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National Cinemedia (NCMI)
NASDAQ:NCMI

National Cinemedia (NCMI) AI Stock Analysis

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NCMI

National Cinemedia

(NASDAQ:NCMI)

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Neutral 52 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:52Neutral
Price Target:
$4.00
▲(12.36% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:12/25/25
Overall score reflects mixed fundamentals: strong revenue growth, improving cash generation, and low leverage support the stock, but persistent losses (negative margins/ROE) and weak technical momentum keep the score constrained. A constructive earnings outlook (notably programmatic and Q4 guidance) provides a partial offset.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
Strong revenue growth indicates robust demand for NCMI's advertising solutions, enhancing its market position and long-term revenue potential.
Low Leverage
Low leverage provides financial stability and flexibility, allowing NCMI to invest in growth opportunities without significant debt burden.
Programmatic Revenue Growth
Significant growth in programmatic revenue reflects successful adaptation to digital trends, enhancing NCMI's competitive edge in targeted advertising.
Negative Factors
Profitability Challenges
Persistent profitability issues could hinder NCMI's ability to reinvest in the business and return value to shareholders, affecting long-term growth.
Decline in Attendance
Decreased attendance may reduce advertising reach and revenue potential, challenging NCMI's ability to maintain growth in a competitive market.
Negative Free Cash Flow
Negative free cash flow indicates operational inefficiencies and may limit NCMI's capacity to fund strategic initiatives without external financing.

National Cinemedia (NCMI) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

National Cinemedia Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionNational CineMedia, Inc., through its subsidiary, National CineMedia, LLC, operates cinema advertising network in North America. It engages in the sale of advertising to national, regional, and local businesses in Noovie, a cinema advertising and entertainment pre-show seen on movie screens; and sells advertising on its Lobby Entertainment Network, a series of strategically-placed screens located in movie theater lobbies, as well as other forms of advertising and promotions in theatre lobbies. The company is also engaged in the sale of online and mobile advertising through its Noovie Audience Accelerator product, as well as a suite of Noovie digital properties, such as Noovie Shuffle, Noovie Trivia, Name That Movie, and Noovie Arcade to reach entertainment audiences beyond the theater. It offers its services to third-party theater circuits under long-term network affiliate agreements. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Centennial, Colorado.
How the Company Makes MoneyNational Cinemedia generates revenue primarily through advertising sales. The company offers a range of advertising products, including on-screen ads, lobby displays, and mobile and digital extensions that allow brands to engage with audiences before, during, and after movies. Key revenue streams include national and local advertising contracts, where advertisers pay for visibility in front of captive audiences. NCMI also benefits from partnerships with major cinema chains, which provide access to their audiences and enhance the company's advertising reach. Additional revenue is derived from the sale of sponsorships and promotional events tied to movie releases. The company's earnings are bolstered by its ability to leverage data analytics to provide targeted advertising solutions, making ad placements more effective and appealing to advertisers.

