Dividend coverage remains robust with a dividend-to-AFFO ratio averaging 0.49 over the last ten quarters, providing a stable buffer despite significant capital intensity in the development pipeline.
| Metric | TTM | Dec'25 | Dec'24 | Dec'23 | Dec'22 | Dec'21 | Dec'20 | Dec'19 | 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 | Dec'03 | Dec'02 | Dec'01 | Dec'00 | Dec'99 | Dec'98 | Dec'97 | Dec'96 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 1.67B | 1.68B | 1.61B | 1.56B | 1.42B | 1.2B | 1.22B | 1.32B | 1.3B | 1.26B | 1.14B | 1.06B | 886.64M | 724.5M | 540.82M | 429.39M | 332.11M | 378.6M | 386.86M | 455.82M | 351.94M | 306.64M | 275.68M | 239.81M | 308.11M | 308.72M | 294.82M | 250.07M | 191.23M | 64.85M | 40.22M |
| Operating CF Growth % | 20.04% | 4.4% | 3.07% | 9.71% | 18.18% | -1.35% | -7.73% | 1.59% | 3.57% | 9.86% | 8.21% | 19.19% | 22.38% | 33.96% | 25.95% | 29.29% | -12.28% | -2.13% | -15.13% | 29.52% | 14.77% | 11.23% | 14.95% | -22.17% | -0.2% | 4.72% | 17.9% | 30.77% | 194.88% | 61.23% | 77.98% |
| Operating CF / Revenue % | 54.65% | 55.24% | 55.18% | 56.36% | 54.83% | 52.43% | 53% | 56.86% | 56.95% | 58.2% | 55.91% | 56.94% | 52.62% | 49.52% | 54.05% | 47.71% | 39.4% | 45.62% | 47.51% | 59.46% | 48.78% | 46.8% | 42.51% | 39.34% | 57.73% | 59.01% | 51.42% | 49.42% | 51.49% | 36.27% | 48.7% |
| Net Income | 1.14B | 1.05B | 1.08B | 928.44M | 1.14B | 1B | 827.71M | 786.1M | 974.17M | 876.66M | 1.03B | 741.73M | 697.33M | 366.27M | 427.63M | 441.37M | 174.08M | 154.27M | 411.49M | 358.16M | 278.4M | 322.38M | 219.75M | 271.52M | 173.62M | 249M | 210.6M | 172.28M | 94.43M | 38.94M | 20.14M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 928.59M | 913.38M | 846.85M | 816.97M | 814.98M | 758.6M | 707.33M | 661.58M | 631.2M | 584.15M | 531.43M | 477.92M | 442.68M | 560.22M | 256.03M | 250.27M | 232.94M | 218.29M | 199.45M | 181.72M | 172.99M | 170.4M | 167.6M | 157.98M | 148.57M | 133.69M | 126.03M | 113.72M | 80.22M | 27.01M | 18.69M |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 26.5M | 26.46M | 25.37M | 27.14M | 33.86M | 25.5M | 21.6M | 25.62M | 20.28M | 17.92M | 15.08M | 15.32M | 13.93M | 15.16M | 8.71M | 0 | 5.94M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | -438.87M | -324.28M | -353.29M | -230.31M | -573.36M | 12.55M | 18.6M | 11.88M | 10.14M | 2.13M | -9.46M | -17.39M | -27.12M | -22.95M | 1.83M | -258.6M | -64.5M | -5.77M | -205.81M | -144.15M | -124.68M | -214.89M | -134.53M | -166.45M | -57.14M | -43.04M | -33.37M | -57.53M | -24.19M | 5.52M | 1.6M |
| Working Capital Changes | 9.63M | 13.72M | 6.76M | 17.8M | 10.01M | 10M | -25.46M | -10.5M | 20.25M | 35.83M | -2.81M | 24.06M | 3.57M | -23.15M | 205K | -3.65M | -16.35M | 11.81M | -18.27M | 60.09M | 25.24M | 28.75M | 22.86M | -23.24M | 43.05M | -30.92M | -8.44M | 21.6M | 40.76M | -6.62M | -204K |
| Cash from Investing | -1.01B | -1.4B | -996.86M | -928.96M | -560.42M | -624.05M | -179.43M | -1.19B | -596.65M | -965.38M | -1.04B | -1.2B | -816.76M | -1.18B | -623.39M | -443.14M | -298.94M | -333.56M | -266.31M | -809.25M | -511.37M | -19.76M | -251.68M | 33.94M | -440.33M | -259.39M | -282.58M | -264.62M | -619.23M | -577.17M | -217M |
| Acquisitions (Net) | -6.55M | 0 | -14.18M | -18.86M | -14.27M | -53.54M | -68K | -10.18M | -11.02M | 503.04M | 532.72M | 282.16M | 297.47M | 16.16M | 6.59M | -46.27M | 17.19M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -74.92M | 0 | -128.24M | 0 | -106.3M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Purchase of Investments | 0 | -1.96B | 0 | 0 | -1.5B | -1.48B | -880.25M | -1.48B | -1.49B | -1.48B | -1.63B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.7M | -73.04M | 0 | 0 | -15.13M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -437K | 0 | 0 |
