IMAX vs CNK Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
IMAX and Cinemark both operate within the theatrical exhibition industry, but IMAX operates an asset-light licensing model for its premium large-format technology installed in theaters worldwide, while Cinemark directly owns and operates a large network of multiplex theaters across the Americas.
IMAX offers exposure to premium format licensing revenue tied to blockbuster film performance and international theater network growth, while CNK offers exposure to broad theatrical attendance recovery through directly operated multiplex theaters. The decision depends on whether you prefer an asset-light premium format model or direct theater operating leverage.
IMAX holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. IMAX has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+65.11% vs +24.80%), though CNK has the better forward P/E setup (13.47x vs 25.01x for IMAX). On fundamentals, CNK is growing revenue faster (15.50%), while IMAX maintains the higher operating margin (22.53%) — a classic growth-versus-profitability split. Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for CNK (+11.38%) than for IMAX (+1.73%).
Human Wall Street analysts' price targets, typically implying a ~12-month view — a separate signal from this site's own AI Prediction Signal further down the page, which is a 5-/30-day machine-learning forecast based on price history alone.
- Want exposure to an asset-light, premium format licensing business model
- Value strong brand recognition supporting pricing power for the premium theatrical experience
- Believe international theater network expansion will continue driving growth
- Are comfortable with revenue closely tied to blockbuster film release performance
- Want exposure to a broad, directly operated theater network across the Americas
- Value operating leverage that can benefit from continued attendance recovery
- Believe concession and premium format upsell can support revenue per patron growth
- Are comfortable with high fixed costs tied to a large operated theater network
| Metric | IMAX | CNK |
|---|---|---|
| AI scorei | 35.6 | 25.9 |
| AI ranki | #1672 | #2689 |
| Latest closei | $53.43 | $34.83 |
| 1M returni | +1.04% | -6.60% |
| 6M returni | +36.34% | +32.74% |
| 1Y returni | +65.11% | +24.80% |
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | IMAX | CNK |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $16.31K (+63.1%) started 2025-09-15 | $12.51K (+25.1%) started 2025-09-15 |
| 5Y ago | $32.56K (+225.6%) started 2021-09-14 | $20.08K (+100.8%) started 2021-09-14 |
| 10Y ago | $18.6K (+86.0%) started 2016-09-14 | $12.36K (+23.6%) started 2016-09-14 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | IMAX | CNK |
|---|---|---|
| Market capi | $2.84B | $4.09B |
| Trailing P/Ei | 71.00 | 19.70 |
| Forward P/Ei | 25.01 | 13.47 |
| Price/Salesi | N/A | N/A |
| EV/Revenuei | 7.26 | 1.92 |
| Analyst targeti | $52.73 | $39.27 |
| Target upsidei | +1.73% | +11.38% |
| Metric | IMAX | CNK |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growthi | 12.20% | 15.50% |
| Earnings growthi | 35.00% | 88.60% |
| EPS growthi | +35.00% | +88.60% |
| FCF margini | +26.24% | +6.77% |
| Operating margini | 22.53% | 21.70% |
| Profit margini | 9.84% | 6.44% |
| ROIC proxyi | 11.02% | 45.82% |
| Return on equityi | 11.02% | 45.82% |
| Dividend yieldi | N/A | 1.04% |
| Payout ratioi | 0.00% | 19.55% |
| Dividend growth streaki | N/A | No increase yet |
| Betai | 0.39 | 0.99 |
| Debt/equityi | 62.75 | 587.53 |
| Current ratioi | 4.26 | 0.84 |
| Quick ratioi | 3.80 | 0.76 |
Over the past year, IMAX and CNK have moved moderately in the same direction (correlation of 0.42), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | IMAX | CNK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +63.15% | +23.62% |
| CAGRi | +63.42% | +23.71% | |
| Volatilityi | 42.80% | 40.20% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 1.26 | 0.62 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 2.27 | 0.92 | |
| Max drawdowni | 22.74% | 27.65% | |
| Current drawdowni | 2.48% | 9.08% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 6.80% | 9.43% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 8.86% | 12.07% | |
| Max daily dropi | 6.39% | 9.35% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 11.36% | 19.83% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +225.59% | +96.62% |
| CAGRi | +26.63% | +14.48% | |
| Volatilityi | 40.27% | 42.57% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.68 | 0.43 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 1.07 | 0.63 | |
| Max drawdowni | 44.21% | 62.23% | |
| Current drawdowni | 2.48% | 9.08% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 14.94% | 22.93% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 18.27% | 26.43% | |
| Max daily dropi | 9.53% | 13.58% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 15.09% | 25.42% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +85.97% | +5.81% |
| CAGRi | +6.40% | +0.57% | |
| Volatilityi | 46.43% | 56.10% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.26 | 0.20 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.41 | 0.31 | |
| Max drawdowni | 79.43% | 83.80% | |
| Current drawdowni | 2.48% | 12.41% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 37.96% | 36.42% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 41.86% | 43.48% | |
| Max daily dropi | 25.74% | 31.29% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 53.14% | 68.38% |
| Category | IMAX | CNK |
|---|---|---|
| Company | IMAX Corporation | Cinemark Holdings, Inc. |
| Sector | Communication Services | Communication Services |
| Industry | Entertainment | Entertainment |
| Core business | A technology and entertainment company that licenses its premium large-format projection and sound systems to theaters worldwide, generating revenue through system installations, licensing fees, and a share of box office receipts. | A movie theater chain operating a network of multiplex cinemas across the United States and Latin America, generating revenue from ticket sales, concessions, and advertising. |
| Investor focus | Growth in IMAX theater network installations, particularly internationally, box office performance of films released in the IMAX format, and licensing revenue trends. | Domestic and Latin American attendance trends, average ticket price and concession spending per patron, and operating margin leverage as attendance recovers toward pre-pandemic levels. |
- Asset-light licensing model generates revenue from theater installations and box office participation without owning and operating theaters directly
- Premium format brand recognition supports pricing power and consumer willingness to pay more for the IMAX experience
- International theater network expansion, particularly in China, provides a growth avenue beyond mature domestic markets
- Established theater network across the United States and Latin America provides a broad, diversified attendance base
- Concession and premium format upsell opportunities support incremental revenue per patron beyond ticket sales alone
- Latin American market exposure provides geographic diversification and potential for longer-term attendance growth
- Revenue is closely tied to the number and box office performance of major blockbuster films released in the IMAX format
- International expansion, particularly in China, carries geopolitical and regulatory considerations that can affect growth pace
- Faces competition from theater chains' own premium large-format offerings and alternative premium viewing technologies
- Attendance remains sensitive to the theatrical release slate and quality of major studio film content
- High fixed costs associated with operating a large theater network create operating leverage that cuts both ways with attendance trends
- Faces ongoing competition from streaming services and shortened theatrical release windows affecting overall moviegoing habits
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