Netflix shares soar as video service posts jump in subscribers

Netflix has shaken off growth worries with new subscriber numbers that beat estimates and sent its shares soaring.

The video streaming company added 3.2 million international customers in the last three months, far more than the 2 million analysts had predicted.

In the US numbers rose by 370,000, as hit shows such as Stranger Things and Narcos won over more subscribers.

It helped quarterly revenues rise 31% to $2.29bn (£1.88bn), sparking a 20% jump in Netflix's share price.

In the three months to the end of September Netflix had about 83.3 million subscribers.

The company said on Monday that it plans to license content to existing online service providers in China rather than operate its own service in China in the near term.

Netflix has been expanding in international markets to counter slowing growth in the US. The service has a strong presence in more than 130 markets worldwide, except China.

Concern that Netflix's growth was slowing had overshadowed the company. Its shares had fallen about 13% this year.

But in after-hours trading on Wall Street the shares jumped 20% to about $119.

Analysts said that the figures should dispel fears that Netflix was running out of momentum, at least in the short term.

Neil Saunders, chief executive of retail consultants Conlumino, said: "We maintain our view that over the next few years international expansion will pay dividends, but for the current cycle Netflix will be very reliant on domestic performance to ensure it ends the fiscal year on a high note."