Revenue volatility remains a primary concern, evidenced by a sharp 42.3% year-over-year decline in 2025Q3 and fluctuating gross margins that reached a high of 42.4% in 2026Q1.
| Metric | TTM | Dec'25 | Mar'25 | Mar'24 | Mar'23 | Mar'22 | Mar'21 | Dec'18 | Dec'17 | Dec'16 | Dec'15 | Dec'14 | Dec'13 | Dec'12 | Dec'11 | Dec'10 | Dec'09 | Dec'08 | Dec'07 | Dec'06 | Dec'05 | Dec'04 |
|---|
| Sales/Revenue | 2.63B | 2.63B | 3.2B | 2.99B | 3.08B | 2.72B | 1.91B | 17.87M | 135.25M | 128.84M | 100.84M | 90.44M | 83.59M | 80.48M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78K |
| Revenue Growth % | -14.94% | -17.64% | 7% | -3.16% | 13.53% | 42% | 10602.74% | -86.78% | 4.98% | 27.76% | 11.5% | 8.19% | 3.87% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | -100% | - |
| Cost of Goods Sold | 1.59B | 1.6B | 2.21B | 1.89B | 2.21B | 1.92B | 1.22B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8.78M | 0 | 0 | 6.86M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| COGS % of Revenue | - | 60.87% | 69.16% | 63.16% | 71.6% | 70.76% | 63.78% | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10.91% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Gross Profit | 1.04B | 1.03B | 985.5M | 1.1B | 875.9M | 794.2M | 692.9M | 17.87M | 135.25M | 128.84M | 100.84M | 90.44M | 83.59M | 71.71M | 0 | 0 | -6.86M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78K |
| Gross Margin % | 39.46% | 39.13% | 30.84% | 36.84% | 28.4% | 29.24% | 36.22% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 89.09% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 100% |
| Gross Profit Growth % | - | 4.5% | -10.43% | 25.62% | 10.29% | 14.62% | 3776.8% | -86.78% | 4.98% | 27.76% | 11.5% | 8.19% | 16.58% | - | - | 100% | - | - | - | - | -100% | - |
| Operating Expenses | 921.2M | 881.8M | 860.9M | 960.6M | 736.3M | 682.3M | 597M | 118.96M | 108.92M | 96.68M | 76.87M | 67.01M | 57.65M | 69.65M | 16.54M | 14.53M | 951K | -21.34M | 8.99M | 15.06M | -18.91M | -36K |
| OpEx % of Revenue | - | 33.51% | 26.94% | 32.17% | 23.88% | 25.12% | 31.21% | 665.58% | 80.53% | 75.04% | 76.23% | 74.09% | 68.96% | 86.54% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | -46.15% |
| Selling, General & Admin | 736.3M | 707.3M | 740.5M | 811.5M | 691.2M | 657.9M | 542M | 113.52M | 103.37M | 96.68M | 76.87M | 67.01M | 57.65M | 69.65M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SG&A % of Revenue | - | 26.88% | 23.17% | 27.17% | 22.41% | 24.22% | 28.33% | 635.16% | 76.43% | 75.04% | 76.23% | 74.09% | 68.96% | 86.54% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Research & Development | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.44M | 5.55M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| R&D % of Revenue | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 30.42% | 4.1% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Operating Expenses | 3M | 174.5M | 120.4M | 149.1M | 45.1M | 24.4M | 55M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16.54M | 14.53M | 951K | -21.34M | 8.99M | 15.06M | -18.91M | -36K |
| Operating Income | 117.4M | 148M | 124.6M | 139.7M | 139.6M | 111.9M | 95.9M | 89.48M | 77.78M | 81.36M | 77.23M | 57.7M | 56.68M | 56.71M | 16.54M | 14.53M | -7.81M | -21.34M | 8.99M | 15.06M | -18.91M | 114K |
| Operating Margin % | 4.46% | 5.62% | 3.9% | 4.68% | 4.53% | 4.12% | 5.01% | 500.66% | 57.51% | 63.15% | 76.59% | 63.8% | 67.8% | 70.47% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 146.15% |
| Operating Income Growth % | - | 18.78% | -10.81% | 0.07% | 24.75% | 16.68% | 7.17% | 15.04% | -4.39% | 5.34% | 33.85% | 1.81% | -0.07% | 242.83% | 13.84% | 286.07% | 63.39% | -337.37% | -40.32% | 179.62% | -16691.23% | - |
| EBITDA | 1.16B | 1.19B | 1.78B | 201.3M | 1.81B | 1.71B | 926.4M | 96.59M | 87.49M | 89.72M | 83.88M | 71.27M | 67.7M | 64.82M | 16.54M | -16.03M | -53.82M | -78.97M | -57.69M | -39.22M | -16.93M | 1.38M |
| EBITDA Margin % | 43.99% | 45.15% | 55.84% | 6.74% | 58.59% | 62.95% | 48.43% | 540.42% | 64.69% | 69.64% | 83.18% | 78.8% | 80.98% | 80.54% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1769.23% |
