Business
How IMAX crushed other theater stocks in 2025
An Imax private screening for the movie “First Man” at an AMC theater in New York on Oct. 10, 2018.
Lars Niki | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images
The theatrical industry is in flux — and one stock is rising above the rest.
Imax saw its shares jump more than 44% in 2025, even before the company announced that it had generated a record $1.28 billion at the global box office for the year. Those ticket sales marked a more than 40% increase over 2024 and were 13% higher than its previous record set in 2019.
Meanwhile, shares of fellow theatrical stocks AMC, Cinemark and Marcus Theatres cratered in 2025. AMC was down more than 60%, Cinemark’s stock fell 25% and Marcus Corp., which operates theaters and hotel chains, slumped around 28%.
The sharp declines on Wall Street come as theater operators struggle to grapple with massive changes in the industry.
Domestic ticket sales have rebounded from the record lows posted during the Covid pandemic, but remain about 25% below the the record-breaking $11.8 billion collected in 2018. The 2025 box office fell short of the $9 billion analysts had projected heading into the year, signaling to industry watchdogs that post-pandemic hurdles could be more permanent than anticipated.
“In an environment where consumer spending headwinds and economic concerns forced consumers to be choiceful with their entertainment spending, streaming services continue to represent an attractive option,” Eric Wold, executive director of equity research at Texas Capital Securities, told CNBC.
At the same time that consumer habits have shifted toward the home entertainment market, Hollywood is producing fewer films.
A combination of Wall Street penny-pinching, studio mergers and lingering production shutdowns from the pandemic and dual labor strikes has led to a significant drop-off in the number of movies hitting theaters.
“I think investors are still struggling with, and frankly, what everyone within the industry is still trying to figure out is, what is the real new normal for box office?” said Robert Fishman, senior research analyst at MoffettNathanson.
The winnowing of theatrical has left Imax ahead of the pack.
Move toward premium
When the theatrical slate is thin, Imax benefits, because when moviegoers do decide to leave their couches they are opting more and more for premium large format experiences.
In 2025, more than 16% of tickets sold for domestic showtimes were for these types of theaters, according to data from EntTelligence. That’s up from 15% in 2024 and 13.8% in 2023.
Often called PLFs, premium large format auditoriums are considered an elevated viewing experience, with bigger screens and higher-quality sound systems and seating options — and they come with higher ticket prices.
In 2025, general movie tickets averaged $13.29 apiece, while PLF tickets went for around $17.65 each, EntTelligence data showed. For comparison, premium tickets in 2024 averaged around $16.88 apiece.
As Hollywood shifts toward producing more big-budget blockbuster features — while medium-to-low-budget films are more often sent to streaming — PLF screens will become increasingly important.
After all, the films that benefit the most from PLF ticket sales have been Hollywood’s biggest releases, as audiences want to see explosive action movies and dazzling spectacles in the most state-of-the-art locations.
ScreenX is the world’s first multi-projection cinema with an immersive 270 degree field of view.
CJ 4DPLEX
On the docket for 2026 is Disney’s “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” Universal and Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” Netflix and Greta Gerwig’s “Narnia” and Warner Bros. and Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Three.”
All of these films were shot with Imax film cameras and will have theatrical releases on Imax screens.
The company has forecast its 2026 global box office haul at a new record of $1.4 billion.
“We see no signs of slowing down given a very promising slate ahead and the consistency of our market share gains, as filmmakers, studios, and audiences worldwide continue to gravitate toward the Imax experience,” said Rich Gelfond, CEO of Imax, in a statement Wednesday.
As of the end of September, Imax had more than 1,700 locations and a backlog of 478 contracts to build Imax screens. Notably, Imax screens represent less than 1% of the total movie screens worldwide.
Putting up profits
AMC, Cinemark and Marcus all have premium large format movie screens as part of their suite of theaters as well and have invested in creating more of these spaces in their cinemas.
But the chains are playing a game of catch-up.
AMC, in addition to its existing partnership with Imax, has plans to add more Dolby Cinema theaters to its U.S.-based locations as well as Screen X and 4DX auditoriums globally. Cinemark, too, made investments in the last year to add more Screen X theaters to its portfolio.
Of course, these upgrades can be expensive. In the case of AMC, renovations prior to the pandemic saddled the company with billions in debt, which was exacerbated during Covid-related shutdowns. The company is still dealing with this debt load.
Working in Imax’s favor is the fact that the company is notably asset-light, meaning it has minimized its ownership of physical assets like buildings by leveraging its technology and partnering with other companies.
Instead of costly real estate leases, Imax makes deals with cinema chains to install its equipment into their auditoriums and then takes a share of the box office receipts for films screened in those theaters.
AMC, Cinemark, Marcus and other theater operators, on the other hand, have the financial burden of rent and utility payments, which are only partially offset by ticket sales that they split with studios. Concessions — popcorn, soda and specialty food — have become the means for these businesses to drum up enough funds to cover expenses.
