Free cash flow remains highly unstable, swinging from a 16.2% margin in 2025Q4 to a negative 16.1% margin in 2025Q3, complicating the company's ability to fund its $15.2M quarterly dividend payments.
| Metric | TTM | Jan'26 | 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 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 72.24M | 101.4M | 130.91M | 247.76M | 5.96M | 93.88M | 281.48M | 46.5M | 209.46M | 37.8M | 289.66M | 128.48M | 99.13M | 114.91M | 100.53M | 72.03M | 98.88M | 62.85M | 40.5M | 34.05M | 32.77M | 22.52M | 23.03M | 27.43M | 26.45M | 21.43M | 24.2M | 13.22M | 13.6M |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | 5.54% | 6.77% | 12.01% | 0.28% | 4.57% | 14.3% | 2.8% | 12.32% | 2.3% | 21.11% | 13.3% | 11.69% | 15.85% | 15.86% | 13.24% | 19.26% | 12.55% | 8.32% | 7.22% | 7.97% | 5.94% | 6.18% | 8.35% | 9% | 6.45% | 6.89% | 3.93% | 7.57% |
| Operating CF Growth % | -1633.41% | -22.55% | -47.16% | 4054.94% | -93.65% | -66.65% | 505.27% | -77.8% | 454.13% | -86.95% | 125.45% | 29.61% | -13.74% | 14.31% | 39.56% | -27.15% | 57.31% | 55.21% | 18.93% | 3.9% | 45.5% | -2.2% | -16.04% | 3.73% | 23.38% | -11.43% | 83.03% | -2.8% | - |
| Net Income | -76.64M | 0 | -251.25M | -66.2M | -11.37M | 67.36M | 131.99M | 76.39M | 172.44M | 217.46M | 109.42M | 69.09M | 40.96M | 52.34M | 59.26M | 50.24M | 32.38M | 17.44M | 10.23M | 17.82M | 11.57M | 8.01M | 3.29M | 15.17M | 15.24M | 6M | -1.28M | 2.25M | 850K |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 60.08M | -4.94M | 88M | 88.38M | 97.44M | 96.86M | 75.66M | 70.13M | 53.64M | 49.17M | 37.27M | 28.65M | 27.43M | 24.08M | 18.85M | 16.23M | 15.02M | 17.45M | 15.55M | 16.49M | 10.81M | 9.7M | 9.26M | 6.01M | 5.3M | 14.29M | 15.75M | 15.15M | 7.18M |
| Stock-Based Compensation | -2.05M | -13.32M | 8.66M | 7.19M | 3.92M | 5.38M | 10.62M | 2.59M | 3.02M | 4.62M | 5.8M | 5.82M | 2.23M | 3.94M | 3.78M | 4.1M | 3.75M | 4.6M | 1.03M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | -5.9M | -4.48M | -99.11M | -26.39M | -26.9M | 7.27M | 42.61M | 20.41M | -1.49M | -80.53M | 56.19M | 29.15M | 13.86M | 20.8M | 15.29M | 13.53M | 9.45M | 9.45M | 7.25M | 9.32M | 6.17M | 4.79M | 7.46M | 4.38M | 5.53M | 3.83M | 2.15M | -268K | 1.07M |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 158.23M | 171.57M | 399.19M | 165.62M | 104.07M | 42.38M | 4.64M | 4.79M | -157.04M | 12.08M | 14.45M | -2.69M | 38.12M | 31.96M | 7.57M | 4.22M | 19.17M | 10.31M | 8.74M | 1.94M | -18K | 85K | 13.92M | 5.38M | 2.77M | -1.02M | 1.88M | 2.07M | 632K |
| Working Capital Changes | -76.67M | -47.45M | -14.59M | 79.16M | -161.19M | -125.37M | 15.96M | -127.81M | 138.89M | -165M | 66.53M | -1.54M | -23.47M | -18.21M | -4.23M | -16.29M | 19.11M | 3.6M | -2.31M | -11.53M | 4.76M | -3.13M | -10.9M | -3.51M | -2.4M | -1.66M | 5.7M | -5.99M | 3.87M |
| Change in Receivables | -14.35M | 32.06M | -30.3M | 7.33M | -5.85M | -12.48M | 10.81M | 13.92M | -12.93M | -18.03M | -45.76M | -17.11M | 6.62M | -13.7M | -1.11M | -5M | 1.17M | 2.15M | 5.78M | -11.45M | 797K | -3.73M | -5.89M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Inventory | -10.73M | -23.32M | 43.25M | 89.91M | -124.97M | -117.26M | 17.27M | -57.44M | 88.04M | -139.51M | 2.4M | 39.58M | -7.67M | -3.66M | -3.06M | -3.17M | 18.55M | 2.77M | 4.28M | -13.42M | 7.23M | -6M | 1.68M | -6.54M | -1.39M | -2.79M | 5.72M | -5.03M | 5.49M |