| EBITDA Growth % | -33.71% | -33.42% | 786.49% | -88.86% | 5.66% | 84.59% | 859.11% | 10.4% | -2.48% | 6.96% | 17.69% | 5.28% | 4.44% | 291.82% | 203.19% | 70.21% | 31.85% | -36.88% | -47.12% | -131.58% | -1327.1% | - |
| D&A (Non-Cash Add-back) | 1.04B | 1.04B | 1.66B | 61.6M | 1.67B | 1.6B | 830.5M | 7.11M | 9.71M | 8.36M | 6.64M | 13.57M | 11.02M | 8.11M | 0 | -30.56M | -46.01M | -57.64M | -66.68M | -54.27M | 1.98M | 1.27M |
| EBIT | 59.8M | 148M | 106.4M | 273.2M | 168M | 79.7M | 91.8M | 89.48M | 77.78M | 81.36M | 77.23M | 57.7M | 56.68M | 56.71M | 0 | 14.53M | -7.81M | -21.34M | 8.99M | 15.06M | -18.91M | 114K |
| Net Interest Income | -208.6M | -241.8M | -227.7M | -178.2M | -156.2M | -63.2M | -103.6M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Interest Income | 17.9M | 17.9M | 14.8M | 19.2M | 6.4M | 5.3M | 6.1M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Interest Expense | 226.5M | 259.7M | 242.5M | 197.4M | 162.6M | 68.5M | 109.7M | 31.9M | 22.73M | 20.45M | 15.8M | 11.23M | 13.96M | 17.08M | 0 | -30.56M | -46.01M | -57.64M | -66.68M | -54.27M | -34.68M | 1.34M |
| Other Income/Expense | -276.8M | -307.3M | -237M | -212.4M | -134.2M | 0 | -113.8M | -31.9M | -22.73M | -20.45M | -15.8M | -11.23M | -13.96M | -17.08M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34.68M | 0 |
| Pretax Income | -159.4M | -159.3M | -112.4M | -72.7M | 5.4M | 11.2M | -17.9M | 57.58M | 55.05M | 60.91M | 61.43M | 46.48M | 42.72M | 39.64M | 16.54M | 14.53M | -7.81M | -21.34M | 8.99M | 15.06M | 15.77M | 114K |
| Pretax Margin % | -6.06% | -6.05% | -3.52% | -2.43% | 0.18% | 0.41% | -0.94% | 322.18% | 40.71% | 47.28% | 60.92% | 51.39% | 51.1% | 49.25% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 146.15% |
| Income Tax | 2.8M | 16.2M | 14.5M | 34.2M | 14.3M | 17.3M | 17.3M | 13.76M | 15.26M | 22.14M | 22.29M | 16.44M | 15.08M | 14.31M | 5.14M | 4.4M | -3.96M | -9.1M | 2.35M | 4.69M | 5.44M | -36K |
| Effective Tax Rate % | -1.76% | -10.17% | -12.9% | -47.04% | 264.81% | 154.46% | -96.65% | 23.9% | 27.72% | 36.35% | 36.29% | 35.37% | 35.3% | 36.1% | 31.1% | 30.27% | 50.64% | 42.65% | 26.19% | 31.12% | 34.52% | -31.58% |
| Net Income | -198.4M | -198.3M | -128.5M | -93.5M | -300K | 11.1M | -19.6M | 43.82M | 39.8M | 38.77M | 39.13M | 30.04M | 27.64M | 25.33M | 11.4M | 10.13M | -3.85M | -12.24M | 6.63M | 10.37M | 10.33M | 150K |
| Net Margin % | -7.54% | -7.53% | -4.02% | -3.13% | -0.01% | 0.41% | -1.02% | 245.19% | 29.42% | 30.09% | 38.81% | 33.21% | 33.06% | 31.47% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 192.31% |
| Net Income Growth % | -54.28% | -54.32% | -37.43% | -31066.67% | -102.7% | 156.63% | -144.73% | 10.12% | 2.66% | -0.94% | 30.29% | 8.68% | 9.12% | 122.21% | 12.48% | 362.85% | 68.49% | -284.44% | -36.05% | 0.46% | 6784% | - |
| Net Income (Continuing) | -175.6M | -175.5M | -126.9M | -106.9M | -8.9M | -6.1M | -35.2M | 43.82M | 39.8M | 38.77M | 39.13M | 30.04M | 27.64M | 25.33M | 11.4M | 10.13M | -3.85M | -12.24M | 6.63M | 10.37M | 10.33M | 150K |
| Discontinued Operations | -2M | -16.5M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Minority Interest | 143.5M | 144.9M | 122.5M | 125.5M | 345.1M | 323M | 220.7M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| EPS (Diluted) | -0.67 | -0.69 | -0.43 | -0.42 | -0.00 | -0.02 | -0.90 | 1.61 | 1.49 | 1.50 | 1.77 | 1.41 | 1.48 | 1.54 | 0.71 | 0.95 | -0.39 | -1.28 | 0.71 | 1.12 | 1.13 | 0.02 |
| EPS Growth % | -68.3% | -60.47% | -2.38% | - | 95.31% | 97.63% | -155.9% | 8.05% | -0.67% | -15.25% | 25.53% | -4.73% | -3.9% | 116.9% | -25.26% | 343.59% | 69.53% | -280.28% | -36.61% | -0.89% | 6832.52% | - |
| EPS (Basic) | - | -0.69 | -0.43 | -0.47 | -0.00 | 0.04 | -0.90 | 1.61 | 1.50 | 1.52 | 1.77 | 1.41 | 1.48 | 1.74 | 0.83 | 0.95 | -0.39 | -1.28 | 0.71 | 1.12 | 1.13 | 0.02 |
| Diluted Shares Outstanding | 298.2M | 290M | 284.6M | 253.4M | 286.76M | 16.02M | 21.76M | 27.26M | 26.72M | 25.81M | 22.14M | 21.31M | 18.64M | 16.41M | 16.13M | 10.67M | 10M | 9.53M | 9.33M | 9.27M | 9.18M | 9.18M |
| Basic Shares Outstanding | 290.2M | 290M | 284.6M | 222.62M | 286.76M | 16.02M | 21.76M | 27.26M | 26.6M | 25.5M | 22.14M | 21.31M | 18.64M | 14.56M | 13.76M | 10.67M | 10M | 9.53M | 9.33M | 9.27M | 9.18M | 9.18M |
| Dividend Payout Ratio | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Theatrical release volatility
