bridge term loan commitments for the purpose of financing the purchase price under the Amended and Restated Merger Agreement, paying certain other fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the transaction with WBD and, at the Company’s option, refinancing certain indebtedness.
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit Number | Exhibit Description | Incorporated by Reference | Filed Herewith | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form | File No. | Exhibit | Filing Date | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101 | The following financial statements from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, formatted in Inline XBRL: (i) Consolidated Statements of Operations, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (iv) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (v) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text and including detailed tags | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 104 | The cover page from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, formatted in Inline XBRL | X |
- These certifications are not deemed filed by the SEC and are not to be incorporated by reference in any filing we make under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, irrespective of any general incorporation language in any filings.
† Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan
+ Annexes, schedules and/or exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC. Netflix agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted annexes, schedules or exhibits to the SEC upon request.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| Netflix, Inc. | |||||||||||||||||
| Dated: | January 23, 2026 | By: | /S/ TED SARANDOS | ||||||||||||||
| Ted Sarandos Co-Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) | |||||||||||||||||
| Dated: | January 23, 2026 | By: | /S/ GREG PETERS | ||||||||||||||
| Greg Peters Co-Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Ted Sarandos, Greg Peters, and Spencer Neumann, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Report, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that all said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his substitute or substituted, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||||||||||||
| /S/ TED SARANDOS | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director (principal executive officer) | January 23, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Ted Sarandos | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ GREG PETERS | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director (principal executive officer) | January 23, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Greg Peters | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ SPENCER NEUMANN | Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) | January 23, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Spencer Neumann | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ JEFFREY KARBOWSKI | Chief Accounting Officer (principal accounting officer) | January 23, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Jeffrey Karbowski | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ REED HASTINGS | Chairman and Director | January 23, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Reed Hastings | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ RICHARD BARTON | Director | January 23, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Richard Barton | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ MATHIAS DÖPFNER | Director | January 23, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Mathias Döpfner | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ JAY C. HOAG | Director | January 23, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Jay C. Hoag | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ LESLIE J. KILGORE | Director | January 23, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Leslie J. Kilgore | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ STRIVE MASIYIWA | Director | January 23, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Strive Masiyiwa | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ ANN MATHER | Director | January 23, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Ann Mather | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ ELINOR MERTZ | Director | January 23, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Elinor Mertz |
| /S/ SUSAN RICE | Director | January 23, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Susan Rice | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ BRAD SMITH | Director | January 23, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Brad Smith | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ ANNE SWEENEY | Director | January 23, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Anne Sweeney |
Previous: Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules