AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the theatrical exhibition business. It owns, operates, or has interests in theatres in the United States and Europe. The company was founded in 1920 and is headquartered in Leawood, Kansas.

AMC’s picture looks like an improvement in operating efficiency against the backdrop of a still very weak balance sheet. Revenue in TTM stands at $1.60 billion, which is noticeably above the industry median, and the gross margin of 67.1% looks strong and even above the sector, indicating a decent ability to monetize box office receipts and ancillary sales. EBITDA of $321 million and operating income of $238 million confirm that the business is generating operating cash flow better than in previous periods, and this supports the valuation. At the same time, net income remains negative, and EPS and forward EPS are very low, so earnings quality still falls short of the level that would usually justify a valuation premium. The P/S multiple of 0.32 looks cheap relative to the industry, but P/FCF of 241.9, on the contrary, points to expensive free cash flow and weak conversion of revenue into free cash. P/E and P/B are formally uninformative because of the distorted earnings base and negative equity, and that in itself is a signal of elevated financial risk. The balance sheet remains the main constraint: equity is negative, current ratio is 0.55, quick ratio is effectively zero, and long-term debt of $3.75 billion against liabilities of $9.50 billion creates high sensitivity to rates, refinancing, and liquidity gaps. ROE looks high, but in the context of negative equity it must be interpreted cautiously, while ROA and ROI remain weak or zero, confirming low asset efficiency. The year-by-year trend overall shows improvement in operating metrics, but no turnaround in balance sheet quality: margins and EBITDA are recovering, while liquidity and balance sheet capitalization remain vulnerable. There are no dividends, so shareholders do not receive additional support through yield. For an investor, this means the stock may look cheap on revenue and partly on operating metrics, but the discount is justified by the heavy debt load, negative equity, and unstable earnings. In such a setup, it is reasonable to maintain a cautious view on the target valuation, acknowledging the improvement in the operating profile but not overestimating it because of the remaining structural risks.

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc.

Сильный индекс, значительно вырос. Быки резко укрепили уверенность в своих позициях.

Strong index, significantly up. Bulls sharply strengthened confidence in their positions.

Слабый индекс, значительно вырос. Рынок на стороне быков.

Weak index, significantly up. The market is on the bulls' side.

Сильный индекс, незначительно упал. Отток средств из лонгов на высоком уровне.

Strong index, slightly down. Outflow of funds from longs at a high level.

AMC improves operating profit and margin, but negative equity, weak liquidity, and high debt keep valuation under pressure.

