Cineplex (CGX) Q1 2026 earnings summary

Executive summary

• Achieved highest first quarter revenue since 2019, with total Q1 revenue of CAD 291 million, driven by strong box office and concession performance, and record results across key metrics.

• Box office revenues rose 25% year-over-year to CAD 127.4 million, with attendance up 17.3%.

• Set Q1 records for Box Office Per Patron (BPP) at CAD 12.94 and Concession Per Patron (CPP) at CAD 9.54.

• Premium experiences, international programming, and loyalty initiatives like CineClub and Scene+ partnerships drove higher visit frequency and spending.

• Net loss from continuing operations improved to CAD 22.4 million from CAD 35.1 million in the prior year, with adjusted EBITDAaL turning positive at CAD 4.1 million.

Financial highlights

• Total Q1 revenue was CAD 291 million, up 15.6% year-over-year, driven by a 17.3% increase in attendance to 9.8 million guests.

• Adjusted EBITDA rose 49.5% to CAD 44.7 million; adjusted EBITDAaL margin improved to 1.4% from -4.3%.

• Box office revenue rose 25% to CAD 127.4 million, with box office per patron at a record CAD 12.94, up 6.6%.

• Concession revenue per patron reached a record CAD 9.54, up 4.5% year-over-year.

• Media segment revenues declined 18.9% to CAD 13.9 million due to lower in-theater advertising, impacted by the Olympics and reduced pharma spend.

Outlook and guidance

• Second quarter box office to date is up 23% over the prior year, with April box office up 17%.

• 2026 film slate is described as one of the most compelling in years, with depth across family, franchise, and original content.

• Guidance for 2026 capital expenditures remains at approximately CAD 50 million.

• Management expects to capitalize on a strong upcoming film slate and premium guest experiences to drive improved cash flow.

• No material impact from global or economic uncertainty is expected; supply chain and fuel cost exposures are limited.