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Cinemark Holdings, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 23.5% to $1,059.1 million: Total revenue was $1,059.1 million, against $857.5 million a year earlier. Admissions was $530.8 million, concessions $413.9 million and other revenue $114.4 million. Second-quarter revenue was $1,086.4 million. Source
  • Net income rose 146%: Net income was $124.2 million against $50.5 million; attributable to Cinemark it was $122.8 million against $49.5 million. Diluted EPS was $1.04 against $0.40. Second-quarter attributable net income was $139.4 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin up 460 basis points: Adjusted EBITDA was $267.6 million, against $177.6 million; the margin was 25.3%, versus 20.7% in the prior-year quarter. Second-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $294.0 million at a 27.1% margin. Source
  • Premium large format box office up 50%: Premium large format box office across XD, IMAX and ScreenX rose 50% year-over-year and surpassed the prior record by 20%. Source
  • Film rental costs rose 26%: Film rentals and advertising cost $309.3 million against $245.5 million, while admissions revenue rose to $530.8 million from $429.7 million. Second-quarter film costs were $311.9 million. Source
  • Capital expenditures reached $70.4 million: Capital expenditures were $70.4 million, with $58.0 million in the U.S. and $12.4 million internationally, and $169.7 million year to date. Spending went to new build theaters, recliner remodels, laser projector conversions and premium amenities. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $66 million: Cash from operations was $136 million and free cash flow $66 million in the quarter. Nine-month free cash flow was $306.1 million, against $142.7 million a year earlier. Source

“Following our record-breaking second quarter, we once again delivered exceptional Q3 results with worldwide revenue and Adjusted EBITDA reaching third quarter highs, and Adjusted EBITDA margin expanding 460 basis points year-over-year,”

Sean Gamble, Cinemark’s President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Capital expenditures Sourcefull yearapproximately $250 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The third-quarter release adds a full-year capital expenditure figure of approximately $250 million; the second-quarter release gave no such figure. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 23.5% to $1,059.1 million: Total revenue was $1,059.1 million, against $857.5 million a year earlier. Admissions was $530.8 million, concessions $413.9 million and other revenue $114.4 million. Second-quarter revenue was $1,086.4 million. Source
  • Net income rose 146%: Net income was $124.2 million against $50.5 million; attributable to Cinemark it was $122.8 million against $49.5 million. Diluted EPS was $1.04 against $0.40. Second-quarter attributable net income was $139.4 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin up 460 basis points: Adjusted EBITDA was $267.6 million, against $177.6 million; the margin was 25.3%, versus 20.7% in the prior-year quarter. Second-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $294.0 million at a 27.1% margin. Source
  • Nine-month revenue up 19.2%: Nine-month revenue was $2,788.6 million. Nine-month net income attributable to Cinemark was $255.8 million and diluted EPS $2.17, against $104.1 million and $0.77. Nine-month Adjusted EBITDA was $650.1 million against $446.2 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • U.S. Adjusted EBITDA reached $203.1 million: U.S. revenue was $817.5 million against $683.6 million, and U.S. Adjusted EBITDA was $203.1 million against $140.2 million. U.S. Adjusted EBITDA was $234.0 million in the second quarter. Source
  • International revenue rose to $241.6 million: International revenue was $241.6 million against $173.9 million, or $236.6 million at constant currency. International Adjusted EBITDA was $64.5 million against $37.4 million. Source
  • Segment ticket prices rose in both regions: U.S. average ticket price was $11.16 against $10.50, and international was $4.32 against $3.87. U.S. concession revenue per patron was $8.66 against $8.20. Source
  • Footprint screen counts shifted slightly: The company description lists 4,211 U.S. screens, down from 4,219 in the second-quarter release, and 1,407 international screens, up from 1,401. International theaters rose from 194 to 195. Source

“we remain highly confident in our long-term growth prospects and value proposition, supported by favorable consumer trends and content dynamics”

Sean Gamble, Cinemark’s President and CEO

Attendance, pricing and concessions

  • Attendance rose in both regions: U.S. attendance was 37.4 million against 33.2 million, and international attendance was 26.3 million against 21.0 million. Total attendance was 63.7 million against 54.2 million. Source
  • Worldwide ticket price rose to $8.33: Worldwide average ticket price was $8.33, against $7.93 a year earlier and $8.48 in the second quarter. Source
  • Concession spend per patron rose: Concession revenue was $413.9 million against $336.7 million, and concession revenue per patron was $6.50 against $6.21. Management credited continued execution of strategic initiatives. Source
  • Premium large format box office up 50%: Premium large format box office across XD, IMAX and ScreenX rose 50% year-over-year and surpassed the prior record by 20%. Source

Costs and margins

  • Film rental costs rose 26%: Film rentals and advertising cost $309.3 million against $245.5 million, while admissions revenue rose to $530.8 million from $429.7 million. Second-quarter film costs were $311.9 million. Source
  • Total operating costs rose 14.7%: Total cost of operations was $852.5 million against $743.1 million. Utilities and other cost $142.9 million, facility lease expense $90.4 million, and salaries and wages $116.1 million. Source
  • Operating income rose to $206.6 million: Operating income was $206.6 million against $114.4 million. Income tax expense was $50.3 million, against a $22.9 million benefit a year earlier. The prior-year quarter also included a $54.5 million loss on warrants. Source

Demand and market share

  • Market share gains since the pandemic: Management said the company sustained market share gains of more than 150 basis points since the pandemic in the U.S. and Latin America, the most significant gains of all major exhibitors. Source
  • Summer releases cited for momentum: Management described positive box office momentum from a compelling slate of summer releases, which it linked to earnings growth. Source
  • 64 million moviegoers entertained: The company said it entertained 64 million moviegoers across 14 countries in the quarter; reported attendance was 63.7 million. Source

Capital, cash and investment

  • Capital expenditures reached $70.4 million: Capital expenditures were $70.4 million, with $58.0 million in the U.S. and $12.4 million internationally, and $169.7 million year to date. Spending went to new build theaters, recliner remodels, laser projector conversions and premium amenities. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $66 million: Cash from operations was $136 million and free cash flow $66 million in the quarter. Nine-month free cash flow was $306.1 million, against $142.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cash balance rose to $555.5 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $555.5 million at September 30, up from $504.3 million at June 30. Long-term debt, net, was $1,876.4 million and total equity was $622.8 million. Source
  • Financing outflow narrowed year over year: Nine-month financing activities used $95.7 million, against $761.8 million a year earlier. The third-quarter release gives no quarterly share repurchase or dividend figure. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Attendance (patrons) Source63.7 million
Theaters Sourcenearly 500
Screens Sourcemore than 5,600
Worldwide average ticket price Source$8.33
Concession revenue per patron Source$6.50
Premium large format box office growth Source50% year-over-year

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management noted that changes in foreign currency exchange rates can cause meaningful variations in reported results; the constant currency figures exclude that effect. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The company refers to progress toward a full-year expected investment of approximately $250 million; no status beyond that reference is given. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.