Carnival Corporation Ltd. CCL reported better-than-expected third-quarter fiscal 2026 (ended Aug. 31) results, with both adjusted earnings and revenues surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Revenues increased on a year-over-year basis, while adjusted earnings remained flat.
Carnival delivered all-time-high revenues and net yields in constant currency, supported by continued demand strength and cost discipline. Net yields increased 2.4% year over year in constant currency, more than one percentage point better than the June guidance. Adjusted EBITDA also exceeded the company's June guidance by $110 million despite higher fuel costs.
CCL’s Q3 Earnings & Revenues
For the quarter under review, the company reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.43, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.36 by 5.1%.
Carnival Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Revenues in the quarter totaled $8.44 billion, beating the consensus mark of $8.36 billion by 0.9%. The metric increased 3.5% year over year from $8.15 billion.
During the quarter, passenger ticket revenues amounted to $5.53 billion, up 1.8% from $5.43 billion reported in the prior-year quarter. Our estimate for passenger ticket revenues was pegged at $5.6 billion.
Onboard and other revenues increased 6.7% to $2.91 billion from $2.72 billion reported in the year-ago quarter. Our estimate for Onboard and other revenues was pegged at $2.79 billion.
Carnival’s Q3 Operating Highlights
Gross margin totaled $3.05 billion, almost flat compared with prior-year quarter levels. Gross margin yields declined 1.3% year over year, primarily due to higher fuel prices.
Net yields reached an all-time high and increased 2.4% year over year in constant currency. Adjusted EBITDA totaled $2.99 billion, unchanged from the prior-year quarter. Our estimate for the metric was $2.88 billion.
Cruise and tour operating expenses totaled $4.63 billion, up 5.5% from $4.39 billion in the year-ago quarter. Fuel expense increased to $615 million from $451 million. Adjusted cruise costs excluding fuel per available lower berth day increased 1.8% in constant currency, one percentage point better than the June guidance.
CCL’s Q3 Cruise Metrics
Passenger cruise days totaled 27.9 million compared with 27.5 million in the prior-year quarter. Available lower berth days increased to 24.9 million from 24.6 million.
Occupancy was 111.8% compared with 111.7% in the year-ago quarter. Carnival carried 3.9 million passengers, up from 3.8 million a year earlier.
Fuel consumption per thousand available lower berth days improved 3.8% year over year to 26.9 metric tons from 28 metric tons. Fuel cost per metric ton consumed, excluding emission allowances, increased to $826 from $607.
Carnival’s Booking Update
The company delivered another strong booking performance, with volumes meaningfully ahead of the prior year and far outpacing capacity growth. For full-year fiscal 2027, both booked occupancy and pricing are at record levels.
Customer deposits reached a fiscal third-quarter record of $7.64 billion, surpassing the prior-year record by approximately $0.5 billion. Carnival also stated that 2028 bookings started at higher occupancy and pricing levels than the prior year.
CCL’s Balance Sheet
As of Aug. 31, 2026, cash and cash equivalents were $1.22 billion compared with $1.93 billion as of Nov. 30, 2025. Total debt, including current and long-term debt, declined to $23.91 billion from $26.64 billion over the same period.
Cash from operations totaled $1.41 billion in the quarter compared with $1.38 billion in the prior-year quarter. Capital expenditures amounted to $698 million compared with $648 million a year ago.
Carnival completed approximately $1.2 billion of share repurchases year to date. The company distributed $204 million in dividends during the third quarter, bringing year-to-date dividend payments to $618 million.
Carnival’s Q4 & FY26 Outlook
For fourth-quarter fiscal 2026, the company expects adjusted EBITDA of approximately $1.30 billion. Adjusted net income is projected at nearly $274 million, while adjusted EPS is expected to be approximately 20 cents.
The company expects fiscal 2026 net yields to increase approximately 2.3% year over year in constant currency, 0.5 percentage points better than the June guidance. Adjusted cruise costs excluding fuel per available lower berth day are expected to increase approximately 2.2% in constant currency. For the fiscal fourth quarter, net yields are projected to increase approximately 1.7% in constant currency.
For fiscal 2026, CCL expects adjusted EBITDA of approximately $7.14 billion. Adjusted net income is projected to be nearly $3.08 billion, while adjusted EPS is anticipated to be approximately $2.24.
CCL’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Currently, Carnival has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks from the Zacks Consumer-Discretionary sector are Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. LTH, The Marcus Corporation MCS and AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. AMC.
Life Time Group presently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here.
Life Time Group delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 9.50%, on average. The stock has jumped 48.9% in the year-to-date period. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LTH’s 2026 sales and EPS implies growth of 12.4% and 22.9%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.
Marcus currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings miss of 34.2%, on average. The stock has surged 85% in the year-to-date period.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Marcus’ 2026 sales and EPS indicates growth of 8.3% and 652.9%, respectively, from the year-ago period’s levels.
AMC Entertainment presently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 321.7%, on average. The stock has rallied 110.9% in the year-to-date period.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMC Entertainment’s 2026 sales and EPS indicates an increase of 14.6% and 77.1%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.
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Carnival Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates on Record Revenues & Net Yields

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in SanDisk Corp (Symbol: SNDK), where a total volume of 115,973 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 11.6 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 108.8% of SNDK's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 10.7 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $2000 strike call option expiring October 02, 2026, with 6,718 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 671,800 underlying shares of SNDK. Below is a chart showing SNDK's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $2000 strike highlighted in orange:
AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. (Symbol: AMC) saw options trading volume of 292,350 contracts, representing approximately 29.2 million underlying shares or approximately 108.1% of AMC's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 27.0 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $3.50 strike call option expiring October 02, 2026, with 55,086 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 5.5 million underlying shares of AMC. Below is a chart showing AMC's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $3.50 strike highlighted in orange:
And Hyster-Yale Inc (Symbol: HY) saw options trading volume of 1,197 contracts, representing approximately 119,700 underlying shares or approximately 101.1% of HY's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 118,455 shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $35 strike call option expiring October 16, 2026, with 1,196 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 119,600 underlying shares of HY. Below is a chart showing HY's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $35 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for SNDK options, AMC options, or HY options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Further SNDK Research:

Notable Monday Option Activity: SNDK, AMC, HY

Key Points
AMC shares are up 90% this year, but still down 99.3% over the last five years.
There has been significant dilution and mismanagement, but AMC is making the right moves at the right time.
AMC is having its strongest year since 2019, and in some regards, it has never been better.
You're not the first to dismiss AMC Entertainment (NYSE: AMC) as an investment. The country's largest movie theater operator has one of the market's ugliest long-term charts. The shares are down 99.3% over the last five years.
If you're a fan of Hollywood endings, check this out: AMC stock has soared 90% this year. Yes, the chart was a lot uglier earlier this year.
Missed AI’s "Act 1"? Act 2 Could Be 15x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn't buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our analysts, we’re only at the end of "Act 1"—the R&D phase. "Act 2" is the global rollout. Continue »
AMC is back
The theater chain that every reasonable investor had forgotten about is quietly gaining momentum. Unlike its last rally in the spring of 2021, this isn't a meme-stock frenzy catapulting a nostalgic brand to the stratosphere. No one was going to the corner multiplex five years ago. The movies that did come out in theaters were mostly garbage.
It's a different world these days. Domestic exhibitors will top $10 billion in box office receipts for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Folks are coming back to see movies on the silver screen, and they're spending more on food, beverages, and collectibles than they ever have.
There are now more than 40 million members of the AMC Stubs loyalty club, and they are actually loyal this time. By the end of this year, there will only be one other year when more individual movies topped $1 billion in ticket sales worldwide.
People laughed at me earlier this month when I wrote about becoming an AMC shareholder. The stock was up just 58% at the time, so who's laughing now? I'll tell you who is laughing: folks at movie theaters. They're laughing. They're crying. They're cheering. They're squinting during tense moments.
Like sitting through a sea of trailers before a movie starts, investors had to wait a long time for this moment. And now, our feature presentation. Enjoy the show.
Should you buy stock in AMC Entertainment right now?
Before you buy stock in AMC Entertainment, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and AMC Entertainment wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $389,154!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,406,303!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of September 23, 2026.
Rick Munarriz has positions in AMC Entertainment. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Founded in 1993 in Alexandria, VA., by brothers David and Tom Gardner, The Motley Fool is a multimedia financial-services company dedicated to building the world's greatest investment community. Reaching millions of people each month through its website, books, newspaper column, radio show, television appearances, and subscription newsletter services, The Motley Fool champions shareholder values and advocates tirelessly for the individual investor. The company's name was taken from Shakespeare, whose wise fools both instructed and amused, and could speak the truth to the king -- without getting their heads lopped off.

1 Reason AMC Entertainment Stock Is Worth a Second Look Right Now

Key Points
The country's largest theater chain is crushing the market this year, with the industry having a monster 2026.
AMC has had its stumbles, but it's now trading at a discount to smaller peers Cinemark and Marcus.
Smart moves are already starting to pay off for the stock that is still down more than 99% from its all-time high.
If your love affair with the local multiplex is rekindling again, you're not alone. Domestic box office receipts are currently 20% higher than they were at this point last year. Globally, there will be more theatrical releases this year that top $1 billion in ticket sales than in just one other year in cinematic history.
This rosy backdrop has delivered 73% year-to-date gains for AMC Entertainment (NYSE: AMC) shareholders. But zoom out, and the story becomes more horror than rom-com. It was five years ago this month that AMC rolled out its ad featuring Nicole Kidman singing the praises of moviegoing while walking into an empty theater.
Missed AI’s "Act 1"? Act 2 Could Be 15x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn't buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our analysts, we’re only at the end of "Act 1"—the R&D phase. "Act 2" is the global rollout. Continue »
"Somehow, heartbreak feels good in a place like this," she said.
AMC stock has still fallen by more than 99% since the Kidman spot's debut. However, with the meme-manned shares finally in a position to live up to the hype, it could be time for serious investors to stop laughing at AMC -- and laughing all the way to the bank.
Lights! Camera! Traction!
AMC can't hide from its checkered past. The bullish hope is that the company has learned from it. CEO Adam Aron has not been a good steward for the exhibitor's shareholders. The distractions and dilution have been brutal. The AMC Preferred Equity units issued in 2022 were a disaster that needlessly bloated share count. The arrogance in believing that meme stock investors would be enough to support an AMC-branded credit card, NFT initiatives, and packaged retail popcorn failed on the first two fronts, with the jury still out on the third.
Then there's the dilution, but I'm going to stop there. This is the kind of trap that AMC bears fall into when sizing up one of the market's biggest losers over the past five years.
I like AMC here. It comes with a lot of baggage and a problematic management history, but this is a blessing in disguise. AMC is at the point where nonsense will no longer be tolerated. Its smaller rivals are now profitable on a trailing basis. Analysts see AMC turning profitable on an adjusted basis by 2028. It can't afford to fail. The stock's recent ascent makes it ripe for another dilutive secondary offering, but the company knows that patience has a short wick. With AMC already improving its operations, a move done more for greed than need will be snuffed out.
Hoping for a Hollywood ending
A rising tide lifts all corner multiplexes, but I am aware of the stronger case for buying smaller, profitable regional players, including Cinemark (NYSE: CNK) and Marcus (NYSE: MCS). They cracked the code, just as AMC was cracking.
This is the bullish thesis for AMC that no one is hearing over the laughter of the naysayers. AMC is already mounting a comeback. Despite being the largest player in an industry that should have scalability advantages, it's trading at a lower trailing multiple to its enterprise value, based on earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), than its smaller peers. You can get the top dog at a discount, largely because it's seen widely as more dog than top.
You've seen this movie before. You know how it ends. AMC made a lot of smart moves that fell silent during the downticks before this year's bounce. The push for reserved seating encourages advance purchases to lock in prime seats. The company has made its AMC Stubs loyalty club sticky enough to attract more than 40 million members. Its high-margin concessions revenue continues to outpace the industry as it embraces release-specific collectibles and continually improves its food and beverage offerings.
Even the elements outside its control are heating up. Movie studios and even streaming services now realize that there is serious money to be made during the theatrical release window. The same studios and platforms that couldn't push their content into secondary revenue streams fast enough are being paid to be patient. This is a great time to warm up to the country's multiplex operators, but my money is on the market leader that serious investors continue to dismiss.
Should you buy stock in AMC Entertainment right now?
Before you buy stock in AMC Entertainment, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and AMC Entertainment wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $387,158!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,365,749!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of September 20, 2026.
Rick Munarriz has positions in AMC Entertainment. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Founded in 1993 in Alexandria, VA., by brothers David and Tom Gardner, The Motley Fool is a multimedia financial-services company dedicated to building the world's greatest investment community. Reaching millions of people each month through its website, books, newspaper column, radio show, television appearances, and subscription newsletter services, The Motley Fool champions shareholder values and advocates tirelessly for the individual investor. The company's name was taken from Shakespeare, whose wise fools both instructed and amused, and could speak the truth to the king -- without getting their heads lopped off.

AMC Stock Is Up 73% This Year. Why Are You Still Laughing?

Key Points
The knocks are real on AMC Entertainment, one of the worst-performing stocks over the last five years.
Despite a history of dilution, distraction, and destruction, AMC is the top dog in an emerging industry.
Cinemark and IMAX are the safe plays, but AMC offers more upside for risk-tolerant growth investors.
It's the headline I never thought I'd write: Yes, I'm now an AMC Entertainment (NYSE: AMC) shareholder. It's a small position in my portfolio, reflecting my hesitant, skeptical conviction. And I'm fully aware of how ridiculous it seems to anyone who has done due diligence on the country's largest multiplex operator.
This is a stock that has cratered, split-adjusted, by 99.5% over the past five years. AMC has brutally diluted its shareholders, flooding its share count -- again, split-adjusted -- roughly fiftyfold since the end of 2019. CEO Adam Aron has somehow survived through the deluge.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
I see the red flags. But I also see the green shoots. Most of my fellow Fools will disagree with me, and I respect that. Still, here are my three reasons for becoming an AMC shareholder earlier this month.
1. Movie theaters are back
By the time Marvel's Avengers: Doomsday hits your local multiplex this holiday season, it will become at least the sixth movie to top $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales this year. This will be only the second time that theaters globally have had six or more movies topping $1 billion in box-office receipts. The only other time it happened was in 2019.
You will counter that inflation has pushed ticket prices higher, and that's fair. The actual number of tickets sold -- in this country, at least -- peaked 24 years ago. However, there's no denying that moviegoers are coming back. It's not just about the industry's obvious tentpole releases that people are going to see. Even a couple of low-budget horror flicks made by young directors became sleeper hits this year.
AMC stock is back. The shares are up 58% this year, as folks return to the corner cinema. Hollywood gets it. The same studios that were tightening their release windows to get their films streaming as soon as possible are shifting gears to cash in on the new ascent of the silver screen. Even Netflix is playing along. Greta Gerwig's The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician's Nephew will be in theaters next February, 45 days before streaming on the service itself.
2. The laggard could be a leader
The tide is turning, and it's also rising to lift all ships. The conservative play here would be to turn to AMC competitors and other beneficiaries of the cinematic revival. In the same five years that AMC has surrendered more than 99% of its value, smaller rival Cinemark has more than doubled. It's also on its fourth consecutive year of profitability, and it even pays a quarterly dividend. AMC partner and experience supersizer IMAX has more than tripled.
However, despite generating 56% more in trailing revenue than Cinemark, AMC trades at an enterprise value of just 1.7 times its trailing revenue. That's a discount to Cinemark's comparable multiple of 1.9. The market leader doesn't often trade at a discount to its peers, but the big knock here is that AMC isn't consistently profitable.
AMC isn't expected to post an annual profit until 2028, a decade since the last time it did. However, AMC grew its top line faster than Cinemark last year, and it's doing so again on a trailing basis. A lot can go wrong between now and 2028, but think of all of the things that have gone right as AMC shares trounce the market this year.
3. It's not just about the ticket sales
A big knock on buying into any multiplex operator is that success isn't in the exhibitors' hands. They're at the mercy of the studios and the exclusivity windows they provide. No compelling flicks, no ticket taker clicks. However, AMC has taken it upon itself to make its own luck.
It has elevated the moviegoing experience with reserved seating, improved snack and beverage offerings, and member loyalty subscriptions. Its free AMC Stubs tier now accounts for half of its audience. The premium-priced AMC Stubs A-List -- through which folks pay as much as $30 a month for access to four weekly screenings -- now has 1.1 million paying members, accounting for 20% of its visits.
You might think charging someone $30 a month for at least 16 viewings across all formats is a loss leader. A single weekend evening IMAX screening will run you north of $20 in many major markets. However, this isn't the poorly conceived third-party MoviePass offering that went bankrupt more than six years ago. It keeps roughly half of the ticket sales, with studios retaining the rest. Someone getting a deal on a viewing is also likely to butter up to the concessions stand, where the serious money is made.
Admissions accounted for 54% of AMC's $1.6 billion in revenue for its latest quarter. Concessions made up just 36% of the top-line mix, but with that segment's 81% gross margin, those food and beverage sales accounted for a larger gross profit than the box office. Filling up seats also boosts its high-margin ad revenue prospects.
I'm just scratching the surface here. AMC is rolling out collectibles with major movie releases, has a deal to stream live concerts at a premium, and is renting out its facilities during quiet times. AMC's boardroom failed investors when the business was struggling, taking advantage of the short-lived meme-stock pop to distract and dilute its shareholders. Now that improving fundamentals and momentum are behind the wheel, it will be harder to swerve into another wreck.
"We come to this place for magic," Nicole Kidman famously says at the start of the iconic ad that plays before every AMC screening. Investors -- and not just the speculators who have suffered on the way down over the past five years -- are starting to realize that the magic might be real this time.
Should you buy stock in AMC Entertainment right now?
Before you buy stock in AMC Entertainment, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and AMC Entertainment wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $417,413!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,341,294!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 950% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 212% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of September 14, 2026.
Rick Munarriz has positions in AMC Entertainment and Netflix. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Netflix. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Founded in 1993 in Alexandria, VA., by brothers David and Tom Gardner, The Motley Fool is a multimedia financial-services company dedicated to building the world's greatest investment community. Reaching millions of people each month through its website, books, newspaper column, radio show, television appearances, and subscription newsletter services, The Motley Fool champions shareholder values and advocates tirelessly for the individual investor. The company's name was taken from Shakespeare, whose wise fools both instructed and amused, and could speak the truth to the king -- without getting their heads lopped off.