National Cinemedia Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 26, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 11, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The call conveyed a mixed but constructive tone: Q4 showed clear operational and commercial momentum (revenue up ~8% YoY, Q4 adjusted OIBDA up 6%, strong programmatic +100% and self-serve +64% growth, and improved impressions sold per attendee), alongside strategic gains (AMC agreement, Spotlight acquisition, and product investments). However, full-year profitability (adjusted OIBDA) and cash flow were weaker year-over-year, attendance normalized lower when adjusting for the extra week, local revenue fell for the year, and management provided cautious Q1 guidance with negative OIBDA expectations. Overall, the company presented substantive growth levers and early signs of 2026 upside while acknowledging near-term financial and calendar-related headwinds.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Fourth Quarter Revenue Growth
Total Q4 revenue of $93.2 million, up ~8% year-over-year and in line with guidance; advertising revenue up ~9% year-over-year (~$90M), outpacing attendance growth.
Improved Profitability in Q4
Q4 adjusted OIBDA of $37.2 million, exceeding guidance and up 6% versus prior year, driven by stronger revenue and inventory monetization.
Strong Programmatic and Self-Serve Momentum
Programmatic revenue increased 100% year-over-year and the number of programmatic advertisers grew 2.4x; self-serve revenue grew 64% year-over-year.
Inventory Monetization and Engagement Gains
National impressions sold per attendee increased 27% year-over-year in Q4 (Platinum impressions +72% per attendee; post-show impressions +53% per attendee), and national revenue per attendee rose to $0.71 (comparable +10% YoY).
Strategic Partnerships and Network Expansion
Executed extended agreement with AMC standardizing national footprint and acquired Spotlight (November) to add premium luxury screens and audiences, diversifying ad inventory and appeal to high-end advertisers.
Category and Campaign Wins
Advertiser demand drove growth across retail, wireless, travel, entertainment & media, pharma, and technology; 18 advertisers placed campaigns at or above $1 million in Q4.
Full-Year Revenue Slightly Positive
Full year 2025 total revenue of $243.2 million, up 1% versus 2024; national advertising revenue increased 3.5% to $194.5 million.
Shareholder Returns and Capital Deployment
Returned approximately $33.6 million to shareholders in 2025 (including $11.3 million in dividends and $22.3 million in share repurchases); repurchased 4.1 million shares at an average price of $5.41.
Early Visibility and Positive Outlook for 2026 Slate
Management cites encouraging early demand indicators for 2026 and a robust, balanced film slate (e.g., Super Mario Galaxy, The Odyssey, Avengers: Doomsday) expected to support advertiser bookings and campaign planning.
Negative Updates
Attendance Normalization and Calendar Impacts
Q4 included a 53rd week; normalizing for that, estimated Q4 attendance would be ~92 million, down ~9% year-over-year. Full-year attendance benefit also reflected the extra week.
Full-Year Adjusted OIBDA Decline
Full year adjusted OIBDA fell to $39.1 million from $45.7 million in 2024 (down roughly 14.4%), primarily due to advertiser headwinds in the first half of the year.
Significant Drop in Quarterly Free Cash Flow
Total unlevered free cash flow in Q4 was $6.1 million versus $28.3 million in the prior year quarter, largely due to timing shifts in receivables and the prior-year benefit of ~$13 million in client advance prepayments.
Local and Regional Revenue Pressure (Full Year)
Full year local and regional advertising revenue declined to $34.6 million from $39.1 million in 2024, reflecting earlier trade-related pullbacks in pharma, travel, government and automotive categories.
Higher Operating Costs and One-Time Charges
Q4 total operating expenses were $69.4 million (up from $66.3M); adjusted operating expenses (ex one-time items) rose to $56.1 million from $51.3 million, driven by higher attendance-related exhibitor fees, Spotlight transaction costs, and a slight SG&A increase.
Strategic CPM Reduction
Management decreased national advertising CPMs by ~18% year-over-year to drive utilization and broaden advertiser categories, which may pressure average pricing in the near term.
Q1 2026 Weakness and Negative OIBDA Guidance
Q1 2026 guidance calls for revenue of $32.5M–$36.5M and adjusted OIBDA of negative $13M to negative $10M, reflecting calendar shifts (loss of the holiday week), expected beverage revenue reductions, and Olympic-related advertiser reallocation.
Box Office Softness Caused Make-Goods
Softer-than-expected box office in parts of Q4 increased ADUs/make-goods; fulfillment of those make-goods will be spread over 2–3 quarters, creating near-term execution load.
Temporarily Higher Leverage for Acquisition
Total debt at quarter end was $12 million reflecting a revolver draw to fund the Spotlight acquisition; cash and equivalents were $37.6 million.
Company Guidance
For Q1 2026 NCM guided revenue of $32.5 million to $36.5 million and adjusted OIBDA of negative $13 million to negative $10 million, noting the comparability headwinds from the absence of the extra (53rd) week included in FY25 Q4, expected reduced beverage revenue (a pro‑forma full‑year impact of slightly below 2%), and a tougher February due to the Winter Olympics; management emphasized underlying advertising demand remains intact (January calendar‑month revenue was in line with prior year despite the lost holiday week) and that the Q1 OIBDA outlook also reflects higher expected attendance‑related expenses as moviegoer activity increases — against a backdrop where Q4 revenue was $93.2 million and Q4 adjusted OIBDA was $37.2 million.

National Cinemedia Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Financials are mixed: strong TTM revenue growth (42.5%) and improving free cash flow (+8.7%), supported by low leverage (debt-to-equity 0.03). However, profitability remains weak with negative net and EBIT margins and negative ROE, which limits the score.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
The income statement shows a mixed performance. While there is a notable revenue growth of 42.5% in the TTM period, the company struggles with profitability, evidenced by negative net and EBIT margins. The gross profit margin is relatively low, indicating cost pressures. The company needs to improve its operational efficiency to enhance profitability.
Balance Sheet
50
Neutral
The balance sheet reflects a stable financial position with a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03 in the TTM period, suggesting low leverage. However, the negative return on equity indicates challenges in generating returns for shareholders. The equity ratio is not provided, but the overall stability is moderate.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
Cash flow analysis reveals a positive trend with an 8.7% growth in free cash flow in the TTM period. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is healthy, indicating efficient cash generation relative to net income. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio suggests room for improvement in cash profitability.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue567.00K240.80M165.20M249.20M114.60M
Gross Profit0.0072.80M85.10M131.30M37.70M
EBITDA0.0022.00M750.10M45.00M-18.00M
Net Income0.00-22.30M705.20M-28.70M-48.70M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets568.60M568.60M567.70M792.40M817.40M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments75.10M75.20M34.60M64.50M101.50M
Total Debt22.50M24.20M16.00M1.14B1.12B
Total Liabilities157.40M157.40M133.20M1.26B1.20B
Stockholders Equity411.20M411.20M434.50M-515.30M-526.70M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow0.0054.50M-10.00M-50.20M-100.90M
Operating Cash Flow0.0060.30M-6.70M-47.30M-95.20M
Investing Cash Flow0.00-5.70M32.60M-400.00K-5.40M
Financing Cash Flow0.00-14.10M-52.10M10.30M21.50M

National Cinemedia Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price3.56
Price Trends
50DMA
3.68
Negative
100DMA
3.92
Negative
200DMA
4.34
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.07
Negative
RSI
52.82
Neutral
STOCH
69.91
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For NCMI, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 3.56 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 3.43, below the 50-day MA of 3.68, and below the 200-day MA of 4.34, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.07 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 52.82 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 69.91 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for NCMI.

