AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. (AMC) is having a moment. Shares jumped Thursday afternoon as theaters filled up following the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash, reminding investors that when Hollywood delivers hits, AMC's business model still works. The stock gained 4.83% to reach $1.63, outpacing broader market gains like the S&P 500's 0.70% rise and the Nasdaq-100's 1.17% climb.
The Recovery Story Has Legs, But So Do The Worries
AMC just posted a genuinely impressive pre-Christmas weekend, pulling in over 4 million guests and generating $88 million in domestic ticket sales. That's the kind of performance that makes you think maybe, just maybe, the theatrical experience isn't dead after all.
But here's where it gets complicated. The stock recently hit an all-time low before this bounce, and investors have good reason to stay cautious. A new note agreement hanging over the company allows for up to $150 million in stock offerings starting in February 2026. Translation: your slice of the pie could get smaller, regardless of how well the box office performs.
Still, some deep-pocketed investors are betting on the upside. Billionaire Robert Citrone of Discovery Capital Management recently scooped up approximately 32.75 million shares, clearly believing the market is undervaluing AMC relative to its box office recovery trajectory.
From Meme Stock Darling To Balance Sheet Battlefield
Remember 2021? AMC went from sleepy theater chain to retail investor battleground practically overnight. The meme stock frenzy sent shares to stratospheric heights and triggered a legendary short squeeze that Wall Street is still talking about.
What followed was messier: multiple dilutions, reverse splits, and wild price swings as management scrambled to fix a balance sheet wrecked by pandemic-era closures. The company survived, which is no small feat, but long-term shareholders paid a price.
Today, AMC operates as both a legitimate business with substantial theater footprint and a sentiment-driven trading vehicle. When blockbusters hit and premium formats like IMAX draw crowds, the fundamentals look decent. When the slate goes quiet or traders lose interest, things get ugly fast.