Tearsheet

Imax (IMAX)


Market Price (12/18/2025): $37.4 | Market Cap: $2.0 Bil
Sector: Communication Services | Industry: Movies & Entertainment

Imax (IMAX)


Market Price (12/18/2025): $37.4
Market Cap: $2.0 Bil
Sector: Communication Services
Industry: Movies & Entertainment

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 29%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 17%
Trading close to highs
Dist 52W High is -4.1%, Dist 3Y High is -4.1%
Key risks
IMAX key risks include [1] a dependence on the blockbuster film slate to drive box office leverage and expansion plans, Show more.
1 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 34%
Meaningful short interest
Short Interest % of Basic SharesShort Interest % of Basic Shares = (Short Interest Quantity) / (Basic Shares Outstanding). A high fraction of short interest can indicate potential risk of a short squeeze. is 12%
 
2 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Experience Economy & Premiumization. Themes include Experiential Retail, and Travel & Leisure Tech.
  
0 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 29%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 17%
1 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 34%
2 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Experience Economy & Premiumization. Themes include Experiential Retail, and Travel & Leisure Tech.
3 Trading close to highs
Dist 52W High is -4.1%, Dist 3Y High is -4.1%
4 Meaningful short interest
Short Interest % of Basic SharesShort Interest % of Basic Shares = (Short Interest Quantity) / (Basic Shares Outstanding). A high fraction of short interest can indicate potential risk of a short squeeze. is 12%
5 Key risks
IMAX key risks include [1] a dependence on the blockbuster film slate to drive box office leverage and expansion plans, Show more.

Valuation, Metrics & Events

IMAX Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

Here are the key points explaining the 31% stock movement for Imax (IMAX) for the approximate time period from August 31, 2025, to December 18, 2025: 1. Widespread Analyst Upgrades and Increased Price Targets.

During this period, multiple investment firms significantly upgraded their ratings and raised price targets for IMAX. Notably, on December 15, 2025, JP Morgan upgraded IMAX from 'Neutral' to 'Overweight' and increased its price target by 46.88% to $47.00 USD from $32.00 USD. This followed several other positive revisions in early December and late November, including Rosenblatt, Barrington Research, Benchmark, Wedbush, and Goldman Sachs, which collectively signaled strong market confidence and a positive outlook for the company.

2. Bullish Three-Year Financial Targets from Investor Day.

IMAX hosted an Investor Day on December 4, 2025, where management unveiled ambitious three-year financial targets that sparked an immediate rally in the stock. The company projected cumulative average revenue growth in the high single-digits to low double-digits, with adjusted earnings per share expected to expand at twice the rate of revenue growth. Additionally, IMAX anticipated its adjusted EBITDA margin to grow to over 50% by 2028, indicating significantly higher operating cash flows.

Show more

Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
IMAX Return-12%-1%-18%2%70%48%85%
Peers Return226%-47%1%18%-2%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%14%108%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
IMAX Win Rate50%50%25%58%58%67% 
Peers Win Rate51%47%33%53%50%42% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%73% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
IMAX Max Drawdown-65%-24%-32%0%-10%-16% 
Peers Max Drawdown-19%-51%-29%-27%-37% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: DLB, XPER, SPHR, CNK, AMC.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/17/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventIMAXS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-50.4%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven101.7%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven734 days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-65.7%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven191.9%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven349 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-48.3%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven93.5%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven2,997 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-67.4%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven207.1%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven186 days1,480 days

Compare to NFLX, ANGX, DCR, INHI, PSKY


In The Past

Imax's stock fell -50.4% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 3/5/2021. A -50.4% loss requires a 101.7% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About Imax (IMAX)

Better Bets than Imax (IMAX)

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to IMAX. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
PINS_11302025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11302025PINSPinterestMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-1.3%-1.3%-1.4%
TMUS_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025TMUST-Mobile USMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-5.0%-5.0%-6.4%
Z_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ZZillowMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-1.5%-1.5%-3.9%
IRDM_11072025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11072025IRDMIridium CommunicationsDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
1.3%1.3%-5.6%
TTD_10032025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE10032025TTDTrade DeskDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
-28.9%-28.9%-29.8%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
PINS_11302025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11302025PINSPinterestMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-1.3%-1.3%-1.4%
TMUS_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025TMUST-Mobile USMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-5.0%-5.0%-6.4%
Z_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ZZillowMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-1.5%-1.5%-3.9%
IRDM_11072025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11072025IRDMIridium CommunicationsDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
1.3%1.3%-5.6%
TTD_10032025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE10032025TTDTrade DeskDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
-28.9%-28.9%-29.8%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for Imax

Peers to compare with:

Financials

IMAXDLBXPERSPHRCNKAMCMedian
NameImax Dolby La.Xperi Sphere E.Cinemark AMC Ente. 
Mkt Price37.4267.145.8286.2723.491.8230.45
Mkt Cap2.06.40.33.12.70.92.3
Rev LTM3781,3494541,0543,1534,8671,201
Op Inc LTM74280-42-293367-2624
FCF LTM64430-2242278-29553
FCF 3Y Avg42355-42-430272-4190
CFO LTM109472-397445-43103
CFO 3Y Avg81389-2677422-18279