According to the provided quarterly income statements, LION's revenue exhibits significant lumpiness, evidenced by a sharp 42.3% year-over-year decline in 2025Q3 followed by a 1.5% recovery in 2025Q4, highlighting the inherent instability of a studio model dependent on the timing of theatrical and television delivery schedules.
The erratic revenue trajectory suggests that the company's top-line performance is highly sensitive to the specific release calendar rather than consistent organic growth. Investors should monitor whether the recent separation from Starz allows for a more predictable cadence of content monetization or if the studio remains tethered to the inherent volatility of the film production cycle.
As reported in financial statements, LION's gross margin has fluctuated between a low of 23.7% in 2024Q3 and a high of 42.4% in 2026Q1, illustrating the direct impact of film and television cost amortization on the company's ability to retain profit from its core production activities.
The wide variance in gross margins appears to be a function of the 'Ultimate Revenues' accounting method, where amortization charges are adjusted based on performance expectations. This suggests that margin expansion is not merely a function of pricing power, but rather a reflection of how effectively the studio manages the lifecycle costs of its library and new releases.
Based on the income statement data, operating margins have frequently dipped into negative territory, reaching -9.7% in 2025Q3, which indicates that the company's fixed overhead and marketing expenses often outpace the gross profit generated during periods of lower theatrical output or delayed content deliveries.
The inability to consistently scale operating income faster than gross profit suggests that the studio's cost structure remains rigid. Without a sustained increase in high-margin library licensing, the company may continue to struggle with operating leverage, leaving the bottom line vulnerable to even minor fluctuations in theatrical performance.
Analysis of the reported figures reveals that net income is highly inconsistent, swinging from a $70.2M profit in 2026Q1 to a $113.5M loss in 2025Q3, a trend that appears driven by non-operating items and the lumpy nature of content delivery and associated impairment charges.
The significant divergence between operating performance and net income warrants further investigation into the impact of interest expenses and corporate restructuring costs. Investors should be cautious of relying on EPS as a proxy for operational health, as the current figures are heavily influenced by accounting adjustments and the timing of capital-intensive production cycles.
While the studio model benefits from library monetization, the persistent negative net margins observed in several quarters, such as the -23.9% net margin in 2025Q3, suggest that the current cost structure may be fundamentally misaligned with the revenue-generating capacity of the studio's current film and television slate.
Short-sellers would likely focus on the company's inability to maintain consistent profitability despite its extensive library, pointing to the potential for further margin compression if theatrical P&A costs continue to escalate. The reliance on debt-financed production, combined with the inherent risks of the 'arms dealer' model, suggests that the company's path to sustainable earnings remains speculative.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying LION stock.
For fiscal year 2025, Lionsgate Studios Corp. (LION) reported total revenue of $2.63B. This represents a 3374002.6% increase compared to $0.1M in 2004.
Lionsgate Studios Corp. (LION) reported a net loss of $198.3M for the fiscal year ending 2025.
Lionsgate Studios Corp. (LION) reported an operating income of $148.0M, resulting in an operating profit margin of 5.6%. This margin reflects the operational efficiency of the business before interest and taxes.
Lionsgate Studios Corp. (LION) generated $1.03B in gross profit for the year, representing a gross profit margin of 39.1%. This demonstrates the company's core pricing power and production efficiency.