Capital allocation appears aggressive, with $9.8 billion returned to shareholders in 2026Q1, a figure that warrants caution given the high variance in operating cash flow and OCF/NI ratios.
| 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 | 56.57B | 12.61B | -8.8B | 44.98B | -6.33B | -7.19B | 37.99B | 61.78B | 39.52B | 9.86B | 17.28B | 28.4B | 30.8B | 92.82B | -16.06B | 64.49B | 82.59B | 129.73B | 4.03B | 11.04B | 14.51B | -12.22B | -3.52B | 24.31B | -12.01B | -12.83B | 5.26B | 12.06B | 13.52B | 1.43B | 3.88B |
| Operating CF Growth % | 1899.29% | 243.25% | -119.57% | 810.95% | 12.04% | -118.93% | -38.5% | 56.32% | 300.65% | -42.91% | -39.16% | -7.79% | -66.82% | 678.08% | -124.9% | -21.92% | -36.33% | 3115.94% | -63.45% | -23.94% | 218.7% | -247.05% | -114.49% | 302.49% | 6.39% | -343.61% | -56.36% | -10.74% | 848.56% | -63.27% | 178.65% |
| Net Income | 31.7B | 30.51B | 27.13B | 26.52B | 27.53B | 31.98B | 17.89B | 27.43B | 28.15B | 18.23B | 17.91B | 15.89B | 5.52B | 11.43B | 4.19B | 1.45B | -2.24B | 6.28B | 4.01B | 14.98B | 21.13B | 16.46B | 13.95B | 10.81B | 9.25B | 6.79B | 7.52B | 7.88B | 5.17B | 6.54B | 5.81B |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 2.35B | 2.31B | 2.19B | 2.06B | 1.98B | 1.9B | 1.84B | 1.73B | 2.06B | 2.1B | 2.24B | 2.39B | 2.52B | 2.68B | 3.04B | 3.48B | 3.91B | 4.31B | 3.32B | 2.84B | 2.87B | 1.77B | 1.64B | 1.11B | 1.1B | 1.73B | 1.78B | 1.92B | 2B | 1.96B | 1.53B |
| Deferred Taxes | 568M | 295M | -1.73B | -2.01B | 739M | -838M | -1.74B | 2.44B | 3.04B | 8.18B | 5.84B | 2.97B | 1.15B | 3.26B | -2.73B | -1.95B | 608M | 370M | -5.8B | -753M | 1.85B | 1.7B | -519M | -263M | -377M | -563M | 648M | 2.1B | 216M | 971M | 965M |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 16.19B | -24.51B | 8.72B | 12.75B | 12.51B | -3.08B | 18.29B | 15.04B | 3.28B | 9.79B | 6.83B | 1.29B | 66M | 19.34B | 14.42B | 32.82B | 40.2B | 47B | 34.76B | 13.74B | 5.08B | -4.93B | 2.69B | 2.06B | 8.6B | 3.29B | 4.25B | -113M | 5.15B | -7.69B | -4.51B |
| Working Capital Changes | 1.72B | 0 | -48.55B | 2.73B | -51.94B | -39.92B | -326M | 13.17B | 1.26B | -30.08B | -16.77B | 5.92B | 21.46B | 56.1B | -34.97B | 28.64B | 40.06B | 71.77B | -32.25B | -19.77B | -16.42B | -27.22B | -21.28B | 10.6B | -30.58B | -24.07B | -8.9B | 281M | 990M | -363M | 89M |
| Cash from Investing | -122.6B | -145.16B | -90.69B | -35.39B | -2.53B | -313.29B | -177.66B | -80.63B | -71.47B | -51.54B | -62.28B | -55.57B | -8.26B | 25.06B | -34.98B | 52.43B | -30.35B | 157.93B | -2.93B | -108.48B | -68.3B | -150.44B | -127.55B | -73.42B | -10.08B | 37.55B | 2.89B | -31.32B | -49.87B | -23.48B | 3.54B |
| Purchase of Investments | -404.19B | 0 | -390.91B | -291.06B | -159.06B | -601.13B | -452.41B | -189.9B | -112.62B | -192.06B | -228.96B | -255.99B | -261.18B | -175.13B | -185.48B | -135.09B | -199.26B | -189.06B | -185.07B | -28.33B | -40.91B | -204.48B | -243.57B | -228.72B | -162.78B | -127.07B | -19.82B | -59.7B | -100.41B | -60.93B | -26.87B |
| Sale/Maturity of Investments | 409.29B | 9.59B | 342.45B | 286.82B | 243.16B | 291.39B | 262.44B | 165.89B | 102.42B | 183.88B | 199.12B | 243.27B | 215.57B | 202.59B | 154.23B | 192.3B | 181.78B | 226.88B | 147.78B | 47.97B | 75.87B | 174.29B | 144.8B | 199.44B | 164.52B | 137.69B | 51.3B | 50.79B | 84.03B | 46.17B | 44.2B |
| Net Investment Activity | 5.1B | 9.59B | -48.46B | -4.24B | 84.1B | -309.75B | -189.97B | -24.01B | -10.2B | -8.18B | -29.84B | -12.71B | -45.61B | 27.45B | -31.25B | 57.21B | -17.48B | 37.82B | -37.29B | 19.64B | 34.97B | -30.18B | -98.78B | -29.28B | 1.74B | 10.62B | 31.49B | -8.91B | -16.39B | -14.76B | 17.33B |
