Quality Investor

National CineMedia, Inc.

Rank #77Decline

NCMI · Nasdaq · Communication Services

National CineMedia, Inc. (NCMI) — Rank #77 by gross profitability (GP/assets 0.52) · ROE -3.2% · Piotroski F-Score N/A.

As-of 2026-09-15 · CIK 0001377630 · all metrics point-in-time as of the filing date.

About

National CineMedia, Inc., through its subsidiary, National CineMedia, LLC, operates cinema advertising network in North America.

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The company engages in the sale of advertising to national, regional, and local businesses in Noovie, a cinema advertising and entertainment show seen on movie screens; and sells advertising on its Lobby Entertainment Network, a series of strategically placed screens located in movie theater lobbies, as well as other forms of advertising and promotions in theatre lobbies. It also sells digital advertising, including through NCM Boost, a data, insights and analytics platform that utilizes data; NCM Boost, a audience accelerator digital product; NCM Boomerang, retargeting solution designed to amplify post-theatre engagement; NCM Bullseye, an AI-generated creative to deliver dynamic and hyper-localized messaging; and NCM Blueprint, a real-time renovation permit data to identify homeowners who are actively engaged in remodelling projects. It offers its services to national and local sales groups.

The company was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Centennial, Colorado.

Industry
Advertising Agencies
Sector
Communication Services
State
DE
Filer Category
Accelerated filer
Fiscal Year End
December 31
Website
ncm.com

Price History

NCMI-88.9% · -35.6% CAGRSPY+80.5% · +12.5% CAGR

Company Snapshot

P/E, P/B, and dividend yield matter most — book value provides a floor.

Market Cap

$227.18M

P/E (annual)

P/S (annual)

0.9

P/B

0.7

P/OCF (annual)

27.0

Shareholder Yield

-54.6%

Employees

248

Industry

Advertising Agencies

Exchange

Nasdaq

Signal Flags

1 yellow2 red
Dilution above 2%Annual share count increase exceeds 2%. May be acceptable for high-growth companies funding talent via stock compensation
Revenue declining YoYRevenue contracted year over year
Operating margin decliningOperating margin lower than prior year

Quality Profile

Profitability

GP / assets
0.52
Return on equity
-3.2%
Gross margin trend
N/A

Safety

1/1 pass
Balance-sheet safety
PASS
Debt / equity
0.34
Current ratio
1.84×
Net cash
$40.60M

Cash Flow

3/3 pass
Positive FCF
PASS
Cash-backed earnings
PASS
Accruals healthy
PASS
SBC / revenue
3.8%

Growth

0/2 pass
Revenue growth
-38.3%
Piotroski F-Score
N/A
Share dilution
59.6%

Terry Smith quality gate

Passes 1/5 Terry Smith thresholds

2 of 5 thresholds not computable from filed data.

What Growth Is Priced In

Implied revenue growth (10Y)

27.0%

stretched

The annual FCF growth rate today's price requires over a 10-year horizon (discount rate 10%, terminal growth 2.5%).

Dilution drag: 59.6% — per-share value needs a total required return of 86.6% once share-count change is priced in.

vs. own 6-year median revenue growth: 2.5%

priced above its own history

Cost-of-equity sensitivity (implied growth at different discount rates)

r = 8%

21.6%

r = 10% (base)

27.0%

r = 12%

31.6%

Net debt / market cap: -17.9%

Base FCF: $2.8M3Y mean FCF: $115M

Valuation History

Current multiple vs historical range at each filing date. Band spans 25th-75th percentile.

P / E

Price / diluted EPS

214.3xCheap
214.3xmed 269.1x2900.0x

P / S

Price / revenue per share

28.3xExpensive
16.0xmed 18.8x28.3x

P / FCF

Price / free cash flow per share

91.7xExpensive
47.4xmed 65.7x115.4x

Asset value and restructuring potential (balance-sheet strength) are the primary reads at this stage.

Profitability

Gross profitability (GP / assets)

0.52

Primary signal (Novy-Marx).

72nd pctl of 98 SIC 73 peers

Return on equity

-3.2%

Gross margin

94.7%

99th pctl of 97 SIC 73 peers

Revenue growth (YoY)

-38.3%

Gross margin improving

Margin trend vs prior year.

N/A

Operating Leverage

2012201320152015
Revenue vs COGS
Revenue vs OpEx
Op. Income vs Revenue

Anti-fragile safety

Balance-sheet safety

Composite anti-fragile check.

PASS

Debt / equity

0.34

80th pctl of 87 SIC 73 peers (best = lowest)

Current ratio

1.84×

52nd pctl of 97 SIC 73 peers

Quick ratio

1.73×

Net cash

$40.60M

Cash & equivalents minus total debt.

Cash-flow health

Free cash flow

$2.80M

Operating cash flow minus capex.

Positive free cash flow

PASS

FCF / net income

1.26

Cash-backing of earnings.

FCF/NI divergence

Unfavorable divergence (yellow flag).

PASS

Accruals healthy

Cash-backed earnings.

PASS

SBC / revenue

3.8%

Stock-based comp intensity.

Dividend safety

Composite score

0.8 / 5

Weak
Payout ratio
N/A0/5 Weak
FCF coverage
0.25×0/5 Weak
Dividend growth streak
1 yr1/5 Weak
Balance-sheet health
D/E 0.34 · IC N/A2/5 Fair

Piotroski F-Score

F-Score

N/A

Only 8/9 components determinable.

Lifecycle Phase History

20102015
Value
Capital Return
Decline