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CMCSA vs. NFLX: Comcast vs. Netflix Stock Comparison

How do Comcast (CMCSA) and Netflix (NFLX) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Comcast (CMCSA) and Netflix (NFLX) both fall under the Media & Entertainment industry group, but CMCSA is classified in Media while NFLX is classified in Entertainment.

Company profile comparison for Comcast (CMCSA) and Netflix (NFLX)
Profile ItemCMCSANFLX
NameComcast CorpNetflix, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorCommunication ServicesCommunication Services
GICS Industry GroupMedia & EntertainmentMedia & Entertainment
GICS IndustryMediaEntertainment
GICS Sub-IndustryCable & SatelliteMovies & Entertainment
Market Capitalization87.70 billion USD300.65 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980May 23, 2002
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CMCSA
NFLX
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Comcast (CMCSA) vs. Netflix (NFLX): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Comcast (CMCSA) and Netflix (NFLX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Comcast (CMCSA) and Netflix (NFLX)
MetricCMCSANFLX
Total Return (1Y)-23.39%-46.68%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CMCSA
NFLX
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Comcast (CMCSA) vs. Netflix (NFLX): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Netflix (NFLX) has an aggressive beta of 1.52, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Comcast (CMCSA) is defensive at 0.67 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Comcast (CMCSA) and Netflix (NFLX)
MetricCMCSANFLX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)29.14%34.01%
Beta (5Y)0.671.52
Avg. Volume (3M)34.03M41.11M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CMCSA and NFLX are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Netflix (NFLX) at 48.50% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Comcast (CMCSA) at 20.92% also sits in the top quartile.

CMCSA

Media & Entertainment industry group

20.92%

Max
38.89%
CMCSA
20.92%
Q3
15.20%
Median
6.34%
Q1
-4.34%
Min
-29.59%

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

48.50%

NFLX
48.50%
Max
38.89%
Q3
15.20%
Median
6.34%
Q1
-4.34%
Min
-29.59%
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Comcast (CMCSA) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their ROE against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Comcast (CMCSA) at 15.00% and Netflix (NFLX) at 28.52% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

CMCSA

Media & Entertainment industry group

15.00%

Max
30.77%
CMCSA
15.00%
Q3
10.56%
Median
3.30%
Q1
-3.48%
Min
-24.17%

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

28.52%

Max
30.77%
NFLX
28.52%
Q3
10.56%
Median
3.30%
Q1
-3.48%
Min
-24.17%
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Comcast (CMCSA) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their net margin against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Netflix (NFLX) at 32.30% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Comcast (CMCSA) at 13.15%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CMCSA

Media & Entertainment industry group

13.15%

Max
41.37%
Q3
17.31%
CMCSA
13.15%
Median
7.79%
Q1
-3.29%
Min
-27.39%

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

32.30%

Max
41.37%
NFLX
32.30%
Q3
17.31%
Median
7.79%
Q1
-3.29%
Min
-27.39%
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Comcast (CMCSA) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Comcast (CMCSA) and Netflix (NFLX)
MetricCMCSANFLX
ROE (TTM)20.92%48.50%
ROA (TTM)4.54%15.40%
Net Margin (TTM)15.00%28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)13.15%32.30%
Gross Margin (TTM)70.13%49.03%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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Comcast (CMCSA) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue growth metrics for Comcast (CMCSA) and Netflix (NFLX)
MetricCMCSANFLX
Revenue Growth (YoY)-0.02%15.85%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)0.62%12.64%

EPS Growth

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Comcast (CMCSA) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for Comcast (CMCSA) and Netflix (NFLX)
MetricCMCSANFLX
EPS Growth (YoY)30.19%27.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)64.54%36.49%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Netflix (NFLX) at 1.41 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Comcast (CMCSA) at 0.87 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CMCSA.

CMCSA

Media & Entertainment industry group

0.87

Max
4.37
Q3
2.32
Median
1.41
Q1
0.90
CMCSA
0.87
Min
0.31

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

1.41

Max
4.37
Q3
2.32
NFLX
1.41
Median
1.41
Q1
0.90
Min
0.31
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Comcast (CMCSA) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Comcast (CMCSA) at 1.07 and Netflix (NFLX) at 0.54 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

CMCSA

Media & Entertainment industry group

1.07

Max
2.46
Q3
1.30
CMCSA
1.07
Median
0.52
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

0.54

Max
2.46
Q3
1.30
NFLX
0.54
Median
0.52
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
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Comcast (CMCSA) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Comcast (CMCSA) and Netflix (NFLX)
MetricCMCSANFLX
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.871.41
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.070.54
Net Debt / EBITDA2.410.31

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Netflix (NFLX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Comcast (CMCSA) reports a yield of 5.45%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CMCSA

Media & Entertainment industry group

5.45%

CMCSA
5.45%
Max
2.04%
Q3
1.04%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

0.00%

Max
2.04%
Q3
1.04%
NFLX
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Comcast (CMCSA) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Netflix (NFLX) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Comcast (CMCSA) reports a payout of 25.88%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CMCSA

Media & Entertainment industry group

25.88%

Max
45.76%
CMCSA
25.88%
Q3
21.24%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

0.00%

Max
45.76%
Q3
21.24%
NFLX
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Comcast (CMCSA) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Comcast (CMCSA) and Netflix (NFLX)
MetricCMCSANFLX
Dividend Yield (TTM)5.45%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)25.88%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Comcast (CMCSA) at 4.81 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Netflix (NFLX) at 23.03 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for CMCSA, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

CMCSA

Media & Entertainment industry group

4.81

Max
76.08
Q3
38.11
Median
21.79
Q1
11.83
CMCSA
4.81
Min
1.57

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

23.03

Max
76.08
Q3
38.11
NFLX
23.03
Median
21.79
Q1
11.83
Min
1.57
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Comcast (CMCSA) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Comcast (CMCSA) at 0.70 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Netflix (NFLX) at 6.41 sits in the pricier quartile — NFLX costs more per dollar of sales.

CMCSA

Media & Entertainment industry group

0.70

Max
7.60
Q3
3.81
Median
1.44
CMCSA
0.70
Q1
0.61
Min
0.00

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

6.41

Max
7.60
NFLX
6.41
Q3
3.81
Median
1.44
Q1
0.61
Min
0.00
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Comcast (CMCSA) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Comcast (CMCSA) at 0.99 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Netflix (NFLX) at 9.66 carries an above-peer premium to book — NFLX is pricier on assets.

CMCSA

Media & Entertainment industry group

0.99

Max
10.50
Q3
4.87
Median
1.80
CMCSA
0.99
Q1
0.81
Min
-3.65

NFLX

Media & Entertainment industry group

9.66

Max
10.50
NFLX
9.66
Q3
4.87
Median
1.80
Q1
0.81
Min
-3.65
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Comcast (CMCSA) vs. Netflix (NFLX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Media & Entertainment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Comcast (CMCSA) and Netflix (NFLX)
MetricCMCSANFLX
P/E Ratio (TTM)4.8123.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.706.41
P/B Ratio (MRQ)0.999.66
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.58%8.65%