| Sale of Investments | 338.06M | 814.47M | 0 | 0 | 1.06B | 977.2M | 825.23M | 424.82M | 936.45M | 503.04M | 532.72M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14.11M | 42.33M | 77.75M | 133.26M | 0 | 0 | 469.74M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Investing | -897.25M | 6.31M | -784.66M | -712.82M | 74.81M | 86.82M | 12.7M | 15.79M | -498.7M | -1.39B | -1.5B | -1.43B | -1.06B | -1.17B | -603.44M | 279.29M | 176.82M | 175.53M | 502.76M | 347.59M | 395.89M | 410.16M | 858.75M | 760.84M | 744.3M | 225.21M | 149.82M | 251.64M | 99.55M | 573.1M | 72.42M |
| Cash from Financing | -588.67M | -192.73M | -874.9M | -834.36M | -671.06M | -348.86M | -854.26M | -218.19M | -688.5M | -418.95M | -291.64M | 33.81M | 158.22M | -2B | 2.2B | 326.23M | 167.56M | -4.29M | -75.11M | 366.36M | 162.28M | -282.29M | -29.47M | -279.46M | 72.59M | -33.58M | 37.38M | 13.28M | 433.7M | 514.59M | 176.02M |
| Dividends Paid | -997.96M | -992.33M | -961.91M | -922.66M | -889.61M | -888.34M | -883.21M | -839.65M | -805.24M | -773.12M | -727.2M | -655.66M | -593.64M | -526.4M | -365.9M | -318.43M | -298.31M | -283.77M | -279.19M | -271.04M | -234.96M | -215.39M | -209.09M | -202.42M | -207.45M | -203.21M | -185.51M | -175.76M | -114.39M | -42.8M | -26.05M |
| Common Dividends | -997.96M | -992.33M | -961.91M | -922.66M | -889.61M | -888.34M | -883.21M | -839.65M | -805.24M | -772.66M | -726.75M | -655.25M | -593.64M | -526.05M | -365.57M | -318.23M | -298.09M | -283.71M | -279.19M | -271.04M | -234.96M | -215.39M | -209.09M | -202.42M | -207.45M | -203.21M | -185.51M | -172.33M | -129.66M | -42.8M | -26.05M |
| Debt Issuance (Net) | 2M | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K |
| Share Repurchases | -686.6M | -488.12M | 0 | -1.91M | 0 | 0 | -183.88M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -142.16M | -257.93M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -203.6M | -49.76M | -219M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Financing | 51.18M | -26.24M | -12.51M | -9.25M | 30.31M | -19.32M | -34.45M | -40.75M | -15.8M | 110.52M | -30.43M | -28.92M | 331.73M | -98.64M | -73.94M | -15.3M | -6.81M | -57K | -11.25M | -12.07M | -580K | -2.65M | -6.56M | -157.02M | -61.38M | -15.13M | 54.84M | 15.33M | -153.48M | -36.91M | -200K |
| Net Change in Cash | 71.99M | 86.01M | -263.88M | -203.28M | 190.46M | 230.26M | 185.92M | -90.25M | 15.96M | -128.07M | -185.51M | -108.95M | 228.1M | -2.45B | 2.12B | 312.48M | 200.74M | 40.76M | 45.44M | 12.94M | 2.85M | 4.58M | -5.48M | -5.71M | -59.63M | 15.75M | 49.61M | -1.27M | 5.7M | 2.27M | -757K |
| Exchange Rate Effect | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash at Beginning | 353.08M | 267.08M | 530.96M | 734.25M | 543.79M | 313.53M | 127.61M | 217.86M | 201.91M | 329.98M | 400.51M | 509.46M | 281.36M | 2.73B | 616.85M | 304.41M | 105.69M | 64.94M | 20.27M | 8.28M | 5.71M | 1.52M | 7.06M | 12.91M | 72.99M | 57.23M | 7.62M | 8.89M | 3.19M | 920K | 1.68M |
| Cash at End | 291.09M | 353.08M | 267.08M | 530.96M | 734.25M | 543.79M | 313.53M | 127.61M | 217.86M | 201.91M | 214.99M | 400.51M | 509.46M | 281.54M | 2.73B | 616.89M | 306.43M | 105.69M | 65.71M | 21.22M | 8.57M | 6.11M | 1.58M | 7.2M | 13.36M | 72.99M | 57.23M | 7.62M | 8.89M | 3.19M | 920K |
| Free Cash Flow | 1.5B | 1.41B | 1.41B | 1.36B | 1.25B | 1.05B | 1.08B | 1.18B | 1.21B | 1.18B | 1.07B | 1B | 833.82M | 697.89M | 514.29M | -259.18M | -130.13M | -208.24M | -515.47M | -685.88M | -480.39M | -593.02M | -706.52M | -487.09M | -770.22M | -175.88M | -137.59M | -266.19M | -527.11M | -1.09B | -249.2M |
| FCF Growth % | 7.15% | 0.27% | 3.46% | 9.26% | 18.79% | -3.02% | -8.33% | -2.74% | 2.7% | 10.43% | 6.97% | 20.04% | 19.48% | 35.7% | 298.43% | -99.17% | 37.51% | 59.6% | 24.85% | -42.77% | 18.99% | 16.06% | -45.05% | 36.76% | -337.92% | -27.83% | 48.31% | 49.5% | 51.44% | -335.56% | -203.53% |
| FCF / Revenue % | 49.07% | 46.52% | 48.39% | 49.23% | 48.09% | 45.75% | 47.04% | 50.8% | 53.15% | 54.77% | 52.35% | 53.93% | 49.48% | 47.7% | 51.4% | -28.79% | -15.44% | -25.09% | -63.31% | -89.46% | -66.59% | -90.51% | -108.95% | -79.9% | -144.31% | -33.62% | -24% | -52.61% | -141.92% | -607.06% | -301.72% |
