If You'd Invested $10,000 in Netflix (NFLX) 5 Years Ago, Here's How Much You'd Have Today

With more than 325 million subscribers (as of Dec. 31, 2025) and projected 2026 revenue of $51.2 billion, Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) is a leader in the media and entertainment space. The disruptor is a category-creating business.

Early investors have amassed small fortunes. But the story has been much different recently. If you had invested $10,000 in this streaming stock five years ago, here's how much you'd have today.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Netflix shares are up just 20% in the trailing half-decade period (as of Sept. 25). By comparison, the S&P 500 index has climbed 73% during that same time. The company's stock trades 47% below its peak from June 2025.

If you purchased $10,000 worth of shares in late September 2021, you'd have $12,000 today. That's not an impressive gain.

To be fair, though, the business is much larger today than it was in 2021. It raked in $29.7 billion in total sales that year and had a significantly smaller membership count. However, investors are likely most worried about the competitive nature of the industry. Consumers have so many choices at their fingertips.

Going forward, Netflix's growth is likely to continue to decelerate as it reaches maturity in its key markets. So even though the stock trades at a historically cheap price-to-earnings ratio of 22.4, investors shouldn't automatically rush to buy the company. It's a new chapter for the streaming pioneer.

Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Netflix. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.