Carl Icahn Buys 10% Stake in Netflix

He thinks it's undervalued; move sends shares soaring
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 31, 2012 4:42 PM CDT
Carl Icahn Buys 10% Stake in Netflix
Billionaire financier Carl Icahn in a 2007 file photo.   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

Netflix is having a busy week, and not only because storm-bound viewers streamed lots of movies. News broke today that billionaire financier Carl Icahn has bought a 10% stake in the company because he thinks it's undervalued, reports MarketWatch. Shares immediately surged 20%, prompting a temporary halt in trading, then closed the day up 14% at about $79.

At CNBC, Julia Boorstin writes that the most interesting part of the filing is Icahn's contention that Netflix "may hold significant strategic value for a variety of significantly larger companies." Which means that he may eventually push Netflix to sell to Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, or Google. Or he may just push for a faster expansion overseas. "We’ll be watching to see what Icahn says," she writes. "He’s not shy and doesn’t mince words. (More Netflix stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X