| Acquisitions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31.8B | 6.65B | -19.82B | -2.39B | -49M | 4.95B | -140M | -110M | -417M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Investing | -127.7B | -154.75B | -42.24B | -31.15B | -86.63B | -3.55B | 12.3B | -56.62B | -61.27B | -43.36B | -32.14B | -42.52B | 38.51B | -1.88B | -3.73B | -3.48B | -11.88B | 90.55B | 29.81B | -106.16B | -100.13B | -118.98B | -32.85B | -43.8B | -10.77B | 28.19B | -27.95B | -21.95B | -33.05B | -7.83B | -12.61B |
| Cash from Financing | 33.03B | 69.95B | 60.37B | 93.34B | -106.04B | 291.65B | 355.82B | 3.38B | 53.12B | 49.2B | 32.98B | 48.59B | -12.2B | -95.44B | 42.42B | -104.65B | -65.33B | -199.57B | -10.7B | 103.41B | 53.13B | 170.82B | 132.88B | 51.05B | 20.21B | -25.34B | -7.57B | 17.91B | 36.13B | 21.85B | -4.93B |
| Dividends Paid | -9.64B | -9.56B | -9.5B | -9.09B | -8.58B | -8.05B | -7.73B | -5.93B | -6.89B | -5.7B | -4.19B | -3.57B | -2.31B | -1.68B | -1.91B | -1.74B | -1.76B | -4.88B | -11.53B | -10.88B | -9.66B | -7.68B | -6.47B | -4.28B | -3.71B | -3.63B | -3.39B | -3.2B | -2.6B | -2.17B | -1.89B |
| Share Repurchases | -24.15B | -24.1B | -13.1B | -4.58B | -5.07B | -25.13B | -7.03B | -28.14B | -24.61B | -12.81B | -5.11B | -2.37B | -1.68B | -9.68B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3.79B | -14.63B | -5.76B | -6.29B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stock Issued | 0 | 5.49B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.51B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.01B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.49B | 10.13B | 1.12B | 3.12B | 2.85B | 3.71B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Net Stock Activity | -24.15B | -18.61B | -13.1B | -4.58B | -5.07B | -25.13B | -7.03B | -28.14B | -20.09B | -12.81B | -5.11B | -2.37B | -1.68B | -8.67B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.49B | 10.13B | -2.67B | -11.51B | -2.92B | -2.57B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 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 |
| Other Financing | 19.59B | 52.65B | 89.38B | 81.02B | -131.2B | 290.55B | 366.4B | 30.75B | 81.35B | 55.24B | 59.61B | 51.29B | 2.83B | -81.16B | 150.86B | -7.84B | 26.83B | -52.53B | -19.71B | 44.14B | 16.05B | 136.9B | 100.09B | 27.58B | 12.9B | 9.31B | 16.94B | -8.29B | 15.95B | 4.35B | 3.17B |
| Net Change in Cash | -31.1B | -58.27B | -42.96B | 102.87B | -118.02B | -32.24B | 218.9B | -15.84B | 19.97B | 9.7B | -11.62B | 20.76B | 7.27B | 20.57B | -9.35B | 11.68B | -12.91B | 88.48B | -9.67B | 6.1B | -570M | 8.06B | 1.85B | 2.11B | -1.86B | -676M | 524M | -1.29B | -189M | -105M | -26.06B |
| Exchange Rate Effect | 1.9B | 4.33B | -3.83B | -70M | -3.12B | -3.41B | 2.76B | -368M | -1.2B | 2.1B | 240M | -597M | -3.07B | -1.86B | -731M | -548M | 228M | 394M | -83M | 134M | 92M | -86M | 64M | 175M | 15M | -57M | -65M | 55M | 32M | 102M | 22M |
| Cash at Beginning | 231.84B | 0 | 333.07B | 230.2B | 348.22B | 380.46B | 161.56B | 177.4B | 157.43B | 147.74B | 159.35B | 138.59B | 131.32B | 110.75B | 120.1B | 108.43B | 121.34B | 32.86B | 42.53B | 36.43B | 37B | 28.94B | 27.08B | 24.97B | 26.84B | 27.51B | 26.99B | 28.28B | 28.47B | 28.57B | 26.06B |
| Cash at End | 242.48B | -58.27B | 290.11B | 333.07B | 230.2B | 348.22B | 380.46B | 161.56B | 177.4B | 157.43B | 147.74B | 159.35B | 138.59B | 131.32B | 110.75B | 120.1B | 108.43B | 121.34B | 32.86B | 42.53B | 36.43B | 37B | 28.94B | 27.08B | 24.97B | 26.84B | 27.51B | 26.99B | 28.28B | 28.47B | -8.74B |
| Interest Paid | 0 | 0 | 89.69B | 69.6B | 18.53B | 4.51B | 8.66B | 22.2B | 19.09B | 12.85B | 10.51B | 10.62B | 11.08B | 12.91B | 18.27B | 25.21B | 21.17B | 37.6B | 36.39B | 51.83B | 42.35B | 26.24B | 13.77B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Income Taxes Paid | 0 | 0 | 3.82B | 3.4B | 2.29B | 2.76B | 2.89B | 4.36B | 2.47B | 3.23B | 1.04B | 2.33B | 2.56B | 1.56B | 1.37B | 1.65B | 1.47B | 2.96B | 4.82B | 9.2B | 7.21B | 7.05B | 6.09B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Free Cash Flow | 56.57B | 12.61B | -8.8B | 44.98B | -6.33B | -7.19B | 37.99B | 61.78B | 39.52B | 9.86B | 17.28B | 28.4B | 30.8B | 92.3B | -16.06B | 63.18B | 81.61B | 127.49B | 1.94B | 8.89B | 13.76B | -13.45B | -4.38B | 24.1B | -12.95B | -13.66B | 4.62B | 11.6B | 13.08B | 537M | 2.7B |
