• Revenue: $921.8 million, a 5% increase year over year.
• Adjusted EBITDA: $220.5 million, a 12% increase over the third quarter of 2023.
• Adjusted EBITDA Margin: Expanded 140 basis points year over year to 23.9%.
• Domestic Concession Per Cap: Reached a record high of $7.97, up nearly 12% year over year.
• Net Income: $187.8 million for the third quarter.
• Diluted Earnings Per Share: $1.19.
• Free Cash Flow: Generated $64 million in the third quarter.
• Cash on Balance Sheet: $928 million at the end of the third quarter.
• Net Leverage Ratio: 2.8 times, within the target range.
• Capital Expenditures: $43 million in the third quarter, on track for $150 million for the full year.

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 7 Warning Signs with CNK.

Release Date: October 31, 2024

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

• Cinemark Holdings Inc (NYSE:CNK) achieved its highest third-quarter revenue of all time, reaching $922 million, driven by strong box office performance and strategic initiatives.
• The company set a new domestic concession per cap record of $7.97, contributing to robust financial results.
• Cinemark Holdings Inc (NYSE:CNK) outperformed the North American industry box office growth by over 600 basis points, showcasing its competitive edge.
• The company reported a 12% increase in worldwide adjusted EBITDA to $221 million, marking its highest third-quarter adjusted EBITDA in history.
• Cinemark Holdings Inc (NYSE:CNK) maintained a strong financial position with $928 million in cash, providing flexibility for future investments and debt repayment.

Negative Points

• Despite strong financial performance, Cinemark Holdings Inc (NYSE:CNK) experienced a marginal decline in attendance compared to the previous year.
• The international segment saw a 7% decline in attendance, with certain films not resonating as well in Latin America as in the US.
• Film rental and advertising expenses increased by 180 basis points year-over-year due to a higher concentration of high-grossing titles.
• Concession costs were impacted by inflationary pressures on certain categories, such as candy and non-alcoholic beverages.
• The company anticipates potential capacity constraints and market share fluctuations in the fourth quarter due to film mix and content skewing more metro.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Can you provide an update on the 2025 film slate and the impact of streamers on theatrical releases? A: Sean Gamble, CEO, mentioned that while it's early to fully assess 2025, they expect film volume to rebound between 2023 and 2019 levels. Despite some streamers pulling films, they remain optimistic about growth from streamers like Amazon, which plans to release up to 16 films by 2027.

Q: How sustainable is the current concession cost percentage, given commodity prices and inflation? A: Melissa Thomas, CFO, explained that the low concession cost percentage was driven by strategic pricing and favorable rebates, though inflationary pressures persist. They expect a modest increase in costs due to inflation, particularly in candy ingredients like cocoa and palm oil.

Q: How is Cinemark leveraging non-food concession items like merchandise to drive revenue? A: Sean Gamble noted that merchandise sales, including viral popcorn tubs, are growing and contributing to per-capita growth. They are expanding e-commerce channels to sell these items beyond theaters, which is a promising area for future growth.

Q: What are the drivers behind Cinemark's strong market share performance, and are there any attractive M&A opportunities? A: Sean Gamble attributed market share gains to strategic initiatives and a favorable film mix, particularly in family and horror genres. Melissa Thomas added that while current M&A opportunities haven't met investment thresholds, they anticipate more attractive assets may become available as the industry rebounds.

Q: How does Cinemark plan to balance ticket pricing with consumer sensitivity, especially in a challenging economic environment? A: Melissa Thomas emphasized the importance of maximizing attendance and box office revenue while being mindful of pricing as a deterrent. They use data analytics to make strategic pricing decisions and see opportunities for modest ticket price growth, despite potential near-term fluctuations.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.