AMC Networks (NASDAQ:AMCX) Releases Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.14 EPS

AMC Networks (NASDAQ:AMCX) posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.50 by $0.14, Zacks reports. The company had revenue of $594.80 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $581.83 million. AMC Networks had a net margin of 3.87% and a return on equity of 11.35%. The company’s revenue was down .8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.64 earnings per share.

Here are the key takeaways from AMC Networks’ conference call:

• Streaming is now the largest single source of domestic revenue, with 10.4 million streaming subscribers, streaming revenue growth (12% for the year, 14% in Q4), and 2025 being the most-watched year across their streaming portfolio.
• The company generated strong free cash flow of $272 million in 2025 (above guidance) and expects at least $200 million of free cash flow for 2026.
• Advertising remains a material headwind—domestic ad revenue fell ~15% for the year (10% in Q4), and management expects domestic advertising to decline in the low double-digit percent range in 2026 as linear losses outpace digital growth.
• Balance sheet improvements include reducing gross debt by ~$600 million, extending maturities, ending 2025 with ~$1.3 billion net debt, a 3.1x consolidated net leverage ratio, and approximately $675 million of liquidity.
• Content/IP monetization upside—AMC regained streaming rights to The Walking Dead, completed full ownership of RLJ Entertainment, and launched/relaunched targeted services (All Reality, Sundance Now, HIDIVE) to expand distribution and future revenue opportunities.

AMC Networks Trading Down 2.3%

Shares of AMCX opened at $7.33 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $8.74 and its 200-day simple moving average is $7.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $319.07 million, a PE ratio of 5.35 and a beta of 1.12. AMC Networks has a 12-month low of $5.41 and a 12-month high of $10.27. The company has a quick ratio of 2.12, a current ratio of 2.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AMCX. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of AMC Networks by 6.5% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,170,004 shares of the company’s stock worth $17,881,000 after buying an additional 132,013 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP boosted its stake in AMC Networks by 3.2% in the third quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 1,464,638 shares of the company’s stock valued at $12,069,000 after acquiring an additional 45,093 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG boosted its stake in AMC Networks by 13.2% in the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 1,170,464 shares of the company’s stock valued at $9,645,000 after acquiring an additional 136,771 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in AMC Networks by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,019,989 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,712,000 after acquiring an additional 15,635 shares during the period. Finally, Bridgeway Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of AMC Networks by 26.9% during the 3rd quarter. Bridgeway Capital Management LLC now owns 651,051 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,365,000 after acquiring an additional 137,885 shares during the last quarter. 78.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on AMCX shares. Zacks Research raised AMC Networks from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on AMC Networks from $5.50 to $6.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “sell (d)” rating on shares of AMC Networks in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of AMC Networks from $8.00 to $10.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, Seaport Research Partners cut shares of AMC Networks from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, December 14th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Strong Sell” and an average price target of $7.00.

Key AMC Networks News

Here are the key news stories impacting AMC Networks this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 headline beat — AMC reported Q4 revenue roughly $594–595M (slightly above consensus) and adjusted EPS of $0.64 vs. Street $0.50, a near-term fundamental beat that supports earnings momentum. AMC Networks Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Streaming growth — Management said streaming is now the largest U.S. revenue source with ~14% YoY streaming growth, an encouraging structural shift toward higher-growth, recurring revenue. AMC Networks Posts Mixed Q4 Results As Streaming Overtakes Linear TV As Top U.S. Revenue Source
• Positive Sentiment: Consent solicitation could fund buybacks — AMC is soliciting consents to amend its 10.50% senior secured notes due 2032 to permit up to $50M of equity buybacks and ease certain IP/investment restrictions, which could increase capital-return optionality if approved. AMC Networks Announces Consent Solicitation to Amend its Senior Secured Notes due 2032
• Neutral Sentiment: Full transcripts available — The earnings/quarterly call transcripts and investor materials are posted (useful for digging into details on streaming cadence, content pipeline and cost puts). AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: GAAP profitability & cash concerns — Some third‑party summaries flagged a sizable operating and net loss on a GAAP basis, material decline in cash (~35% YoY in one report), and continued leverage (~$2.9B liabilities), which raise balance-sheet and liquidity questions despite the adjusted EPS beat. AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX) Releases Q4 2025 Earnings: Revenue Slight Beat, Large EPS Miss
• Negative Sentiment: Consent solicitation raises caution — While the amendment could enable buybacks, the company is offering a cash consent fee to bondholders to secure approval (up to ~$5–$10 per $1k), which some investors interpret as signaling stress or a need to pay for support. The solicitation expires Feb 23; outcome uncertainty creates near-term risk. AMC Networks Inc. Initiates Consent Solicitation for Proposed Amendments to Senior Secured Notes Due 2032

AMC Networks Company Profile

AMC Networks Inc (NASDAQ: AMCX) is a global entertainment company that specializes in the development, production and distribution of premium content for television and streaming platforms. Headquartered in New York City, the company operates a portfolio of pay television channels in the U.S. and abroad, and offers direct-to-consumer streaming services that feature both original programming and licensed fare. AMC Networks is best known for critically acclaimed series such as “Breaking Bad,” “Mad Men” and “The Walking Dead,” and it continues to invest in new scripted and unscripted content across a range of genres.

The company’s core television networks in the United States include AMC, IFC, Sundance TV and WE tv, while its joint venture with BBC Studios supports BBC America.