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IMAX Corporation (IMAX - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2019 adjusted earnings of 35 cents per share that beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 16.7% and increased 34.6% year over year.
Total revenues of $1.24 billion beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.1% and increased 14.1% from the year-ago quarter.
The year-over-year revenue growth was driven by an upside in the theater and network business segment.
Category-wise, equipment & product sales and services revenues were up 32.8% and 1.9% year over year to $61.6 million and $43.6 million, respectively.
However, rental revenues and financial income decreased 2.3% and 10% from the year-ago quarter to $16.3 million and $2.8 million, respectively.
IMAX Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
IMAX network business revenues were $43 million, up 3.3% year over year due to an increase in IMAX DMR revenues.
Within the segment, IMAX DMR revenues were up 6.5% to $26.9 million. Gross box office from IMAX DMR films increased 1.9% year over year to $241.1 million in the reported quarter driven by international gross box office and domestic gross box office, which came in at $96.2 million and $91.5 million, respectively.
The company reported Greater China box office revenues of $53.4 million for the fourth quarter 2019. Notably, Greater China is currently the company’s largest market, measured by revenues, with around 31% of overall revenues generated from the company’s China operations in 2019.
Joint revenue sharing arrangements-contingent rent was $16.3 million, down 1.4% year over year.
Theater Business
IMAX theater business generated revenues of $77.6 million, which increased 25.3% year over year.
Within this segment, IMAX systems revenues increased 38.9% from the year-ago quarter to $57.1 million. Theater system maintenance revenues were $13.3 million, up 9.1%.
However, Joint revenue sharing arrangements-fixed fees were $4.5 million, down 23.7% year over year. Other theater revenues declined 1% to $2.6 million in the reported quarter.
New Business & Others
New Business generated revenues of $0.84 million and other revenues were $2.8 million in fourth-quarter 2019.
Network Growth Statistics
As of Dec 31, 2019, 73% of IMAX theater systems in operation were located within international markets (defined as all countries other than the United States and Canada), up from 70.1% as of Dec 31, 2018.
There were 1,624 theater systems (1,529 commercial multiplex, 14 commercial destination, 81 institutional) operating in 81 countries and territories as of Dec 31, 2019.
There were 531 theaters in backlog as of Dec 31, 2019 compared with 564 in the corresponding period of 2019.
The company installed 58 new IMAX systems in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Operating Details
Gross margin expanded 10 basis points (bps) on a year-over-year basis to 50.2% in the reported quarter.
Network business gross margin contracted 240 bps on a year-over-year basis to 56.8%, primarily driven by increased contractual marketing expense.
Theater gross margin expanded 410 bps on a year-over-year basis to 51.2% in fourth-quarter 2019 due to more systems installed in the quarter.
Adjusted EBITDA was $46.9 million in the reported quarter compared with $36.3 million in the year-ago period. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 440 basis points to 37.8%.
Selling, general & administrative (SG&A) expenses increased 13.3% year over year to $31.5 million.
Research & development (R&D) expenses decreased 32% on a year-over-year basis to $1.5 million primarily due to decreased spending on the company’s updated laser-based digital projection system compared with the year-ago quarter.
Operating income margin expanded to 20% in the reported quarter compared with 3.4% in the year-ago period.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
As of Dec 31, 2019, IMAX had cash and cash equivalents were $109.5 million compared with $102.5 million in the prior quarter.
Cash flow from operating activities was $90.4 million compared with $67.3 million in the prior quarter.
Free cash flow was $10.77 million compared with $7.77 million in the prior quarter.
2020 Guidance
IMAX stated that films including Wonder Woman 1984, No Time To Die (newest instalment in the James Bond franchise), Chris Nolan’s latest sci-fi epic, TENET, Paramount’s Top Gun: Maverick and Detective Chinatown 3, Marvel’s Black Widow and Eternals to Fast 9 among others will use IMAX cameras in 2020.
Notably, Comcast’s (CMCSA - Free Report) Universal Pictures is one of the producers of the film.
Management expects four of the postponed titles from the Chinese New Year slate to arrive in theaters in 2020. However, slump in IMAX China box office revenues is anticipated due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Long-term earnings growth rate for both Gray Television and Netflix is currently pegged at 10%.
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IMAX's Q4 Earnings Surpass Estimates, Revenues Rise Y/Y
IMAX Corporation (IMAX - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2019 adjusted earnings of 35 cents per share that beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 16.7% and increased 34.6% year over year.