3 Reasons I Bought AMC Stock This Month

Key Points
AMC is again free cash flow positive.
The debt overhang from previous years has left it with a stockholders' deficit and huge interest expenses.
AMC Entertainment Holdings (NYSE: AMC) has benefited from something that seemed unthinkable in recent years: record ticket sales. The world's largest movie theater chain suffered in recent years as numerous headwinds reduced movie attendance.
Nonetheless, the industry reported $4.76 billion in North American summer box office revenue, a record high. Now, after AMC briefly became a meme stock, years of struggle have taken its price to low levels. Does that position it for a comeback? Let's take a closer look.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
The state of AMC
After the aforementioned stint as a meme stock, AMC became a penny stock as reality set in. Even after the pandemic took a toll on attendance, the movie chain found itself competing with other forms of entertainment and with the growing ability of some consumers to mimic the movie theater experience at home.
Fortunately, movie theater attendance has become trendy among younger generations. Moreover, AMC has made moviegoing a more immersive experience, countering the narrative that the home viewing experience has become the same.
Additionally, the summer blockbusters seem to have returned. Moviegoers came back for films such as Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey, which also offered an IMAX version that further enhanced the immersive experience.
That comeback improved its financials. In the first half of 2026, revenue of $2.64 billion rose 17% from year-ago levels. Also, free cash flow for the same period totaled $15 million, a huge improvement over the negative free cash flow of $328 million in the first two quarters of 2025. Such conditions could draw some investors while it is below $3 per share.
Unfortunately, its struggles in recent years have left AMC with $3.9 billion in corporate borrowings, and its $1.45 billion in stockholders' deficit shows the strain on its balance sheet. Consequently, high interest expenses contributed to a $129 million loss in the first half of the year.
Ultimately, to win back investor confidence, it will have to earn operating profits sufficient to strengthen its balance sheet. Until investors see clear signs of that happening, the stock may continue to struggle.
Moving forward with AMC stock
Given AMC's financial situation, investors are likely best served by treating its stock as a speculative play.
Indeed, the interest in movies has made a comeback, and the positive free cash flows are an encouraging sign. AMC remains the world's largest theater chain, so if attendance continues to improve, AMC stock could experience significant growth.
However, with the debt overhang from years of struggle, AMC remains unprofitable, and its massive debt load is a major obstacle to the stock's growth. Until its financials show sustained improvement, the entertainment stock will likely continue to struggle.
Should you buy stock in AMC Entertainment right now?
Before you buy stock in AMC Entertainment, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and AMC Entertainment wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $410,024!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,372,815!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 950% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 211% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of September 10, 2026.
Will Healy has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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Are Record-Breaking Ticket Sales a Good Reason to Buy AMC Stock?

