Netflix isn't just a tech stock. Honestly, it’s more like a 24-year long psychological experiment on investor nerves. If you had dropped a few grand into the IPO back in 2002, you’d be sitting on a fortune today. But you probably wouldn't have held on. Most people didn't.
The Netflix historical share price is a jagged mountain range of "it’s over" followed by "wait, they did it again."
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The $1.07 IPO and the DVD Ghost Town
Let’s go back to May 23, 2002. Netflix went public at $15 per share. When you adjust for all the splits over the years, that’s a measly **$1.07**.
At the time, the company was essentially a mail-order business competing with the titan that was Blockbuster. Wall Street was skeptical. For several years, the stock basically went nowhere. It traded for pennies in today's terms. In October 2002, it hit an all-time low of about $0.037 (split-adjusted). Think about that. You could have bought a share for less than the cost of a gumdrop.
The first real "oh, this is working" moment came in 2004 with a 2-for-1 stock split. But the real rocket fuel wasn't red envelopes. It was the pivot to streaming in 2007.
The Qwikster Disaster of 2011
If you want to understand why Netflix historical share price data looks so crazy, you have to look at 2011. Reed Hastings decided to split the DVD and streaming businesses into two separate brands. He called the DVD side "Qwikster."
People hated it.
Customers left in droves. The stock collapsed 77%, falling from nearly $300 (pre-split) to around $69 in just a few months. It felt like the end of the story. Analysts were writing obituaries. But then came House of Cards in 2013. That was the year Netflix stopped just hosting other people’s shows and started owning the culture. Between 2013 and 2015, the stock grew by over 400%.
The 2015 7-for-1 Split
By 2015, the price was getting too "heavy" for casual investors. The board approved a massive 7-for-1 stock split in July 2015.
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Suddenly, a stock trading over $700 was back down to $100. This is a common trick. It doesn't actually make the company more valuable, but it makes the shares feel "cheaper" to buy on a Tuesday afternoon. This kicked off a multi-year bull run where Netflix expanded into 130 countries and became a global verb.
The Pandemic Peak and the 2022 Crash
Fast forward to November 2021. The world is stuck at home. Everyone is watching Squid Game. Netflix hits a massive peak of $691.69.
Then, the floor fell out.
In early 2022, Netflix reported its first quarterly subscriber loss in a decade. It lost 200,000 members. The market panicked. The stock plummeted 76%, bottoming out around $166.37 in May 2022. It was a total wipeout of pandemic gains.
Where We Are Now: The 2025/2026 Reality
Kinda wild how things change.
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By late 2024 and throughout 2025, Netflix pulled off another miracle. They cracked down on password sharing. They launched an ad tier. They even started bidding for major assets—like the rumored move for Warner Bros. Discovery—which kept investors interested.
In June 2025, the stock reached a new all-time high of $133.91 (following another 10-for-1 split in late 2025).
As of January 16, 2026, the stock has cooled off a bit, trading around $88.00. This recent dip reflects a shift in how the market views the company. Investors aren't just looking at subscriber counts anymore. They want to see "Average Revenue Per User" (ARPU). Basically, they want to know how much money Netflix is squeezing out of you every month.
The Major Price Milestones
- 2002: IPO at $1.07 (adjusted).
- 2011: The Qwikster crash (77% drop).
- 2015: 7-for-1 stock split.
- 2021: Pandemic peak of $691.69 (pre-2025 split).
- 2022: The "Subscriber Apocalypse" drop to $166.37.
- 2025: 10-for-1 stock split and new highs near $134.
- 2026 (Current): Trading in the $80–$95 range.
Why the Price Fluctuates So Much
Netflix is "high beta." That’s fancy talk for saying it moves a lot faster than the rest of the market.
When the S&P 500 sneezes, Netflix catches a cold. When the market is happy, Netflix throws a party. The price is currently driven by two big things: advertising revenue and live events. The move into live sports and Taylor Swift-level events has added a whole new layer of volatility. If a live stream glitches, the stock takes a hit. If it succeeds, the "shorts" get crushed.
Actionable Insights for Your Portfolio
Looking at the Netflix historical share price tells us one thing: this company is a survivor. But it's not for the faint of heart.
- Stop obsessing over subscriber counts. The 2026 market cares more about profit margins and ad-tier growth.
- Watch the splits. Netflix likes to keep its share price accessible. If it ever climbs back toward the $500 range, expect another split talk.
- Monitor the competition. With the 2025-2026 consolidation of services (like the Warner Bros. bidding), Netflix is now a "mature" business. It doesn't have the 40% growth rates of 2015 anymore.
- Buy the fear. Historically, every time Netflix has dropped more than 50%, it has eventually recovered to new highs. It takes years, but it has happened every single time so far.
If you’re tracking this for a long-term play, look at the quarterly reports on January 20, 2026. The guidance they give for the rest of the year will likely set the tone for whether we stay in the $80s or head back toward $120.