Buying Hulu Shares: A Guide for 2025
Hulu, the popular streaming service, has been making waves in the industry, boasting over 52 million subscribers and offering a live TV option that's appealing to those looking to cut the cord with traditional cable. In late 2023, The Walt Disney Company (DIS 0.1%) bought Comcast's (CMCSA 0.38%) remaining stake in Hulu, making Disney the sole owner of this streaming giant.
In early 2025, Disney took things a step further by combining its Hulu + Live TV business with Fubo (FUBO -1.36%). The new entity, with a management team led by Fubo, will have 6.2 million North American subscribers. It's pretty safe to say that Hulu isn't planning to go public anytime soon due to Disney's full ownership.
But fear not, potential investors! There are still plenty of opportunities to get a piece of the streaming action.
Is Hulu publicly traded?
No, Hulu isn't a publicly traded company as of early 2025. Instead, it's a joint venture owned by Disney (67%) and Comcast (33%). Disney purchased Comcast's stake in late 2023 for a whopping $8.6 billion (valuing Hulu at $27.5 billion).
How to invest in Hulu-like ventures:
- The Walt Disney Co.: With Disney now owning 100% of Hulu, investing in Disney is the best bet if you're interested in backing Hulu's growth. Disney's diverse portfolio also includes Pixar, Marvel, Lucas Films, theme parks, and cruise ships. Disney is a formidable entertainment and streaming behemoth.
- Netflix: Netflix (NFLX 9.69%) is another streaming giant with nearly 283 million subscribers across 190 countries. The company generates substantial revenue, with a nearly $5.8 billion in adjusted free cash flow in the first nine months of its 2024 fiscal year. Netflix continues to grow by investing in new content, diversifying its offerings, and exploring the digital ad market.
- Comcast: Comcast has been focusing on its residential broadband and wireless networks, as well as its NBCUniversal streaming service (Peacock), studios, and theme parks. These ventures may offer investment opportunities beyond Hulu.
If you're eager to buy shares in any of these companies, here's how to get started:
- Open a brokerage account: You'll need a brokerage account to invest in stocks. Research various brokerage platforms to find the one that best suits your needs.
- Set your budget: Determine how much money you want to invest and decide how to allocate it across your chosen stocks.
- Do your research: Thoroughly research the company before investing to ensure you fully understand its business model, financials, and long-term prospects.
- Place your order: Once you've opened your account, funded it, and researched the stock, it's time to buy shares! Fill out the order page and submit your trade.
Hulu might not be publicly tradable, but with these strategies in mind, you can still make smart investments in the streaming sector while you wait to see if Hulu ever goes public.
[1] https://www.marketwatch.com/story/disney-fubo-and-hulu-are-merging-what-investors-need-to-know-11672779387[2] https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/preipo.asp[3] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-disney-hulu-fubo-exclusive-idUSKCN2TP06P[4] https://insiderintelligence.com/business/streaming-media/hulu-disney-comcast-ownership-plan-2020-10
Investing in the streaming industry offers various opportunities, even if Hulu isn't publicly traded. One potential avenue is to invest in Disney (DIS 0.1%), which now owns 100% of Hulu, given its diverse portfolio that includes Pixar, Marvel, Lucas Films, theme parks, and cruise ships. Another option is to consider Netflix (NFLX 9.69%), a streaming giant with a vast subscriber base and continuous content investment. Lastly, Comcast (CMCSA 0.38%) may present investment opportunities through its residential broadband and wireless networks, NBCUniversal streaming service (Peacock), studios, and theme parks. To start investing, open a brokerage account, set your budget, do thorough research, and then purchase shares.
