Streaming-video giant Netflix reported first-quarter subscriber gains Monday that fell short of estimates — largely because there wasn’t a “House of Cards”-style hit to draw new viewers and retain others.

But the lack of big-budget productions also boosted the company’s net income. Next quarter, with the return of “House of Cards” and three major movies on the release schedule, profit will miss estimates while customer gains will improve, Netflix said.

The conundrum whipsawed Netflix investors late Monday, with the stock dropping on the subscriber figures before recovering later and moving higher. The shares rose 1.4 percent to $149.30 in extended trading after results were announced. They have gained 15 percent this year through April 13.

The world’s biggest paid video service signed up 4.95 million new customers last quarter, fewer than the 5.49 million that analysts were expecting. It will make up some of that in the current period, with a forecast for viewer growth that beat analysts’ expectations.

Netflix needs to add millions of subscribers every quarter to help pay for the billions of dollars the company spends making TV shows and movies or licensing programs from others. The company, which has committed $15.3 billion for movies and TV shows over the next five years, hasn’t given any indication that it plans to slow those outlays and said Monday that it plans to raise money this quarter by issuing long-term debt.

Netflix released 17 stand-up specials, nine feature films and an array of original series for kids and adults, but it blamed the absence of one show — “House of Cards” — for its slower-than-

projected viewer growth.

The company also said that it has no plans to pursue deals to broadcast major league sports, a contrast to one of its streaming rivals, Amazon.com. (Amazon chief executive Jeffrey P. Bezos owns The Washington Post.)

Netflix could turn the tide in the second quarter, typically one of its weakest. The company, based in Los Gatos, Calif., has lined up a slew of high-profile releases in the coming months, including new seasons of “House of Cards,” “Orange Is the New Black” and “Master of None.”

The heavy second-quarter schedule comes with costs and highlights a dilemma. Because of those expenses, Netflix said profit in the period will be 15 cents a share, short of analysts’ estimate of 23 cents. Revenue will be $2.75 billion, vs. Wall Street projections of $2.76 billion. The first quarter, lighter on new releases, was the company’s most profitable ever and the first time that international operations made money.

Investors have permitted Netflix to operate near break-even on the expectation that the company, which expects to top 100 million customers this week, will continue to grow rapidly, especially outside the United States.

Chief executive Reed Hastings has also pledged to deliver material profits starting this year. The company said first-quarter profit more than quadrupled to $178 million, or 40 cents a share, compared with analysts’ predictions of 37 cents. Revenue grew 35 percent to $2.64 billion.

Netflix’s investment in original programming has inspired competing technology companies and TV networks to up their spending, creating more competition for attention and eyeballs. Netflix said it will spend $1 billion on marketing in 2017 to bring more attention to its shows.