Key Points
AMC is in penny-stock territory, so it warrants extra caution.
There are some green flags, such as improving financial results.
But there are less risky alternatives.
AMC Entertainment (NYSE: AMC) is an interesting stock. For a while, in 2021, it was a "meme stock," often in the news and surging more than 1,100% that year to more than $600 per share. The next years were different, with shares crashing 85%, 85%, 35%, and 61% in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, respectively. Altogether, that's more than a 99% decline. Ouch!
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
So far, 2026 has been quite different, with shares up about 63% (as of Sept. 4). Still, they were recently trading for $2.67 apiece. In other words, AMC Entertainment's shares are firmly in penny-stock territory. Should you buy shares now, while they're below $3? Maybe.
Penny stocks are notoriously volatile and risky, often tied to young, unproven companies, and occasionally hyped online. They're generally to be avoided. But AMC Entertainment, while definitely not a no-brainer, blue chip stock, is not a typical penny stock. Its market value was recently $2.4 billion, for example. Its last earnings report, for its second quarter, featured revenue of $1.6 billion, up 14% year over year.
So -- should you buy into AMC Entertainment? Here are some reasons you might:
Movie theaters are having a great year, with summer ticket sales up 26% over last year and above most recent summers.
AMC seems to have its mojo back, with Q2 also featuring adjusted earnings in the black, not the red.
The stock's valuation arguably looks reasonable, with a low price-to-sales ratio of 0.28, below the five-year average of 0.31.
However, keep in mind:
AMC doesn't have a solid track record of profits.
It doesn't pay a dividend.
The company has issued many more shares, diluting the value of existing shares.
Overall, I'm taking a pass. But dig deeper, if you're intrigued, and see what you think.
Should you buy stock in AMC Entertainment right now?
Before you buy stock in AMC Entertainment, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and AMC Entertainment wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $421,997!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,413,876!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 978% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 213% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
Selena Maranjian has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Should You Buy AMC Entertainment Holdings (AMC) Stock While It's Below $3?

The NASDAQ 100 Pre-Market Indicator is up 50.22 to 29,532.54. The total Pre-Market volume is currently 108,599,638 shares traded.
The following are the most active stocks for the pre-market session:
Sunbelt Rentals Holdings, Inc. (SUNB) is -1.02 at $64.97, with 14,745,161 shares traded.SUNB is scheduled to provide an earnings report on 9/9/2026, for the fiscal quarter ending Jul2026. The consensus earnings per share forecast is 0.99 per share, which represents a 99,900 percent increase over the EPS one Year Ago
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (AMC) is +0.1203 at $2.66, with 7,519,792 shares traded. AMC's current last sale is 88.68% of the target price of $3.
Direxion Daily TSLA Bull 2X ETF (TSLL) is -0.5115 at $9.87, with 5,664,968 shares traded. This represents a 47.4% increase from its 52 Week Low.
iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) is -0.28 at $46.07, with 4,444,548 shares traded. This represents a 40.29% increase from its 52 Week Low.
NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is +3.3345 at $231.78, with 3,514,205 shares traded. Over the last four weeks they have had 10 up revisions for the earnings forecast, for the fiscal quarter ending Oct 2026. The consensus EPS forecast is $2.47. As reported by Zacks, the current mean recommendation for NVDA is in the "buy range".
NIO Inc. (NIO) is -0.0805 at $3.78, with 2,780,249 shares traded. NIO's current last sale is 59.05% of the target price of $6.4.
ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ) is +1.15 at $73.18, with 2,723,662 shares traded. This represents a 96.09% increase from its 52 Week Low.
Nokia Corporation (NOK) is +0.31 at $10.08, with 2,446,820 shares traded. As reported by Zacks, the current mean recommendation for NOK is in the "buy range".
lululemon athletica inc. (LULU) is -24.91 at $96.86, with 2,260,419 shares traded. LULU's current last sale is 80.05% of the target price of $121.
CID HoldCo, Inc. (DAIC) is +0.03 at $3.37, with 2,254,158 shares traded.
Planet Labs PBC (PL) is +2.1297 at $20.48, with 1,320,578 shares traded. As reported by Zacks, the current mean recommendation for PL is in the "buy range".
BitMine Immersion Technologies, Inc. (BMNR) is -0.31 at $26.14, with 1,230,761 shares traded. As reported by Zacks, the current mean recommendation for BMNR is in the "buy range".