But, if the production slate isn’t strong and cinemas don’t have enough content to draw in moviegoers, then profitability is at risk.
In the first quarter of 2025, all three cinema stocks posted net losses. Marcus and Cinemark rebounded to profitability in the second and third quarter, as the calendar of films improved, while AMC posted two more periods in the red.
Imax, on the other hand, was profitable in all three quarters. Through the first nine months of 2025, Imax reported net income of $43 million, up 67% from the same period in 2024.
The theater stocks will all report fourth-quarter results in the coming weeks as earnings reports roll out.
A Lowe’s store in Concord, California, US, on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025.
David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Lowe’s topped Wall Street’s quarterly revenue and earnings expectations on Wednesday, as the retailer’s sales grew more than 10% year over year.
The home improvement company said it expects total sales for the full current fiscal year to range between $92 billion and $94 billion, which would be a roughly 7% to 9% increase over the prior year. It said it projects adjusted earnings per share to be between $12.25 and $12.75 for the full year. Lowe’s said it expects comparable sales, a metric that takes out one-time factors, to be approximately flat to up 2%.
In a news release, CEO Marvin Ellison said the company’s strategy is resonating with its do-it-yourself customers and home professionals, even as higher mortgage rates and slower real estate sales challenge its industry.
“While the housing macro remains pressured, we are focused on directing what is within our control, which includes our ongoing productivity initiatives,” he said. “We remain confident that we are well-positioned to take share regardless of the macro environment.”
Shares of Lowe’s fell in premarket trading as the company’s earnings per share projections for the year fell short of analysts’ consensus expectations of $12.95, according to LSEG.
Here’s what Lowe’s reported for the fiscal fourth quarter compared with Wall Street’s estimates, according to a survey of analysts by LSEG:
- Earnings per share: $1.98 adjusted vs. $1.94 expected
- Revenue: $20.58 billion vs. $20.34 billion expected
Lowe’s net income for the three-month period that ended Jan. 30 dropped to $999 million, or $1.78 per share, from $1.13 billion, or $1.99 per share, in the year-ago quarter. Excluding one-time factors, including expenses associated with recent acquisitions, Lowe’s reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.98.
Revenue rose from $18.55 billion in the year-ago period.
Comparable sales for the quarter climbed 1.3%, higher than the 0.2% that analysts were expecting, according to StreetAccount. The company said in a news release that growth was driven by its gains with home professionals, online sales and home services, along with a strong holiday season.
Its competitor, Home Depot, on Tuesday beat Wall Street’s earnings and revenue expectations, but stuck by conservative full-year guidance. Its quarterly results reflected that home improvement demand remains tepid, as U.S. consumers continue to put off big projects because of high borrowing costs and housing prices as well as economic concerns.
Like Home Depot, Lowe’s has felt pinched by a tougher backdrop for the industry. Both have acquired companies that cater to contractors and other professionals, which tend to be a steadier source of business.
Last year, Lowe’s acquired Foundation Building Materials, a distributor of drywall, insulation and other interior building products for large residential and commercial professionals, for about $8.8 billion. It also bought Artisan Design Group, which provides design services and installation of flooring, cabinets and countertops for homebuilders and property managers, for about $1.33 billion.
Lowe’s has also made its own moves to reach customers who are delaying home purchases, such as launching a third-party marketplace to expand its mix of merchandise, tapping influencers to raise its visibility on social media and reaching out to young families by relaunching its kids’ program.
As of Tuesday’s close, Lowe’s shares are up nearly 16% year to date, surpassing the S&P 500’s roughly 1% gains during the same period. Its stock has risen about 15% over the past year, almost matching the S&P 500’s approximately 16% gains over that time.
Business
‘Civilisational shift’: TCS CEO K Krithivasan encourages AI adoption even if it ‘cannibalises revenue’ – The Times of India
IT giant TCS encourages the use of artificial intelligence by its employees even if it affects their revenue streams, said its CEO, explaining the advantages of the firm’s approach. He described the adoption of AI as a ‘civilisational shift’.Speaking at the annual NTLF event in Mumbai, Managing Director and Chief Executive K Krithivasan said, “”We encourage our associates to go out (to the customers and use AI), even if it means cannibalising our revenues,” adding that the younger staff are faster to use than their senior employees.TCS is ensuring that each of its more than six lakh employees becomes “AI fluent,” Chief Executive Officer K Krithivasan said, emphasising that the company is not “afraid” of artificial intelligence impacting jobs.As part of this push, the company has encouraged associates to actively explore the use of AI in client projects, he said. Krithivasan added that employees are showing strong interest in acquiring AI skills, noting that there has been no need to introduce special incentives to drive adoption.Senior employees often consume large amounts of information but may not always translate that knowledge into practical outcomes, K Krithivasan added, highlighting the need for a more hands-on approach to artificial intelligence.He stressed that AI adoption goes beyond merely issuing prompts on generative AI platforms such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, noting that employees must actively build solutions using AI tools. “It is not about just giving a few prompts,” he said, adding that staffers need to “get their hands dirty.”Krithivasan described AI as a “civilizational shift,” calling it a form of democratised knowledge capable of addressing problems that have remained unsolved for decades.He observed that AI has increasingly become a board-level priority, with chief information officers being tasked to identify and deploy relevant solutions. While AI is expected to drive productivity gains, he said TCS remains equally focused on delivering tangible benefits to customers through the technology.Addressing concerns around AI governance, Krithivasan said the company is also exploring frameworks where AI systems can help regulate and monitor other AI applications through the use of multiple agents.
