Netflix 
This comparison uses Vantafin market data, earnings results, and financial filings to break down the key differences across market cap, revenue, earnings, valuations, and strategic positioning. Whether you are evaluating NFLX vs DIS for a portfolio position or want to understand the shifting dynamics of media and entertainment investing, this guide delivers the data-backed analysis you need.
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Market Cap and Scale: Size Comparison
Netflix and Disney occupy different positions in the media landscape in terms of market valuation. As of August 2026, Netflix commands a market capitalization of $302.17 billion, making it one of the most valuable media companies in the world. Disney sits at $167.14 billion in market cap, roughly 45% smaller than Netflix.
| Metric | Netflix (NFLX) | Disney (DIS) |
|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $302.17 billion | $167.14 billion |
| Share Price | $71.76 | $96.25 |
| Shares Outstanding | 4.21 billion | 1.74 billion |
| Float | 4.18 billion | 1.73 billion |
| TTM Revenue | $46.89 billion | $97.26 billion |
| TTM Net Income | $13.37 billion | $11.22 billion |
| TTM EPS | $3.16 | $6.26 |
Netflix's valuation premium reflects investor confidence in its streaming-first model and global subscriber base. The company's $71.76 share price represents a dramatic recovery from its 2022 lows but has faced pressure in 2026 amid subscriber growth concerns and streaming profitability questions. Disney's $96.25 share price reflects a company in transformation, balancing legacy businesses with new streaming growth.
Stock Performance: Recent Price Action
Both NFLX and DIS have experienced volatility in 2026, but the trajectories have differed meaningfully.
The chart reveals divergent price action over the 90-day period. Netflix declined approximately 12.5% from $82.00 in early June to $71.71 by late July 2026, while Disney proved more resilient, falling only 2.5% from $98.61 to $96.19 over the same timeframe. Recent Motley Fool coverage noted Netflix stock down 43% year-over-year, highlighting investor concerns about subscriber growth and market saturation.
Disney's relative stability reflects investor appreciation for its diversified business model. The company benefits from theme park cash flows that can offset streaming investments during periods of elevated content spending.
Revenue Deep Dive: Scale Versus Growth
The revenue comparison reveals fundamentally different business models. Disney generates substantially more total revenue at $97.26 billion TTM, but Netflix achieves this revenue with higher profitability efficiency.
| Quarter | NFLX Revenue | DIS Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 2026 (Apr-Jun) | $12.56 billion | $25.17 billion |
| Q1 2026 (Jan-Mar) | $12.25 billion | $25.98 billion |
| Q4 2025 (Oct-Dec) | $12.05 billion | $22.46 billion |
| Q3 2025 (Jul-Sep) | $11.51 billion | $23.65 billion |
| TTM Total | $46.89 billion | $97.26 billion |
Netflix reported Q2 2026 revenue of $12.56 billion on July 16, 2026, growing 18% year-over-year from approximately $10.6 billion in the year-ago period. The company's quarterly revenue has consistently climbed, from $9.56 billion in Q2 2024 to over $12.5 billion currently.
Disney's Q2 FY2026 revenue of $25.17 billion (reported May 6, 2026) beat consensus estimates of $24.87 billion. The company's revenue encompasses multiple segments including streaming subscriptions, theme parks, and theatrical releases, providing diversification but also complexity.
Earnings Power: Margins Tell the Story
Profitability separates these entertainment giants when examined closely. Netflix's net margin of 28.52% dramatically exceeds Disney's 11.54%, reflecting the structural differences in their business models.
Netflix operates a pure subscription model with minimal advertising revenue (though it has recently introduced ad-supported tiers). This structure produces high margins once subscriber scale is achieved, as marginal content costs spread across a growing user base. Netflix reported Q1 2026 net income of $5.28 billion on revenue of $12.25 billion, translating to a 43% net margin in that quarter.
Disney faces inherent margin pressure from its theme park and theatrical businesses, which require substantial capital investment in physical infrastructure and content production. However, the company has made significant progress improving streaming profitability, with Disney+ achieving profitability milestones ahead of schedule.
Earnings Estimates: Consistent Beat Performance
Both companies have demonstrated ability to exceed analyst expectations, though the consistency varies.
Netflix has beaten EPS estimates in all eight of its last reported quarters. The April 2026 quarter proved particularly strong, with actual EPS of $1.23 crushing estimates of $0.76, a 62% beat driven by strong subscriber growth and content performance.
Disney has also delivered consistent earnings beats, with the August 2024 quarter showing a particularly strong 17% beat. The May 2026 quarter delivered EPS of $1.57 versus estimates of $1.49, continuing the pattern of outperformance.
Revenue Beat Analysis
Netflix revenue has grown consistently, from $9.82 billion in October 2024 to $12.56 billion in July 2026. The company narrowly missed Q2 2026 revenue estimates ($12.56 billion actual versus $12.58 billion expected), the only significant revenue miss in recent quarters.
