National Cinemedia (NCMI)
NASDAQ:NCMI
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National Cinemedia (NCMI) AI Stock Analysis

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NCMI

National Cinemedia

(NASDAQ:NCMI)

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Neutral 50 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:50Neutral
Price Target:
$4.00
▲(0.25% Upside)
National Cinemedia's overall stock score reflects significant financial challenges, particularly in profitability and valuation. However, recent improvements in cash flow and a positive outlook from the earnings call provide some optimism. Technical indicators suggest bearish momentum, which tempers the overall score.
Positive Factors
Programmatic Revenue Growth
The significant growth in programmatic revenue indicates a successful adaptation to digital advertising trends, enhancing long-term revenue potential.
Self-Serve Platform Expansion
The expansion of self-serve platforms suggests increased customer engagement and operational scalability, supporting sustainable growth.
National Advertising Revenue Increase
Rising national advertising revenue reflects strong demand and effective inventory utilization, contributing to stable long-term earnings.
Negative Factors
Decline in Overall Attendance
Decreasing audience attendance could limit advertising reach and revenue, posing a challenge to maintaining market share and growth.
High Debt Levels
High debt levels can constrain financial flexibility and increase risk, potentially impacting long-term financial health and stability.
Negative Unlevered Free Cash Flow
Negative free cash flow indicates potential liquidity issues and may hinder the company's ability to invest in growth opportunities.

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 MoneyNCMI generates revenue primarily through the sale of advertising space in theaters, which includes pre-show commercials and advertisements displayed on screens before feature films. The company's revenue model is based on partnerships with a network of movie theaters, allowing it to reach a broad audience and sell advertising slots to national and regional advertisers. Key revenue streams include the sale of digital pre-show content, in-theater promotional materials, and collaborations with major film studios for co-promotional opportunities. Additionally, NCMI benefits from strategic partnerships with cinema chains and advertisers, enhancing its market reach and contributing to its earnings through a shared revenue model with theater operators.

National Cinemedia Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 30, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 11, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call presented a generally positive outlook with significant growth in Programmatic and self-serve platforms, despite some declines in attendance and local advertising revenue. The stabilization of advertiser demand and anticipation of a strong fourth quarter contribute to an optimistic sentiment.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Stabilization of Advertiser Demand
Advertiser sentiment stabilized in the third quarter, with a rebound in demand across key advertising categories such as retail, automotive, wireless, and government.
Programmatic Revenue Growth
Programmatic revenue grew approximately 4x compared to the previous year, marking the strongest Programmatic quarter ever, with an 82% sequential increase.
Self-Serve Platform Growth
Self-serve platform revenue increased by 23% quarter-over-quarter, driven by expanded business development outreach and CRM-based activation.
National Advertising Revenue Increase
National advertising revenue totaled $49.9 million, up 6.6% from $46.8 million in the prior year period, driven by strong scatter demand and improved inventory utilization.
Strong Performance of Platinum Spot
Platinum Spot achieved an impressive 89% ad recall, with revenue up 19% compared to the prior year, and the highest third quarter Platinum sales in NCM's history.
Bullseye Product Success
The Bullseye product delivered more than 283,000 verified incremental store visits, representing a 110% lift in a recent cellular campaign.
Positive Outlook for Q4
Anticipated strong holiday slate with films like Wicked for Good, Avatar Fire & Ash, and Zootopia 2, already generating significant advertiser excitement.
Negative Updates
Decline in Overall Attendance
NCM's quarterly audience was down 11% compared with the third quarter of 2024, in line with the third quarter box office decline.
Local and Regional Advertising Revenue Decline
Local and regional advertising revenue was $9.6 million, down from $11.4 million in the prior year period, due to lingering softness in health care and professional services.
Lower Total Revenue Year-to-Date
Year-to-date total revenue was $150 million, down from $154.5 million in the same period last year, primarily due to macroeconomic uncertainty earlier in the year.
Negative Unlevered Free Cash Flow
Total unlevered free cash flow for the quarter was negative $1.8 million, driven by year-over-year increases in capital expenditures and system optimization costs.
Company Guidance
In the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, National CineMedia, Inc. reported total revenue of $63.4 million, within their guidance range of $62 million to $67 million, marking a 2% year-over-year increase. This growth was largely driven by improved national advertising demand, which totaled $49.9 million, up 6.6% from the previous year, despite a decline in overall attendance by 11% compared to Q3 2024. The company achieved an adjusted OIBDA of $10.2 million, aligning with expectations, and reflecting strong inventory utilization, especially in their Programmatic and self-serve advertising channels. Programmatic revenue saw a significant increase, approximately 4 times higher than the previous year, while self-serve platform revenue rose 23% quarter-over-quarter. National revenue per attendee increased by 20% year-over-year, reaching $0.46, the highest in five years. Local and regional advertising revenue, however, saw a decline to $9.6 million from $11.4 million the prior year. NCM ended the quarter with $32.9 million in cash and no debt, while announcing a quarterly dividend of $0.03 per share. The company remains optimistic about the fourth quarter, expecting revenue between $91 million and $98 million, driven by a strong holiday movie slate.