Growth & Margins

IMAXDLBXPERSPHRCNKAMCMedian
NameImax Dolby La.Xperi Sphere E.Cinemark AMC Ente. 
Rev Chg LTM9.3%5.9%-10.7%2.6%9.7%9.7%7.6%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg7.6%2.5%-2.4%16.5%8.2%6.3%7.0%
Rev Chg Q16.6%0.7%-16.0%-4.0%-7.0%-3.6%-3.8%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM4.2%0.2%-4.5%-1.0%-2.0%-1.0%-1.0%
Op Mgn LTM19.7%20.8%-9.2%-27.8%11.6%-0.5%5.6%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg15.2%20.6%-18.7%-30.6%11.2%-1.0%5.1%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM1.8%-0.7%3.2%0.4%-1.2%-2.8%-0.2%
CFO/Rev LTM28.9%35.0%-0.7%9.2%14.1%-0.9%11.7%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg21.9%29.6%-5.0%11.4%14.0%-4.0%12.7%
FCF/Rev LTM16.8%31.9%-4.9%3.9%8.8%-6.1%6.4%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg11.1%27.0%-8.3%-68.1%9.0%-9.1%0.3%

Valuation

IMAXDLBXPERSPHRCNKAMCMedian
NameImax Dolby La.Xperi Sphere E.Cinemark AMC Ente. 
Mkt Cap2.06.40.33.12.70.92.3
P/S4.74.80.72.11.00.31.6
P/EBIT24.422.98.4-149.59.3-12.08.9
P/E44.525.243.1-16.520.5-2.322.8
P/CFO16.113.6-88.623.17.2-34.710.4
Total Yield2.2%5.0%2.3%-6.1%5.5%-43.1%2.3%
Dividend Yield0.0%1.0%0.0%0.0%0.6%0.0%0.0%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg3.1%4.9%-10.6%-32.3%9.9%-28.2%-3.7%
D/E0.10.00.20.40.95.50.3
Net D/E0.1-0.1-0.10.30.85.30.2

Returns

IMAXDLBXPERSPHRCNKAMCMedian
NameImax Dolby La.Xperi Sphere E.Cinemark AMC Ente. 
1M Rtn6.4%4.6%-2.3%14.8%-20.4%-16.1%1.1%
3M Rtn15.5%-5.5%-2.7%40.4%-16.6%-35.5%-4.1%
6M Rtn28.2%-7.5%-24.9%124.4%-27.6%-39.7%-16.2%
12M Rtn47.9%-12.9%-44.9%127.0%-24.7%-57.2%-18.8%
3Y Rtn154.4%-0.6%-36.2%100.7%119.5%-96.1%50.0%
1M Excs Rtn5.7%3.8%-3.1%14.1%-21.1%-16.9%0.4%
3M Excs Rtn14.5%-7.7%-6.4%40.7%-16.8%-37.3%-7.1%
6M Excs Rtn15.8%-19.9%-37.3%112.0%-40.0%-52.1%-28.6%
12M Excs Rtn32.7%-24.7%-56.8%117.1%-37.1%-67.5%-30.9%
3Y Excs Rtn64.9%-72.5%-112.8%45.6%25.7%-165.0%-23.4%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Technology Products and Services234192   
Content Solutions127102   
All Other147603
Film Distribution  155
IMAX Maintenance  532253
IMAX format (IMAX DMR)  7128121
IMAX systems  6654107
Joint Revenue Sharing Arrangements (JRSA)  522088
Other Theater Business  228
Post-production  44 
New Business Initiatives   23
Film Post-Production    7
Total375301255137396


Assets by Segment
$ Mil20242023202220212020
Technology Products and Services529524   
Corporate and other non-segment specific assets144174282424206
Content Solutions9793   
All Other44301 24
Film Distribution  7615
IMAX Maintenance  393723
IMAX format (IMAX DMR)  483046
IMAX systems  250241278
Joint Revenue Sharing Arrangements (JRSA)  225224259
Other Theater Business  002
Post-production  3236 
New Business Initiatives   1 
Film Post-Production    37
Total815821883998889


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11282025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity6,193,774
Short Interest: % Change Since 11152025-4.8%
Average Daily Volume1,047,762
Days-to-Cover Short Interest5.91
Basic Shares Quantity53,788,000
Short % of Basic Shares11.5%

Earnings Returns History

Expand for More

 Forward Returns
Earnings Date1D Returns5D Returns21D Returns
10/23/20251.2%2.7%10.4%
7/24/2025-2.5%-11.6%-10.5%
2/19/2025-1.1%-5.5%-2.7%
10/30/202412.1%14.1%21.4%
7/25/20248.8%18.3%18.8%
2/27/202411.1%7.4%2.3%
10/25/2023-1.0%-0.4%-10.4%
7/26/20238.5%7.1%7.2%
...
SUMMARY STATS   
# Positive111112
# Negative998
Median Positive8.5%7.4%8.8%
Median Negative-2.5%-7.4%-10.2%
Max Positive18.7%18.3%32.7%
Max Negative-10.7%-11.6%-32.9%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251023202510-Q 9/30/2025
6302025724202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025423202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024219202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241030202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024725202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024425202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023227202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231025202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023726202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023427202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022222202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221031202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022729202210-Q 6/30/2022
3312022428202210-Q 3/31/2022
12312021224202210-K 12/31/2021

Insider Activity

Expand for More

 OwnerTitleFiling DateActionPriceSharesTransacted
Value
Value of
Held Shares
Form
0PABLO CALAMERACTO & EVP11102025Sell34.2320,586704,5661,399,344Form