A Fool Looks Back

They're coming from all directions at Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX  ) .

Its closest streaming competitor got stronger. A new rival was born when Redbox teamed up with the country's leading wireless carrier with plans to roll out a competing digital service later this year.

Netflix wasn't perfect last year, when its stock was peaking just above $300. The company is even more imperfect now at less than half that price. However, Netflix has 23.5 million streaming customers worldwide, and that's 23.5 million more premium subscribers than anyone else at this point.

The challengers will come. However, there are certain things that come with Netflix's girth. No one can pay as well as Netflix -- unless it's an upstart with a death wish -- because no one can divide the investment by a pool of paying couch potatoes as deep as Reed Hastings' company.

There has never been a dull moment watching Netflix, but this year promises to be more action-packed than even last year's sharp ascent and brutal crash.

Pass the popcorn.

Briefly in the news
And now let's take a quick look at some of the other stories that shaped our week.

• Sirius XM Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI  ) posted fourth-quarter results. The satellite-radio giant continues to post improving margins. It now expects to close out 2012 with 23.2 million subscribers.
• OpenTable (Nasdaq: OPEN  ) served up better-than-expected results, but investors sent the stock back to the kitchen, fearing that its near-term prospects aren't so hot. There are now more than 25,000 restaurants worldwide using OpenTable's platform for Web-based dining reservations.
• Akamai (Nasdaq: AKAM  ) shares climbed after posting strong financials and raising its guidance. Investors fearing that content-delivery networks were on the way out given last year's competitive pricing underestimated this niche leader.
• Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq: ATVI  ) continues to shed World of Warcraft players, but there's strength in its other key franchises. A third of the leading video-game company's revenue now stems from digital sales.

Moving on
Now that you've had a glimpse of the past, let's delve into the future. A new report details the latest Rule-Breaking multibagger that has earned Fool co-founder David Gardner's eager attention. The report is free, and you're closer to it than you might think. Check it out now.