National Cinemedia Financial Statement Overview

Summary
National Cinemedia faces significant challenges with its income statement indicating poor profitability and declining revenues. The balance sheet shows improvement in equity yet remains burdened by high debt. Cash flow metrics have improved, suggesting better liquidity management, but historical volatility remains a concern. The overall financial health of the company indicates a need for strategic improvements to stabilize and grow effectively.
Income Statement
40
Negative
National Cinemedia's income statement shows significant volatility with declining revenues and profitability over the years. The gross profit margin and net profit margin are adversely affected, with net income consistently negative, indicating core operational challenges. Revenue has decreased significantly from 2019 to 2023, reflecting challenges in maintaining market share or sales growth. EBIT and EBITDA margins are negative, underscoring operational inefficiencies.
Balance Sheet
50
Neutral
The balance sheet reflects a mixed picture with substantial improvement in stockholders' equity from negative to positive in recent years, highlighting some recovery. However, the high debt levels and past negative equity raise concerns about long-term financial stability. The debt-to-equity ratio has improved but remains a point of risk due to potential leverage issues. The equity ratio has shown improvement, but the historical negative equity indicates past financial distress.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
Cash flow analysis reveals notable improvements with positive free cash flow and operating cash flow in the latest year, suggesting better cash management. Despite prior years of negative free cash flow, the recent trend shows recovery potential. The operating cash flow to net income ratio indicates better cash conversion, although previous years' negative cash flows highlight historical challenges.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue236.40M240.80M165.20M249.20M114.60M90.40M
Gross Profit71.90M72.80M85.10M222.00M96.20M80.10M
EBITDA16.10M22.00M750.10M45.00M-18.20M129.00M
Net Income-15.10M-22.30M705.20M-28.60M-113.50M-126.30M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets451.90M568.60M567.70M792.40M817.40M886.20M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments29.90M75.20M34.60M62.40M102.50M181.80M
Total Debt11.00M24.20M16.00M1.14B1.10B1.05B
Total Liabilities101.40M157.40M133.20M1.26B1.20B1.15B
Stockholders Equity350.50M411.20M434.50M-515.30M-383.50M-268.60M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow24.80M54.50M-10.00M-50.20M-100.90M47.30M
Operating Cash Flow30.60M60.30M-6.70M-47.30M-95.20M55.30M
Investing Cash Flow-8.60M-5.70M32.60M-400.00K-5.40M15.60M
Financing Cash Flow-41.50M-14.10M-52.10M10.30M21.50M53.50M

National Cinemedia Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price3.99
Price Trends
50DMA
4.37
Negative
100DMA
4.48
Negative
200DMA
5.09
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.09
Positive
RSI
42.67
Neutral
STOCH
38.60
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For NCMI, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 3.99 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 4.16, below the 50-day MA of 4.37, and below the 200-day MA of 5.09, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.09 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 42.67 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 38.60 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative 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
60
Neutral
$48.67B4.58-11.27%4.14%2.83%-41.78%
52
Neutral
$964.77M-29.67%30.13%
50
Neutral
$403.47M-26.20-4.10%2.93%-3.67%34.36%
47
Neutral
$390.65M498.79-0.04%7.22%97.88%
44
Neutral
$400.91M-1.19-29.47%-7.12%-7.75%
39
Underperform
$81.08M-341.04%-14.41%65.67%
31
Underperform
$25.55M-6.87-194.72%-11.51%74.52%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
NCMI
National Cinemedia
3.99
-2.62
-39.64%
CCO
Clear Channel Outdoor
1.90
0.36
23.38%
BOC
Boston Omaha
11.51
-3.05
-20.95%
CDLX
Cardlytics
1.39
-2.05
-59.59%
ADV
Advantage Solutions
1.15
-2.07
-64.29%
VSME
VS Media Holdings Limited Class A
0.17
-1.00
-85.47%

National Cinemedia Corporate Events

National CineMedia’s Optimistic Earnings Call Highlights Growth
Nov 1, 2025

The recent earnings call of National CineMedia (NCM) painted a generally positive picture, despite some challenges in attendance and local advertising revenue. The company expressed optimism for the future, driven by significant growth in their Programmatic and self-serve platforms, and a stabilized advertiser demand. The anticipation of a strong fourth quarter further contributes to this optimistic outlook.

National CineMedia Reports Strong Q3 2025 Results
Oct 31, 2025

National CineMedia, Inc. (NCM) operates the largest cinema advertising platform in the United States, connecting brands to diverse audiences through cinema and pop culture. The company offers a premium video marketing solution, enhancing advertisers’ ability to measure and drive results across a wide network of theaters.

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.

Executive/Board Changes
National CineMedia Director Nathan Lane Resigns
Neutral
Sep 29, 2025

On September 26, 2025, Nathan “Tripp” Lane resigned from National CineMedia’s Board of Directors and all associated committees, with his departure not stemming from any disagreement with the company. His resignation allows Blantyre Capital Limited to designate a replacement, as per their Director Designation Agreement, with the company planning to appoint the nominee after ensuring compliance with fiduciary duties and applicable laws.

The most recent analyst rating on (NCMI) stock is a Hold with a $5.00 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: Nov 08, 2025