National Cinemedia Risk Analysis

National Cinemedia disclosed 34 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. National Cinemedia reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

National Cinemedia Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
63
Neutral
$388.45M-1,789.86-0.04%7.22%97.88%
60
Neutral
$48.67B4.58-11.27%4.14%2.83%-41.78%
58
Neutral
$1.20B-11.28-29.67%30.13%
52
Neutral
$331.59M-21.69-4.10%3.05%-3.67%34.36%
42
Neutral
$171.06M-0.69-29.47%-7.12%-7.75%
41
Neutral
$46.71M-0.41-341.04%-14.41%65.67%
31
Underperform
$3.49M-0.85-194.72%-11.51%74.52%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
NCMI
National Cinemedia
3.56
-2.96
-45.40%
CCO
Clear Channel Outdoor
2.40
1.15
92.00%
BOC
Boston Omaha
12.35
-1.89
-13.27%
CDLX
Cardlytics
0.86
-1.77
-67.15%
ADV
Advantage Solutions
0.52
-1.99
-79.20%
VSME
VS Media Holdings Limited Class A
1.27
-18.93
-93.71%

National Cinemedia Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
National CineMedia Extends Key Executive Employment Agreements
Positive
Dec 23, 2025

On December 22, 2025, National CineMedia, Inc. extended the employment agreements of Chief Executive Officer Thomas F. Lesinski and Chief Legal Officer and Secretary Maria V. Woods through December 31, 2028, signaling a commitment to leadership continuity. Effective January 1, 2026, Lesinski’s amended agreement raises his annual base salary to $1,000,000, sets his target annual bonus at 100% of base salary, and provides for at least $1,000,000 in annual long-term incentive awards, plus a 2026 grant of 1,500,000 stock options that will vest based on performance thresholds set by the board’s Compensation and Leadership Committee; the contract also outlines enhanced cash severance and benefits if he is terminated without cause or following a change in control, contingent on a release of claims. Woods’ amended agreement, effective December 31, 2025, increases her base salary to $485,000, maintains eligibility for an annual cash bonus targeted at 75% of base salary, and preserves access to long-term incentive awards at the committee’s discretion, with other terms largely consistent with her prior contract. These moves reinforce National CineMedia’s executive bench at a time when stability in top management and aligned incentive structures are important for executing strategy and protecting stakeholder interests.

The most recent analyst rating on (NCMI) stock is a Hold with a $4.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on National Cinemedia stock, see the NCMI Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyM&A Transactions
National Cinemedia Acquires Spotlight Cinema Networks
Positive
Nov 17, 2025

On November 17, 2025, National CineMedia, Inc. announced the acquisition of Spotlight Cinema Networks, a company specializing in advertising for art house, luxury, and dine-in cinemas. This strategic move is set to increase NCM’s national market share by about 6% and expand its presence in New York and Los Angeles markets by 30%. The acquisition is expected to enhance NCM’s advertising network, providing access to luxury audiences and unlocking new revenue opportunities, with anticipated synergies to be realized in 2026. The transaction aligns with NCM’s growth strategy and commitment to long-term shareholder value.

The most recent analyst rating on (NCMI) stock is a Hold with a $4.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on National Cinemedia stock, see the NCMI Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board Changes
National Cinemedia’s Sales President to Step Down
Negative
Nov 14, 2025

Catherine Sullivan, the President of Sales, Marketing, and Partnerships at National CineMedia, Inc., will step down from her role on November 13, 2025, and leave the company on December 1, 2025, due to the elimination of her position. Her departure will be classified as an ‘Involuntary Termination,’ entitling her to severance pay, and it is not related to any policy violation.

The most recent analyst rating on (NCMI) stock is a Hold with a $4.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on National Cinemedia stock, see the NCMI Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
National Cinemedia Appoints Simon Mullaly to Board
Positive
Oct 22, 2025

On October 21, 2025, National CineMedia, Inc. appointed Simon Mullaly to its Board of Directors, filling the vacancy left by Nathan ‘Tripp’ Lane. Mullaly, designated by Blantyre Capital, brings over 25 years of global capital markets experience, having previously worked at firms like Guggenheim Partners and Goldman Sachs. His appointment is expected to enhance the company’s strategic direction, leveraging his expertise in leveraged credit and special situations trading.

The most recent analyst rating on (NCMI) stock is a Buy with a $7.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on National Cinemedia stock, see the NCMI Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Dec 25, 2025