AMC earnings jump nearly 40 percent

Earnings surged at theater chain operator AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. in both the fourth quarter and for all of 2015.

The Leawood-based company said it earned $41.6 million, or 42 cents a share, in the last three months of last year. Its profit was 39.6 percent higher than a year earlier.

Profits grew faster than revenues, which at $783.9 million were up 10.1 percent for the quarter.

Newly appointed chief executive Adam Aron said the company still has room to boost its business, which benefited from a stronger box office and its efforts to increase revenues and attendance through moviegoer amenities and other efforts.

“Additionally, in my view, there is opportunity aplenty for AMC that transcends resting on the successes of the past,” Aron said in the earnings report. “We believe that there are a wealth of additional initiatives available to AMC in marketing, operations and technology that can further drive earnings growth and the creation of long term shareholder value.”

For all of 2015, AMC said it earned $103.9 million, or $1.06 per share, on $2.95 billion in revenues. Its annual profit was up 62 percent.

This story was originally published February 29, 2016 at 9:41 AM with the headline "AMC earnings jump nearly 40 percent."