Netflix, Inc. stock (NASDAQ: NFLX) finished Tuesday’s regular session essentially unchanged and drifted slightly lower in after-hours trading, as investors weighed fresh headlines around the high-stakes battle for Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming assets—plus the realities of a holiday-shortened trading day ahead.
Netflix stock after the bell today (Dec. 23, 2025)
As of the latest after-hours update from Google Finance, Netflix stock closed at $93.50 and was $93.35 in after-hours trading (down about 0.16%). [1]
Key snapshot (from Google Finance):
- Previous close: $93.23 (so the regular session ended up roughly +0.3% day-over-day) [2]
- 52-week range: $82.11 – $134.12 [3]
- Market cap: about $427.25B [4]
- Trailing P/E: about 39.06 [5]
That positioning matters: at roughly $93–$94, NFLX is still well below its 52-week high, leaving the stock sensitive to any catalyst that can shift expectations on growth, margins, or (most importantly right now) deal risk.
The big driver investors are watching: the Warner Bros. Discovery bidding war
The dominant Netflix-stock storyline late today is not a new show release or an earnings pre-announcement—it’s deal math and deal probability.
What happened today (and why it matters to Netflix stock)
Reuters reported today that a major WBD investor said Paramount Skydance’s revised offer still isn’t sufficient, even after Paramount strengthened financing by leaning on Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison’s $40.4 billion personal guarantee and matching a larger regulatory failure/breakup fee. [6]
In the same Reuters report, the key Netflix angle is explicit:
- Warner Bros.’ board has recommended shareholders reject Paramount’s bid, arguing the Netflix proposal has more secure financing. [7]
- Reuters described Netflix’s proposed consideration as $23.25 per share in cash plus $4.50 in Netflix stock. [8]
- The decision/tender deadline was extended to Jan. 21, 2026, keeping the situation live—and headline-driven—into the new year. [9]
Barron’s coverage today echoed that investor view, framing Paramount’s amendments as unlikely to beat Netflix’s offer in their current form, while also noting Netflix shares were only modestly higher on the day—suggesting the market is still in “wait for the next filing” mode. [10]
Why this is a direct catalyst for NFLX, not just WBD
Even though the target is Warner Bros. assets, the market’s daily read-through for Netflix stock tends to boil down to three questions:
- Is Netflix’s bid still the most likely to close?
- What is Netflix’s ultimate cost of capital and leverage if it wins?
- How serious is the antitrust / political risk—and could concessions water down the economics?
Reuters underscored the regulatory overhang, noting political scrutiny and the possibility of intervention, alongside broader antitrust concerns tied to media consolidation. [11]
Financing headlines: “closing certainty” is becoming the whole ballgame
A crucial reason WBD’s board has leaned toward Netflix is the perception of financing credibility—and competing bidders are trying to close that gap.
- The Wall Street Journal reported today that Netflix has secured $25 billion in bank financing for its bid and may raise additional debt, while Paramount sought to bolster credibility via Ellison’s guarantee. [12]
- Separate reporting published today stated Netflix arranged a $5B revolving credit facility plus two $10B delayed-draw term loans as part of that financing package. [13]
For Netflix shareholders, financing updates matter because the market typically reprices NFLX in real time based on:
- Expected interest expense and leverage (higher borrowing costs can compress valuation multiples), and
- Deal optionality (if the market starts to believe Netflix might walk away or reprice, the “deal discount” on NFLX can shrink).
Tomorrow’s market setup: Christmas Eve is an early close, and liquidity can get weird fast
Before focusing on catalysts, investors should be clear on the calendar:
- The NYSE confirms U.S. equity markets close early at 1:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. [14]
- Nasdaq’s holiday schedule also lists an early close at 1:00 p.m. ET on Dec. 24, 2025, with markets closed on Christmas Day. [15]
- For bonds, SIFMA’s holiday recommendations indicate an early close at 2:00 p.m. ET on Dec. 24. [16]
Reuters also noted that—despite a federal-office closure directive—major U.S. exchanges said they will remain open on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26, following the standard schedule (including the early close on the 24th). [17]
Why this matters for NFLX tomorrow:
- Holiday-shortened sessions can amplify headline moves. A single deal-related leak, analyst comment, or regulatory headline can push stocks more than usual when fewer participants are active.