Business
Day 3: Clean Max Enviro Energy IPO Vs Shree Ram Twistex IPO; Know GMP, Subscription And Reviews
Last Updated:
Clean Max Enviro Energy and Shree Ram Twistex IPOs are open for public subscription till 5 pm today; here’s which one looks better.
Clean Max Enviro Energy IPO Vs Shree Ram Twistex IPO.
Two mainboard IPOs — Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions and Shree Ram Twistex — have been closed today, February 25. The IPOs offer investors a choice between a renewable energy infrastructure play and a textile manufacturing bet. Here’s a comparison based on subscription data, grey market premium (GMP), valuations and broker views.
Subscription Status (Day 3)
On Day 3, Clean Max Enviro Energy IPO was subscribed 0.99 times. QIB demand stood at 2.99x, NII at 0.57x and retail at 0.07x, indicating subdued interest from investors.
Shree Ram Twistex IPO saw overall subscription of 43.66 times. Retail demand was at 76.63x, while QIB participation was 3.94x and NII stood at 220.30x.
Price Band And Issue Size
Clean Max Enviro Energy IPO is a Rs 3,100-crore issue comprising Rs 1,200 crore fresh issue and Rs 1,900 crore offer for sale. The price band is Rs 1,000-Rs 1,053 per share and minimum retail investment is Rs 14,742 for one lot of 14 shares.
Shree Ram Twistex IPO is a much smaller Rs 110.24-crore fresh issue priced at Rs 95-Rs 104 per share. Retail investors need Rs 14,976 to apply for one lot of 144 shares.
Grey Market Premium (GMP)
Clean Max Enviro’s GMP stood at (-)Rs 3, implying an estimated listing price of Rs 1,050, suggesting negative listing.
Shree Ram Twistex GMP was Rs 16.5, indicating an estimated listing price of Rs 120.5, or about 15.87% potential upside.
Both companies will be listed on BSE and NSE on March 2.
Business Positioning
Clean Max is India’s largest commercial and industrial (C&I) renewable energy service provider with roughly 8% market share. Analysts note the segment has a potential market size of about Rs 3 lakh crore as corporates — which consume nearly half of India’s electricity — increasingly shift toward green energy.
Shree Ram Twistex operates in the textile sector as a cotton yarn manufacturer serving B2B markets. Industry estimates suggest India’s textile sector could grow from about $174 billion to $350 billion by 2030, driven by exports, sustainability trends and policy support.
Analysts’ Views
SBI Securities highlighted Clean Max’s capital-efficient model and relatively low leverage, but noted the IPO is valued at EV/EBITDA of about 21.7x (FY25) and 16.3x (annualised 1HFY26).
Aditya Birla Capital said, “At the upper price-band, the issue is valued at 16x EV/Ebitda, which according to us, is expensive,” though it assigned a ‘Subscribe for long-term’ rating citing industry growth visibility.
For Shree Ram Twistex, Swastika Investmart said valuation at around 29-30x P/E already factors in most future growth and advised investors seeking listing gains to avoid the issue. Master Capital Services noted investors may consider it as a long-term opportunity given sector growth prospects.
Use Of Proceeds
Clean Max will use Rs 1,125 crore from fresh proceeds to repay debt, with the remainder for general corporate purposes.
Shree Ram Twistex will deploy proceeds for business expansion and operational requirements as it is entirely a fresh issue.
Which IPO Looks Better?
For listing gains, Shree Ram Twistex currently shows stronger grey market sentiment and investor traction. Clean Max, on the other hand, has stronger QIB participation but muted GMP, suggesting institutional conviction but limited short-term listing pop expectations.
For long-term investors, both issues are being viewed positively but with valuation caution. Clean Max offers exposure to the fast-growing renewable C&I power segment, while Shree Ram Twistex provides a play on India’s expanding textile exports and domestic demand.
Disclaimer:Disclaimer: The views and investment tips shared in this article are for general information purposes only. Readers are advised to consult a certified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
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February 25, 2026, 11:52 IST
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