According to analyst company Benchmark, Cinemark Holdings Inc. is well-positioned for a “compelling” lineup of films this year and is approaching 2025 buoyed by box office victories.
“We expect [Cinemark] to report fiscal [fourth-quarter] results in mid-February and have raised our estimates following strong domestic box office performance, driven by Wicked, Moana 2, Gladiator II, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and Venom: The Last Dance,” according to a note issued by Benchmark on on Friday. “With solid revenue and margin growth opportunities ahead, we identify [Cinemark] as a top [entertainment and digital media] pick for 2025 and see the recent pullback as a buying opportunity.”
In 2025, Cinemark’s (CNK) stock is down 3.7% after rising 123.4% in the previous 12 months.
2024, according to Hickey, was “a year of surprising resilience” with $8.56 billion in movie office receipts. According to the expert, this exceeded expectations even though it was down 3.9% from 2023. A significant 11% rise over 2024, Hickey predicts that the 2025 box office will reach $9.5 billion, “driven by a compelling slate of films across various genres.” These include the films “Superman,” directed by James Gunn, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” by Marvel, “Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” starring Tom Cruise, and its follow-ups, “Jurassic World: Rebirth,” “Wicked: For Good,” “Zootopia 2,” and the eagerly awaited live-action “Snow White” from Walt Disney Co. (DIS).
“Other notable films include Wolf Man, Marvel’s ensemble Thunderbolts, the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon, the John Wick spinoff Ballerina, and unique projects like Mickey 17,” Hickey stated. James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash is one of the anticipated highlight releases that is sure to enthrall viewers with its innovative storyline and technology. Brad Pitt’s F1 offers a genuine and exhilarating experience by fusing real Formula 1 racing with Hollywood celebrity power and professional driver appearances.
For Cinemark, Benchmark stuck to its $40 price target and buy rating.
According to recent U.S. foot traffic data from analytics company Placer.ai, blockbusters “Wicked,” “Gladiator 2,” and “Moana 2” helped Cinemark, like rival AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. (AMC), improve its Black Friday box office.