- Options and hedging flows can dominate. Even without a scheduled Netflix event, short-dated positioning can exaggerate intraday swings—especially into a 1 p.m. close.
What to watch before the market opens on Dec. 24
1) 8:30 a.m. ET: Jobless claims (moved because of the holiday)
The U.S. Department of Labor’s publication schedule explicitly lists Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. as the release time for the weekly claims report (an exception week because Thursday is a federal holiday). [18]
MarketWatch’s economic calendar snippet indicates the market is looking for around 225,000 claims vs. 224,000 previously. [19]
Netflix linkage: jobless claims is not a “Netflix report,” but it influences rates and risk appetite—and NFLX’s valuation is still sensitive to discount-rate moves.
2) Any overnight movement in the Warner/Paramount/Netflix “deal probability” narrative
This is the single biggest swing factor for Netflix stock into tomorrow’s open.
Headlines to watch:
- WBD board commentary (any shift from “Netflix preferred” to a more neutral posture) [20]
- Further amendments from Paramount/Skydance (higher price, clearer funding, new breakup protections) [21]
- Regulatory signals (even informal comments can move spreads fast in merger situations) [22]
3) Macro tone after today’s consumer and manufacturing signals
Two macro data points reported today help frame sentiment:
- Reuters reported U.S. consumer confidence declined in December (Conference Board index down to 89.1, below expectations), raising questions about the durability of consumer spending momentum. [23]
- Reuters also reported total durable goods orders fell 2.2% in October, while core capital goods orders and shipments rose—mixed signals for growth expectations. [24]
Netflix linkage: if markets lean “risk-off” on macro worries, high-multiple large-cap tech/consumer internet names can wobble. If markets lean “soft landing,” the bid for mega-cap growth can come back quickly—especially into thin holiday trading.
Analyst forecasts and what they imply for NFLX from here
Even amid the merger noise, Wall Street’s published targets still lean constructive—though dispersion is wide.
- MarketBeat’s consensus shows an average 12‑month price target of about $129.68 (with targets ranging roughly $72 to $152.50) and a “Moderate Buy” consensus. [25]
- TipRanks lists an average target around $132.59 (low about $92, high $152.50) and also shows a “Moderate Buy” consensus. [26]
How to interpret that for tomorrow morning: the Street’s base case appears to be that Netflix has meaningful upside over 12 months—but the market’s near-term pricing is still dominated by whether investors view the Warner deal as (a) value-accretive and financeable or (b) expensive and risky.
One more detail that’s easy to miss: Netflix’s new share price level is post-split
Netflix announced a 10-for-1 stock split in late 2025, with distribution after the close on Nov. 14, 2025, designed to reset the trading range to a more accessible level. [27]
That matters when you see older commentary floating around with four-digit “targets” or “prior highs”—those references may be pre-split and need adjustment.
Bottom line for NFLX heading into tomorrow
Netflix stock is ending Dec. 23 with after-hours trading slightly red but essentially stable, while investors keep their eyes locked on the Warner Bros. bidding chess match and what it means for Netflix’s capital structure, regulatory outlook, and strategic upside.
Into the Dec. 24 open, the checklist is straightforward:
- 8:30 a.m. ET jobless claims (rates/sentiment) [28]
- Deal headlines (financing credibility, price changes, board posture, political/regulatory signals) [29]
- Remember the early close (1 p.m. ET), which can magnify moves [30]
This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice.
References
1. www.google.com, 2. www.google.com, 3. www.google.com, 4. www.google.com, 5. www.google.com, 6. www.reuters.com, 7. www.reuters.com, 8. www.reuters.com, 9. www.reuters.com, 10. www.barrons.com, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. www.wsj.com, 13. www.broadcastprome.com, 14. www.nyse.com, 15. www.nasdaq.com, 16. www.sifma.org, 17. www.reuters.com, 18. oui.doleta.gov, 19. www.marketwatch.com, 20. www.reuters.com, 21. www.reuters.com, 22. www.reuters.com, 23. www.reuters.com, 24. www.reuters.com, 25. www.marketbeat.com, 26. www.tipranks.com, 27. ir.netflix.net, 28. oui.doleta.gov, 29. www.reuters.com, 30. www.nyse.com