Disney beat revenue estimates in six of its last eight quarters. The February 2026 quarter proved particularly strong at $25.98 billion versus $25.70 billion estimates, while the May 2026 quarter delivered $25.17 billion versus $24.87 billion expected.
Valuation: What Are You Paying For?
Comparing valuations between Netflix and Disney requires context about growth expectations and business quality.
| Valuation Metric | Netflix (NFLX) | Disney (DIS) |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 22.71 | 15.38 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 6.44 | 1.72 |
| TTM EPS | $3.16 | $6.26 |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.52% | 11.54% |
| Market Cap | $302.17 billion | $167.14 billion |
Netflix trades at a P/E of 22.71, a premium multiple reflecting its streaming dominance and high margins. The P/S ratio of 6.44 indicates investors are willing to pay nearly 6.5 times annual revenue for NFLX shares.
Disney's P/E of 15.38 appears modest by comparison, suggesting the market prices DIS for slower growth. However, Disney's $6.26 TTM EPS demonstrates strong earnings power on a per-share basis, higher than Netflix's $3.16 despite lower margins. This reflects Disney's smaller share count (1.74 billion versus 4.21 billion for NFLX).
Streaming Wars: Battle for Viewer Attention
The streaming landscape represents the most important competitive battleground between these media giants, though their strategies differ fundamentally.
Netflix operates a subscription-only model (with a lower-priced ad-supported tier introduced more recently). The company reported approximately 286 million paid subscribers globally as of mid-2026, making it the world's largest streaming service by subscriber count. Netflix invests heavily in original content, with recent hits including "Squid Game" season 2 and various film productions driving subscriber engagement.
Disney's streaming strategy centers on its Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ bundle. The company reported approximately 225 million total subscribers across its streaming portfolio as of Q2 FY2026. Disney+ achieved profitability in late 2025, a milestone that validated CEO Bob Iger's strategy of consolidating streaming operations and reducing content spending.
The competitive dynamics have shifted as both companies pivot from subscriber growth to profitability. Password-sharing crackdowns and price increases have become standard tools for extracting more revenue from existing subscribers. ESPN's planned direct-to-consumer sports streaming launch positions Disney to compete more directly with Netflix in the coming years.
Business Model Comparison: Diversification Versus Focus
Netflix's model prioritizes streaming video content with minimal diversification. The company generates virtually all revenue from subscriptions, with advertising representing a small and recent addition. This focus produces operational simplicity and margin efficiency but creates concentration risk if subscriber growth stalls.
Disney operates three distinct business segments that provide natural hedges against sector-specific downturns:
| Segment | Q2 FY2026 Revenue | Key Products |
|---|---|---|
| Entertainment | $10.58 billion (subscription fees) | Disney+, Hulu, theatrical releases |
| Sports | Included above | ESPN, ESPN+ |
| Experiences | $10.75 billion combined | Theme parks, resorts, merchandise |
The Experiences segment (parks and merchandise) provides recurring cash flows that can support content investment during theatrical downturns. Disney's theme parks have demonstrated remarkable resilience, with attendance recovering strongly from pandemic closures and premium pricing generating margin expansion.
Strategic Positioning: Content Investment and IP Moats
Netflix's competitive advantage rests on data-driven content decisions and global distribution infrastructure. The company analyzes viewing patterns to inform programming investments, producing a mix of licensed content, original series, and films. Netflix's international production capabilities provide scale advantages that smaller streaming competitors cannot match.
Disney's moat derives from intellectual property accumulated over a century. Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, and Disney Princess franchises provide built-in audience demand for new content. Theme park attractions based on these properties create experiential demand that reinforces brand loyalty across generations.
Recent news highlights Disney's strategic moves. The company announced layoffs affecting Pixar despite strong box office performance, suggesting cost discipline initiatives amid CEO Iger's efficiency efforts. A partnership with Kraft Heinz to boost theme park merchandise sales demonstrates ongoing innovation in the Experiences segment.
Bottom Line: NFLX vs DIS
Netflix and Disney represent two compelling but different investment cases in the entertainment space.
Choose Netflix if you want:
- Pure streaming exposure with high margins
- Dominant subscriber base (286 million globally)
- Superior profitability efficiency (28.52% net margin)
- Consistent earnings beat track record
Choose Disney if you want:
- Diversified business model across streaming, parks, and sports
- Iconic IP portfolio with built-in audience demand
- Lower valuation entry point (P/E 15.38 versus 22.71)
- ESPN sports streaming growth potential
Netflix commands a premium valuation reflecting its streaming leadership and margin efficiency. The stock has faced headwinds in 2026 amid subscriber growth concerns, down approximately 43% year-over-year according to recent coverage. Disney offers diversification and a lower valuation but faces margin pressure from capital-intensive businesses.
Both companies have beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, demonstrating operational execution despite challenging industry conditions. The streaming wars continue to evolve, with profitability now prioritized over subscriber growth for both giants.
For ongoing coverage of these media titans, track earnings dates, SEC filings, and price movements in the Vantafin app. Disney's next earnings report is scheduled for August 5, 2026, while Netflix is expected to report again around October 20, 2026.