Netflix, wallstreet:online, Commerzbank: Where shareholders get their money's worth

Netflix: This calculation worked out

Netflix is a prime example of how good money can be made with media. It is hard to imagine German living rooms without this streaming service. Netflix is also popular in most other countries around the world. Many young consumers watch series and movies in English anyway and get their money's worth with Netflix. The streaming provider relied on costly in-house productions early on; the concept has paid off. The lavish productions attracted subscribers. When a series is the topic of conversation in the schoolyard, campus or office kitchen, that is the best advertising.

In 2020, Netflix increased its revenue by 24% to USD 25 billion. Profits were USD 2.8 billion, a whopping 47.9% higher than the previous year. Meanwhile, Netflix has more than 200 million paying subscribers. With that kind of support, it is easy to invest in the future. While years ago, traditional TV was predominant, and people rushed to sit in front of the TV at 8:15 p.m., services like Netflix have changed our viewing habits. Even classic TV viewers are now using media libraries more often and watching TV when it suits them. Netflix is a success story. However, the stock has been stuck in a sideways movement for about a year. The potential is accordingly limited.

wallstreet:online: How the Berliners turn EUR 1 into EUR 16

wallstreet:online's potential is anything but limited. Two weeks ago, the analysts at Warburg Research announced a price target of EUR 34. wallstreet:online is an operator of financial forums and news sites around the stock market. For the past 18 months, wallstreet:online has also been active in the brokerage business with its Smartbroker. Customers took up the offer in large numbers and ensured that the share quadrupled since the beginning of 2020. Since Smartbroker has been on the market, wallstreet:online's market capitalization has increased by a whopping EUR 280 million. The figure becomes more impressive the more one puts the value growth in context with the initial investments. As can be seen from the annual reports, wallstreet:online invested only around EUR 7.3 million in Smartbroker in 2019 and 2020. In addition, there was marketing for about EUR 10 million. The EUR 17.3 million invested at that time has thus increased more than sixteenfold in terms of market capitalization - a good indication that the Berliners understand their business and can turn even small investments into big successes.

After Smartbroker already had 70,000 customers at the end of 2020, wallstreet:online called out the target of 200,000 customers by the end of 2021. Since 55,000 customers were added in the first quarter of 2021 alone, the Warburg analysts expect wallstreet:online to reach its targets. To create even more synergies between media portals and brokers, the Company recently raised EUR 5 million. The goal: to invest in IT and growth. Given the already intact growth story, it is to be expected that the latest investments will also be reflected positively in the share price. The Media and Brokerage divisions complement each other perfectly. The share has consolidated in recent weeks and is correspondingly attractive with a long-term perspective.

Is Commerzbank saving itself to death?

To invest in the Commerzbank share, the perspective should also be long - even better, very long. The bank is in the middle of a restructuring phase. If you take a closer look at Frankfurt's financial center, you might get the impression that one restructuring follows the next in the banking towers. Commerzbank's measures, eliminating 10,000 jobs and around 340 branches, will also initially cost money. It is also not clear whether the measures are the right ones in the long term - after all, proximity to the customer is crucial for successful banking. Although investment banking has been the primary source of income recently, the prospect of at least moderately rising interest rates could nourish hopes of a comeback for the bread-and-butter lending business. However, the extent to which this can be revived with just a few employees remains an open question. The Commerzbank share is languishing, and that will not change anytime soon.