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Imax Corp(IMAX)

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ADVISORIES YOU CAN VERIFY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
2-STAR RATING
Consider higher Upturn Star rating
BUY for 47 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
+8.34% ▲
LAST CLOSE
$52.72
10/02/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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Upturn Advisory & Investor View for IMAX

10/02/2026: IMAX (2-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.

Imax Corp operates as a premium cinema technology provider, known for its high-quality projection systems and digital remastering services. The stock is a play on the resurgence of large-format theatrical experiences, with its primary strength being a unique, brand-driven consumer experience that major studios prioritize for blockbuster releases. The primary growth opportunity involves global network expansion and upgrading existing screens with newer laser technology. However, the company faces significant risks, including the compression of theatrical-to-streaming windows and intense competition from home entertainment. Imax generally suits investors comfortable with cyclical media volatility, as it lacks dividend income and relies heavily on the health of the broader film exhibition industry.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitThe company offers growth potential tied to cinema technology adoption but faces challenges from shifting distribution models.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveMomentum investors may favor the stock during strong box-office cycles when sentiment turns positive toward theatrical releases.
Value investorMixed fitValuation fluctuates significantly based on industry health and is not always aligned with traditional value metrics.
Dividend investorWeak fitThe company does not pay a consistent dividend, making it unsuitable for income-focused portfolios.
Low-risk investorWeak fitHigh sensitivity to global film release schedules and economic cycles makes the stock volatile.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighThe stock is susceptible to sharp price swings based on box-office performance reports.
Valuation riskMediumMarket pricing often reflects high future expectations for global film attendance.
Competition risk (Studio and PLF competition)Medium / highThe growth of rival premium large formats and shrinking release windows threaten its competitive edge.
Business qualityMediumWhile the brand is strong, the business remains heavily tied to the cyclical film industry.
Dividend incomeLow / noneThe lack of dividend payments provides no cushion for income-oriented investors.
Execution riskMediumSuccessfully installing systems and maintaining studio partnerships requires consistent operational excellence.

Price Behavior

Strong Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Strong Uptrend

The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -4.79%
Avg. Invested days 35
Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/02/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
IMAX receives a 4-star rating, supported by strong unit economics, solid company fundamentals, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum, and limited analyst upside.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
IMAX has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, solid growth momentum, and strong ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, solid earnings growth (+33.8%) and strong cash generation (FCF margin 29.0%) are partially offset by soft profitability (net margin 8.5%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
IMAX's financial health is supported by strong liquidity, including working-capital and asset support (WC/assets 34.7%). Profitability is solid (4 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is IMAX's strongest growth driver at +301.4% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). Revenue growth (+16.5%, solid) and earnings growth (+33.8%, solid) are also constructive, though not equally high across every growth measure.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 99.0% and approximately 76.4% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 17.93% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Orbis Allan Gray Ltd 9.39%
Delaware Management Holdings Inc 5.35%
BlackRock Inc 5.30%
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. 4.84%
Congress Asset Management Company, LLP 4.63%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
IMAX generates approximately $579 of gross profit, $233 of operating income, and $290 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Strong margins and strong cash conversion support the rating, although capital efficiency remains moderate.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 28.07%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
IMAX has a high-quality, liquid, relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while soft valuation.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Quality TiltLow VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Mid-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 2.88B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 71.95
1Y Target Price 56.68
Price to earnings Ratio 71.95
1Y Target Price 56.68
Volume (30-day avg) 985.4K shares
Beta 0.4
52 Weeks Range 30.74 - 57.73
Updated Date 10/02/2026
52 Weeks Range 30.74 - 57.73
Updated Date 10/02/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) 0.73

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Technology Sales/LeasingRevenue from the sale or rental of Imax projection systems to exhibitors.This is the 'hardware' side that provides recurring maintenance revenue and upfront system sales.
Content EnhancementFees earned from the DMR (Digital Re-Mastering) process for blockbuster films.This is a high-margin service segment tied to the popularity of major theatrical releases.
GeographyGlobal operations with significant exposure to North America and China.Investors should monitor international box-office health as a key driver for long-term growth.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE 71.95
Forward PE 28.99
Enterprise Value 3.06B
Price to Sales(TTM) 6.92
Enterprise Value 3.06B
Price to Sales(TTM) 6.92
Enterprise Value to Revenue 7.36
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 23.13
Shares Outstanding 54.84M
Shares Floating 41.89M
Shares Outstanding 54.84M
Shares Floating 41.89M
Percent Insiders 17.93
Percent Institutions 99.04

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Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

About Imax Corp

Exchange NYSE
Headquarters Mississauga, ON, Canada
IPO Launch date 1994-06-09
CEO & Director Mr. Richard Lewis Gelfond J.D.
Sector Communication Services
Industry Entertainment
Full time employees 679
Full time employees 679

IMAX Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a technology platform for entertainment and events in the United States, Canada, Greater China, rest of Asia, Western Europe, Latin America, and internationally. It operates through Content Solutions; and Technology Products and Services segments. The company offers IMAX film remastering, a proprietary technology that digitally remasters films and other content into IMAX formats for distribution to the IMAX network; IMAX Enhanced, which provides end-to-end technology across streaming content and entertainment devices at home; AI-driven video quality solutions for media and entertainment companies; and streaming technology software products. It also provides preventative and emergency maintenance services, and quality monitoring to the IMAX network; film post-production services; and IMAX film and digital cameras for content creators. In addition, the company engages in the distribution of format documentary films to institutional theaters, as well as live performances and interactive events with artists and creators; after-market sales of IMAX System parts and 3D glasses; sale or lease of IMAX theater systems; provision of management services to theaters; and rental of company's proprietary 2D and 3D large-format film cameras. The company markets its theater systems through a direct sales force and marketing staff to science and natural history museums, zoos, aquariums, and other educational and cultural centers, as well as theme parks, private home theaters, tourist destination sites, fairs, and expositions. It offers its services under the IMAX, IMAX 3D, Experience It In IMAX, The IMAX Experience, DMR, Filmed For IMAX, IMAX Live, IMAX Enhanced, and IMAX StreamSmart. IMAX Corporation was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Mississauga, Canada.