Pre-Market Most Active for Sep 4, 2026 : SUNB, AMC, TSLL, IBIT, NVDA, NIO, TQQQ, NOK, LULU, DAIC, PL, BMNR

Key Points
Archer Aviation has lost almost a third of its value over the past year, even as its next-gen air taxi service is about to take off.
AMC Entertainment has badly diluted its shareholders, but it's about to deliver record revenue in 2026.
Grab is growing revenue, blowing out analyst profit targets, and buying back its depressed stock.
Both the stock market and summertime temperatures are shooting higher, but you can still find some big stocks with small stock prices. I have a few stocks priced in the single digits that I think can come through for investors in August and beyond.
A few names I like here are Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR), AMC Entertainment (NYSE: AMC), and Grab Holdings (NASDAQ: GRAB). They all have market caps of at least $2 billion. These are the three stocks under $10 that I think are worth buying in August.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
1. Archer Aviation
Kicking things off with a company that has generated a loss of $800 million on a mere $6.9 million in revenue over the past year is admittedly a shaky place to start this month's list of promising stocks trading in the single digits. It also doesn't help that Archer Aviation stock has declined 10% in 2026 and plummeted almost 30% over the past year.
The market for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is still in the birthing process, but Archer and rival Joby Aviation (NYSE: JOBY) have a combined $13 billion in market cap today. Both stocks have cooled off over the past year -- with Joby losing half its value -- but that makes this an opportune time to get in before things heat up again in the not-so-distant future. In Archer terms, if you thought the ride took off without you when the shares soared fivefold through 2023 and 2024, it has come back to pick you up.
Archer's Midnight aircraft has already attracted a couple of airlines worldwide as a way to upsell premium short-haul flights into the heart of dense metropolitan city centers after landing at major airports. It's already the official air taxi provider for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. There are also military implications that the U.S. Air Force is considering.
Passenger capacities, range, and payloads are limited, but this market will evolve and improve quickly once it gets figuratively and literally airborne. In the meantime, analyst revenue projections for the next few years are impressive for Archer:
2026: $15 million
2027: $143 million
2028: $511 million
2029: $1.392 billion
Losses will continue, but Archer has the liquidity armor to get through its growth burst. Its cash-rich balance sheet drops its $5.1 billion market cap to an enterprise value of $3.8 billion.
This remains a high-risk, high-return opportunity, but Archer came back for you.
2. AMC Entertainment
There's a good chance I'll lose my Fool card for saying this, but AMC stock may no longer be a haven for gluttons of punishment. Movie theaters are back, and as the country's leading player, AMC is an obvious beneficiary. The shares are trouncing the market with a 54% gain this year, yet they are still down a brutal 99.3% over the last five years.
The same management team that capitalized on the exhibitor's meme stock rise to dilute those poor shareholders is somehow still in place. I'm not happy about the split-adjusted share count's more-than-40-fold jump since the pandemic. However, we're at the point where even they can't botch the moviegoers' rebound.
AMC will report record annual revenue this year. You can't believe it, and neither can most people. The number of tickets sold in the U.S. peaked 24 years ago, but inflation, higher ticket prices, and movie theaters boosting their concession sales mean AMC is closing in on $5.5 billion in revenue this year. It would be a new record.
Profitability on an annual basis is still another year or two away, but after bashing management, let me sing its praises. AMC has made a lot of smart moves. It has beefed up its in-theater offerings with timely collectibles, reserved seating, and even bar drinks in some locations. If it can avoid its dilutive ways this time, AMC's gains this year could be sustainable.
3. Grab Holdings
Let's travel all the way to Singapore for the final entry in August's list. Grab Holdings is a regional superapp developer in Southeast Asian markets. It's dominant in many of those countries with its flagship ride-hailing service, but it has cracked open that car door to establish a competitive market share in deliveries, digital payments, travel bookings, and other financial services.
Revenue rose a better-than-expected 22% in its latest quarter, announced last week. Grab blew past Wall Street's profit target for the third consecutive quarter. It was a "beat-and-raise" performance, with Grab boosting its full-year guidance. With the shares still down over the past year, Grab also announced a $750 million share repurchase program last week.
It sees the opportunity in its depressed shares. I see it too.
Should you buy stock in Archer Aviation right now?
Before you buy stock in Archer Aviation, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Archer Aviation wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $403,337!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,334,946!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 958% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 214% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of August 12, 2026.
Rick Munarriz has positions in Grab. The Motley Fool recommends Grab. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

