As indicated by the typical company data, the demand for print materials has been declining significantly in the past several years. The reduced demand has shifted partially to the corresponding digital platforms of those companies and, to larger extent, to other type of formats.

Sector’s Current, Trend, Causes behind trend, and Future

Current and Trend

1. The continuingly decreasing attendance has been the major trend in this sector of US market in the past two years, while the average ticket price has been rising. The decreased attendance also put huge pressure on revenue of food and beverage for those companies.

2. There is a similar trend in attendance in South America and Europe market.

3. Companies have been making less profit as attendance decreases due to increasing spending in marketing and shrinking margins.

4. Consolidation activities has been increasing.

Causes behind the trend

1. The downward trend in theatre industry since 2016 may be consistent with and have the similar reasons behind the unfavourable retail industry – slowing down traffic, which caused by changes in shopping habits and entertainment habits of consumers.

2. Increasing online shopping behaviors reduces the time of consumers spent out of home and thus reduces occasional or non-purpose  spending. The consumption including shopping and watching movie in theatres thus goes either to online/in home entertainment or simply diminished.

3. Increasing competition from new type of entertainment may partially explain the decreased attendance of theatres.

Industry Future

• As downward trend in this industry continues, companies may not be able to continue to raise their ticket prices.

General Financial Performance of Companies In the Sector

It seems that the demand for theatre admission of companies in this sector in US market has been continuingly decreasing since 2016 as indicated by decreased attendance (4-6% annually on 2017 and 2018). Due to the decreasing attendance, concession revenue has been negatively influenced as well. It seems that there has been a similar downward trend, in terms of attendance, in international theatre market during the same period of time.

While the decrease in attendance seems to have been offset by increased ticket price and food& beverage price in terms of revenue of admission and concession, it has hurt margins of companies due to increased spending in advertising and lower concession margin. The typical company in this sector has an about 14% gross margin down from about 15% in 2015 with a higher SG&A as percentage of sales (about 6%) and lower operating margin (about 9%).

The typical price/cash flow is 26.

Looking for  multiples to help you make decisions in pricing of PE, M&A, or distressed debt transactions?

Please click the button below.