RDI vs IMAX

For growth investors, IMAX Corporation (IMAX) is the stronger pick with 16.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 5% for Reading International, Inc. (RDI). IMAX Corporation (IMAX) offers the better valuation at 56. 6x trailing P/E (21. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate IMAX Corporation (IMAX) a "Buy" — based on 25 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

Over the past 5 years, IMAX Corporation (IMAX) delivered a total return of +70.

3%, compared to -82. 1% for Reading International, Inc. (RDI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IMAX returned +8. 9% versus RDI's -92. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), IMAX Corporation (IMAX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

43β versus Reading International, Inc. 's 0. 59β — meaning RDI is approximately 39% more volatile than IMAX relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), IMAX Corporation (IMAX) is pulling ahead at 16.

5% versus -5. 5% for Reading International, Inc. (RDI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: IMAX Corporation grew EPS 31. 3% year-over-year, compared to -14. 5% for Reading International, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, RDI leads at 14. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

IMAX Corporation (IMAX) is the more profitable company, earning 8.

5% net margin versus -16. 8% for Reading International, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IMAX leads at 23. 3% versus -6. 7% for RDI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IMAX leads at 57. 9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, IMAX Corporation (IMAX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

43)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (IMAX: +8. 9%, RDI: -92. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Communication Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: RDI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; IMAX is a small-cap high-growth stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.