Summary
⚈ The order escalates trade tensions into the media sector, targeting a common practice of overseas film production for tax benefits.
⚈ Netflix remains strong, with over 30% YTD gains and robust Q1 earnings driven by subscriber growth and price increases.
Shares of Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) plummeted 6.17% to $1,085 in pre-market trading on Monday following President Donald Trump’s order imposing a 100% tariff on movies produced overseas.
The pre-market drop snapped Netflix’s 11-day winning streak, the longest in the company’s history. The streak included a 2% gain on Friday, ending the day valued at $1,156.
Before the order, the streaming giant had been one of the best-performing stocks during the early days of Trump’s second stint in the White House, appearing unfazed by the controversial trade tensions.
The order’s announcement on May 4 escalated Trump’s tariff war into the media and entertainment, where he labeled tax incentives that encourage American movie production abroad a “national security threat.”
“This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda,” he said.
The tariffs, effective immediately, target films made in “foreign lands,” disrupting a standard industry practice where studios leverage international tax breaks to reduce costs.
To this end, Trump authorized agencies like the Department of Commerce to impose tariffs on all foreign-produced films entering the U.S immediately. However, he did not specify whether the tariffs apply to streaming content or theatrical releases, or how they will be calculated.
Netflix stock’s hot 2025 run
Despite the setback, Netflix has stood out in the first 100 days of Trump’s second term, with shares soaring over 30% year-to-date.
The streaming giant’s run has been buoyed by strong consumer demand as the broader stock market grappled with trade tariff uncertainty.
Indeed, the stock received further momentum following its Q1 2024 earnings report, released on April 17. Revenue came in at $10.54 billion, an increase of 12.5% year-over-year, driven primarily by membership growth and higher pricing.
At the same time, the firm projects full-year revenue between $43.5 billion and $44.5 billion.
Featured image via Shutterstock