Total revenues of $1.24 billion beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.1% and increased 14.1% from the year-ago quarter.
The year-over-year revenue growth was driven by an upside in the theater and network business segment.
Category-wise, equipment & product sales and services revenues were up 32.8% and 1.9% year over year to $61.6 million and $43.6 million, respectively.
However, rental revenues and financial income decreased 2.3% and 10% from the year-ago quarter to $16.3 million and $2.8 million, respectively.
IMAX Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
IMAX Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | IMAX Corporation Quote
Segment Details
Network Business
IMAX network business revenues were $43 million, up 3.3% year over year due to an increase in IMAX DMR revenues.
Within the segment, IMAX DMR revenues were up 6.5% to $26.9 million. Gross box office from IMAX DMR films increased 1.9% year over year to $241.1 million in the reported quarter driven by international gross box office and domestic gross box office, which came in at $96.2 million and $91.5 million, respectively.
The company reported Greater China box office revenues of $53.4 million for the fourth quarter 2019. Notably, Greater China is currently the company’s largest market, measured by revenues, with around 31% of overall revenues generated from the company’s China operations in 2019.
Joint revenue sharing arrangements-contingent rent was $16.3 million, down 1.4% year over year.
Theater Business
IMAX theater business generated revenues of $77.6 million, which increased 25.3% year over year.
Within this segment, IMAX systems revenues increased 38.9% from the year-ago quarter to $57.1 million. Theater system maintenance revenues were $13.3 million, up 9.1%.
However, Joint revenue sharing arrangements-fixed fees were $4.5 million, down 23.7% year over year. Other theater revenues declined 1% to $2.6 million in the reported quarter.
New Business & Others
New Business generated revenues of $0.84 million and other revenues were $2.8 million in fourth-quarter 2019.
Network Growth Statistics
As of Dec 31, 2019, 73% of IMAX theater systems in operation were located within international markets (defined as all countries other than the United States and Canada), up from 70.1% as of Dec 31, 2018.
There were 1,624 theater systems (1,529 commercial multiplex, 14 commercial destination, 81 institutional) operating in 81 countries and territories as of Dec 31, 2019.
There were 531 theaters in backlog as of Dec 31, 2019 compared with 564 in the corresponding period of 2019.
The company installed 58 new IMAX systems in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Operating Details
Gross margin expanded 10 basis points (bps) on a year-over-year basis to 50.2% in the reported quarter.
Network business gross margin contracted 240 bps on a year-over-year basis to 56.8%, primarily driven by increased contractual marketing expense.
Theater gross margin expanded 410 bps on a year-over-year basis to 51.2% in fourth-quarter 2019 due to more systems installed in the quarter.
Adjusted EBITDA was $46.9 million in the reported quarter compared with $36.3 million in the year-ago period. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 440 basis points to 37.8%.
Selling, general & administrative (SG&A) expenses increased 13.3% year over year to $31.5 million.
Research & development (R&D) expenses decreased 32% on a year-over-year basis to $1.5 million primarily due to decreased spending on the company’s updated laser-based digital projection system compared with the year-ago quarter.
Operating income margin expanded to 20% in the reported quarter compared with 3.4% in the year-ago period.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
As of Dec 31, 2019, IMAX had cash and cash equivalents were $109.5 million compared with $102.5 million in the prior quarter.
Cash flow from operating activities was $90.4 million compared with $67.3 million in the prior quarter.
Free cash flow was $10.77 million compared with $7.77 million in the prior quarter.
2020 Guidance
IMAX stated that films including Wonder Woman 1984, No Time To Die (newest instalment in the James Bond franchise), Chris Nolan’s latest sci-fi epic, TENET, Paramount’s Top Gun: Maverick and Detective Chinatown 3, Marvel’s Black Widow and Eternals to Fast 9 among others will use IMAX cameras in 2020.
Notably, Comcast’s (CMCSA - Free Report) Universal Pictures is one of the producers of the film.
Management expects four of the postponed titles from the Chinese New Year slate to arrive in theaters in 2020. However, slump in IMAX China box office revenues is anticipated due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
IMAX currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Gray Television, Inc. (GTN - Free Report) and Netflix, Inc. (NFLX - Free Report) are a couple of better-ranked stocks in the broader consumer discretionary sector, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Long-term earnings growth rate for both Gray Television and Netflix is currently pegged at 10%.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
See 8 breakthrough stocks now>>