New York, January 16, 2026, 05:33 (ET) — Premarket
- AMC held steady near $1.60 in premarket, following data revealing a sharp rise in short interest
- Shares climbed 3.2% Thursday, trading on volume that topped the average.
- Traders are eyeing Friday’s options expiry alongside the upcoming exchange short-interest update scheduled for later this month
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (AMC) hovered around $1.60 in premarket trading Friday, holding steady after fresh data revealed a surge in short selling against the movie-theater chain late last year.
Short interest — the number of shares borrowed and sold betting on a price drop — is key for AMC. It can trigger sudden price spikes when traders scramble to close losing shorts. This cycle, called a short squeeze, has become a hallmark of the stock since it caught on with retail investors.
The timing highlights market mechanics. A large batch of AMC options contracts tied to the stock’s settlement price expires Friday, with U.S. markets closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
AMC jumped 3.23% to close at $1.60 on Thursday, ending a two-day slide. Trading volume hit roughly 36.3 million shares, surpassing the stock’s 50-day average. The gain outpaced smaller rises seen in Cinemark and Marcus.
AMC bounced Thursday but still trades far below last year’s peak. Its 52-week range stretches from $1.44 up to $4.08, with the stock lingering near the lower end.
As of Dec. 31, AMC’s exchange-reported short interest hit around 92.9 million shares, roughly 18% of the public float, based on market data trackers. That’s up sharply from about 50.4 million shares reported in mid-December.
Short-interest figures come out on a fixed timetable, not in real time, so traders often have to speculate on changes since the last cutoff. According to the NYSE calendar, the upcoming short-interest report drops Jan. 27, covering positions as of Jan. 15.
AMC has kept adjusting its financing structure. In a Jan. 12 filing, the company revealed it signed a supplemental indenture to revise terms — notably the “exchange rate” definition — for Muvico’s senior secured exchangeable notes maturing in 2030.
AMC has relied heavily on refinancing and creditor agreements to extend its debt maturities. In July, the company closed a refinancing package that brought in about $244 million in new funds, aimed mainly at redeeming debt due in 2026.
AMC has also tapped equity-linked transactions to reduce debt whenever the stock price was favorable. In October, the company announced it wiped out close to $40 million in debt, calling it a key move in its wider push to bolster the balance sheet.
The operating environment still hinges on box office performance and consumer interest. After AMC’s November earnings release, CEO Adam Aron expressed confidence that the “size of the 2026 box office” would be “dramatically larger” than that of 2025. Reuters
High short interest alone doesn’t spark a move. If volume drops after options expiry and no new fundamental news emerges, bearish bets can remain steady, letting the stock drift—or even slide—on light trading.
Traders are keeping an eye on Friday’s options expiry to see if it triggers a spike in volume at key strikes. They’ll also be watching the short-interest update later this month to find out if shorts are easing up or digging in deeper. With the long weekend ahead, the market won’t fully reopen until Tuesday.