| FCF Growth % | 1143.23% | 243.25% | -119.57% | 810.95% | 12.04% | -118.93% | -38.5% | 56.32% | 300.65% | -42.91% | -39.16% | -7.79% | -66.63% | 674.84% | -125.41% | -22.58% | -35.99% | 6485.28% | -78.23% | -35.38% | 202.3% | -206.75% | -118.19% | 286.19% | 5.23% | -395.5% | -60.15% | -11.31% | 2335.75% | -80.09% | 151.47% |
Securities portfolio duration risk
Based on reported financial data, Bank of America generated $8.6 billion in net income during 2026Q1, yet the volatility in operating cash flows suggests that organic capital generation remains sensitive to broader market conditions and the bank's ongoing efforts to manage its regulatory capital buffers effectively.
The bank's ability to retain earnings is currently balanced against the necessity of maintaining capital adequacy in a shifting regulatory environment. Investors should monitor whether the current pace of earnings retention is sufficient to offset potential unrealized losses within the investment portfolio without necessitating further capital raises.
As indicated by recent filings, the bank's investment activity remains highly active, with 2026Q1 showing $83.8 billion in purchases against $107.0 billion in sales, reflecting a strategic pivot in the securities portfolio that warrants close scrutiny regarding the duration and yield of the newly acquired assets.
The high turnover in the investment portfolio suggests management is actively managing interest rate risk, though the persistent scale of these transactions may indicate a struggle to lock in favorable long-term yields. This level of activity implies that the bank is attempting to optimize its asset-liability mix amidst a volatile interest rate environment.
According to quarterly cash flow statements, Bank of America returned $9.8 billion to shareholders via dividends and buybacks in 2026Q1, a figure that appears aggressive when contrasted with the significant fluctuations in operating cash flow observed over the preceding ten-quarter period reported in regulatory filings.
While the consistency of dividend payments provides a baseline for investor confidence, the reliance on buybacks as a primary capital return mechanism may be vulnerable if credit costs continue to normalize upward. The sustainability of these returns appears contingent upon the bank's ability to maintain stable net interest margins despite rising funding pressures.
Data from the statement of cash flows reveals that operating cash flow is frequently distorted by non-cash adjustments, as evidenced by the extreme variance in OCF/NI ratios, which ranged from 10.41 in 2023Q4 to -5.41 in 2024Q3, masking the underlying cash-generating capacity of the core banking operations.
These distortions suggest that the traditional cash flow statement is an unreliable indicator of operational health for this institution, as it is heavily influenced by accounting treatments of trading assets and loan loss provisions. Analysts should prioritize the balance sheet and income statement to assess true earnings quality, as the cash flow statement may obscure the impact of CECL-related provision swings.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying BAC stock.
Bank of America Corporation (BAC) generated $12.61B in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Bank of America Corporation (BAC) generated $12.61B 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.
Bank of America Corporation (BAC) spent $0.0M 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, Bank of America Corporation (BAC) returned $9.56B to shareholders via cash dividends and spent $24.10B on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.