3 Stocks Under $10 to Buy in August

Wynn Resorts, Limited WYNN reported second-quarter 2026 results, with earnings and revenues beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The top and bottom lines increased on a year-over-year basis.
Management highlighted healthy demand across the business, including a monthly Adjusted Property EBITDAR record in Las Vegas during May and strong performance in Macau. Wynn Palace led the quarter’s growth, with revenues rising 21.1% and Adjusted Property EBITDAR increasing 28.2% year over year.
WYNN’s Q2 Earnings & Revenues
In the second quarter, the company reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.24, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.01 by 22.8%. In the prior-year quarter, Wynn Resorts reported adjusted earnings of $1.09 per share.
Quarterly operating revenues of $1.86 billion surpassed the consensus mark of $1.84 billion by 0.9%. The top line increased 6.9% from $1.74 billion reported in the year-ago quarter.
Wynn Resorts, Limited Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Wynn Palace Operations
In the second quarter, Wynn Palace’s operating revenues amounted to $653.4 million compared with $539.6 million in the prior-year quarter. Casino revenues increased 25.9% year over year to $564.4 million, while food and beverage revenues rose 4.4% to $31.8 million.
Rooms and entertainment, retail and other revenues declined 6% each to $36.2 million and $21.1 million, respectively. Adjusted Property EBITDAR increased to $201.5 million from $157.2 million, with the margin improving to 30.8% from 29.1%.
In the VIP segment, table games turnover declined 32% year over year to $2.77 billion. The VIP table games win rate was 2.97% compared with 2.86% in the prior-year quarter and remained below the property’s expected range of 3.1% to 3.4%.
Mass-market table drop increased 3% to $1.9 billion, while table games win rose 36.9% to $563.3 million. The mass-market table games win percentage improved to 29.7% from 22.3%. RevPAR declined 5.7% to $216, while occupancy was 98.9%.
WYNN’s Wynn Macau Operations
In the second quarter, Wynn Macau generated operating revenues of $351.1 million compared with $343.8 million reported in the prior-year quarter. Casino revenues increased 2.5% to $300.7 million, while entertainment, retail and other revenues rose 8.7% to $12.7 million.
Rooms and food and beverage revenues declined 3.8% and 1.5% to $20.9 million and $16.8 million, respectively. Adjusted Property EBITDAR declined 1% to $95.5 million from $96.5 million.
VIP table games turnover fell 56.4% year over year to $428.1 million. The VIP win rate declined to 2.58% from 3.41% and remained below the expected range.
Mass-market table drop rose 8.3% to $1.75 billion, and table games win increased 6.9% to $300.2 million. Slot machine handle advanced 18%, while slot machine win climbed 38.6%. RevPAR declined 3.3% to $208.
Wynn Resorts’ Las Vegas Operations
In the second quarter, operating revenues from Las Vegas Operations totaled $643.2 million compared with $638.6 million in the prior-year quarter. Casino revenues increased 6.5% to $158.1 million, while room revenues edged up 0.1% to $208.1 million.
Food and beverage revenues rose 0.4% to $195.7 million. Entertainment, retail and other revenues declined 6.9% to $81.2 million. Adjusted Property EBITDAR decreased 8.3% to $215.2 million, with the margin contracting to 33.5% from 36.8%.
Table drop increased 4.8% year over year to $638.2 million, while table games win rose 14.8% to $152.7 million. The table games win percentage improved to 23.9% from 21.8%.
RevPAR increased 2.5% to $501, while the average daily rate rose 4.9% to $575. Occupancy declined to 87.1% from 89.2% in the year-ago quarter.
WYNN’s Encore Boston Harbor
In the second quarter, Encore Boston Harbor’s operating revenues amounted to $209.3 million compared with $215.7 million in the prior-year quarter. Casino revenues fell 5.9% to $152.1 million.
Rooms and food and beverage revenues increased 9.7% and 7.4% to $25.1 million and $20.1 million, respectively. Entertainment, retail and other revenues declined 3.9% to $12 million.
Adjusted Property EBITDAR decreased 12.2% to $56.1 million from $63.9 million. The table games win percentage fell to 18.1% from 21.3%.
RevPAR increased 9.6% to $412, while the average daily rate rose 9.9% to $445. Occupancy was 92.7% compared with 92.9% in the prior-year quarter.
Wynn Resorts’ Q2 Operating Performance
In the second quarter, Adjusted Property EBITDAR totaled $568.3 million compared with $552.4 million in the year-ago quarter. The consolidated margin declined to 30.6% from 31.8%.
Operating income increased to $297.6 million from $264.6 million reported in second quarter 2025. Net income attributable to Wynn Resorts rose to $140.1 million from $66.2 million reported in the prior year quarter.
WYNN’s Cash Position and Capital Returns
As of June 30, 2026, cash and cash equivalents totaled $1.57 billion, excluding $527.4 million of short-term investments held by Wynn Macau. Total current and long-term debt outstanding was $10.72 billion.
The company repurchased 741,098 shares for $75 million during the quarter. Wynn Resorts also declared a cash dividend of 25 cents per share, payable Aug. 28, 2026. Wynn Al Marjan Island is expected to open in September 2027.
WYNN’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Wynn Resorts currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Some better-ranked stocks from the Zacks Consumer-Discretionary sector are Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. LTH, The Marcus Corporation MCS and AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. AMC.
Life Time Group presently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here.
Life Time Group delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 9.50%, on average. The stock has surged 68.3% in the year-to-date period. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LTH’s 2026 sales and EPS implies growth of 11.5% and 19.4%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.
Marcus currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings miss of 34.2%, on average. The stock has gained 100.7% in the year-to-date period.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Marcus’ 2026 sales and EPS indicates growth of 8.3% and 605.9%, respectively, from the year-ago period’s levels.
AMC Entertainment presently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 321.7%, on average. The stock has rallied 71.8% in the year-to-date period.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMC Entertainment’s 2026 sales and EPS indicates an increase of 13.3% and 77.1%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.
Research Chief Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.