Development pipeline capital intensity
Based on the provided financial data, AvalonBay maintains a consistent dividend payout ratio, with the dividend-to-AFFO metric averaging approximately 0.49 over the last ten quarters, suggesting that the company retains a significant buffer of distributable cash flow to fund ongoing development and capital reinvestment initiatives.
The stability of the dividend payout ratio indicates that management prioritizes a sustainable distribution policy despite the inherent volatility of a development-heavy business model. Investors should monitor whether this coverage margin narrows if construction costs continue to pressure AFFO, as the current buffer provides a necessary cushion against potential cyclical downturns in coastal rental markets.
As reported in the quarterly cash flow statements, AvalonBay’s capital expenditure profile is heavily influenced by large-scale development activity, with a notable $336.8 million outflow in 2026Q1, which significantly exceeds the typical maintenance-related capital requirements observed in more stabilized, acquisition-focused residential REIT portfolios.
The high level of periodic capital deployment suggests that the company is aggressively recycling capital into new assets to maintain a modern portfolio. This strategy warrants further investigation into whether the distinction between value-add capital expenditures and routine maintenance is being consistently applied, as aggressive capitalization could potentially mask the true cost of sustaining the existing asset base.
According to the reported financial statements, the persistent gap between Net Income and FFO, evidenced by FFO-to-Net Income ratios frequently exceeding 1.25, highlights the significant impact of non-cash depreciation charges that distort the company's true economic earnings and cash-generating capacity for shareholders.
The reliance on FFO as the primary performance metric is justified by the heavy depreciation burden inherent in a large-scale residential development platform. Analysts should interpret the divergence between these figures as a reflection of the company's capital-intensive growth strategy rather than a sign of operational inefficiency, though the volatility in this ratio suggests that timing of asset completions significantly impacts reported earnings.
Based on the provided data, the relationship between FFO and GAAP operating cash flow exhibits notable quarterly fluctuations, with the FFO-to-Net Income ratio reaching as high as 2.41 in 2025Q4, which may indicate that non-cash adjustments and working capital timing differences are creating temporary noise in cash flow reporting.
The inconsistency in conversion quality suggests that investors should look beyond headline FFO to understand the underlying cash flow health of the business. This volatility appears to be a byproduct of the company's complex development cycle, which may temporarily decouple accounting earnings from actual cash inflows during the lease-up phases of new properties.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying AVB stock.
AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (AVB) generated $1.68B in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (AVB) generated $1.41B in free cash flow in 2025. Free cash flow is the cash left over after capital expenditures, which can be used to pay dividends, repurchase shares, or pay down debt.
AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (AVB) spent $264.9M on capital expenditures in 2025. CapEx represents the cash invested in physical assets like property, plant, and equipment to maintain or grow the business.
In 2025, AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (AVB) returned $992.3M to shareholders via cash dividends and spent $488.1M on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.