IMAX Corp. (NYSE: $IMAX) is a small-cap stock that delivers big entertainment to moviegoers, and big returns to shareholders.
IMAX is a Canadian company based in Toronto that makes giant movie screens that show specialty films designed to fit its gigantic format.
It’s a niche business. But IMAX is an innovative company that has also made revolutionary high-resolution movie cameras and film projectors.
IMAX also owns the movie theatres that show its films around the world.
IMAX stock is publicly traded in New York and has been a strong performer of late, with the share price rising 45% over the last 12 months to trade at $35.24 U.S. per share.
Over the past five years, IMAX stock has gained 70%, matching the performance of the benchmark S&P 500 index.
Yet for all its success, IMAX has a market capitalization of less than $2 billion U.S., making it a small-cap stock.
There’s no dividend on offer and the shares aren’t cheap, trading at 53 times this year’s earnings estimates.
However, IMAX Corp. just boosted its stock buyback program by $100 million U.S. The total share repurchase authorization now stands at $500 million U.S. and runs through June 2027.
The company also reported holding $97 million U.S. in cash at the end of March this year.
For investors looking to diversify their portfolio, a small-cap entertainment company such as IMAX might fit the bill.