| Change in Payables | -34.83M | -3.14M | -9.17M | -8.27M | 83K | 10.49M | 4.93M | -26.88M | 14.77M | 16.62M | 47.25M | 7.76M | -8.37M | 9.23M | -874K | 8.9M | -7.12M | -4.71M | -4.84M | 10.61M | -4.82M | 476K | 6.04M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Investing | -1.73M | 39.32M | -27.68M | 81.59M | -39.15M | -42.84M | -568.89M | -124.74M | 347.59M | -220.54M | -481.2M | -892.38M | -173.3M | -261.93M | -73.3M | -336.56M | -25.57M | -10.7M | -10.63M | -214.76M | -36.13M | -9.17M | -6.55M | -124.62M | -6.28M | 20.19M | -5.68M | -230.2M | -37.57M |
| Capital Expenditures | -18.76M | 0 | -27.26M | -25.69M | -22.29M | -43.58M | -26.75M | -42.35M | -41.63M | -59.8M | -42.42M | -18.57M | -19.02M | -14.65M | -10.64M | -10.56M | -10.96M | -10.7M | -10.63M | -14.23M | -7.31M | -6.66M | -6.6M | -6.44M | -6.28M | -3.9M | -5.89M | -5.5M | -3.78M |
| CapEx % of Revenue | 1.04% | 1.68% | 1.41% | 1.25% | 1.03% | 2.12% | 1.36% | 2.55% | 2.45% | 3.63% | 3.09% | 1.92% | 2.24% | 2.02% | 1.68% | 1.94% | 2.14% | 2.14% | 2.18% | 3.02% | 1.78% | 1.76% | 1.77% | 1.96% | 2.14% | 1.17% | 1.68% | 1.64% | 2.1% |
| Acquisitions | -46.49M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -27.29M | 0 | -542.49M | -82.43M | -30.79M | -162.97M | -438.79M | -873.81M | -154.28M | -247.28M | -62.67M | -326M | -14.6M | 0 | -200.53M | -200.53M | -30.1M | -2.51M | 0 | -118.18M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | 63.52M | 39.32M | -422K | 107.28M | 10.43M | 737K | 343K | 46K | 420M | 2.23M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -62.67M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 200.53M | 0 | 1.27M | 0 | 52K | 0 | 0 | 24.09M | 211K | -224.7M | -33.79M |
| Cash from Financing | -67.7M | -135.81M | -92.96M | -333.69M | 45.34M | -69.84M | 327.95M | 77.71M | -753.33M | 359.34M | 216M | 767.44M | 71.62M | 131.83M | -24.74M | 182.57M | -14.53M | -44.88M | -33.75M | 187.69M | 7.62M | -16.45M | 3.9M | 89.47M | -19.35M | -40M | -12.83M | 224.13M | 23.87M |
| Debt Issued (Net) | -3.44M | -74.32M | -19.7M | -337.93M | 117.5M | -70M | 456.63M | 250M | -600.11M | 504.36M | -14M | 733.5M | 154.5M | 209.85M | -92.27M | 242M | 27.19M | -102.03M | 0 | 105M | 25M | 0 | 31.29M | 89.47M | -19.35M | -40.05M | -12.83M | 189.13M | 22.53M |
| Equity Issued (Net) | -156K | 0 | -615K | 73.83M | 65.23M | 110.23M | -69K | -34.71M | -26.86M | 112K | 331.88M | 126.23M | 0 | 0 | 120.36M | -3.65M | 0 | 84.27M | -2.55M | 110.77M | 0 | 0 | -23.66M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dividends Paid | -60.76M | -60.6M | -60.04M | -56.01M | -133.35M | -122.9M | -121.87M | -123.67M | -124.52M | -123.63M | -100.81M | -76.53M | -72.37M | -62.82M | -50.16M | -38.24M | -32.34M | -26.44M | -31.2M | -24.07M | -16.96M | -16.45M | -3.73M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | -156K | 0 | -615K | 0 | 0 | 0 | -69K | -34.71M | -26.92M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4.37M | -6.81M | 0 | -3.65M | 0 | -2.33M | -2.55M | -82.42M | 0 | 0 | -157.53M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Financing | -3.35M | -893K | -12.61M | -13.58M | -4.04M | 12.83M | -6.73M | -13.9M | -1.83M | -21.5M | -1.07M | -15.76M | -10.51M | -15.19M | -2.67M | -17.54M | -9.38M | -671K | 0 | -4M | -419K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50K | 0 | 35M | 1.34M |
| Net Change in Cash | 3.31M | 5.71M | 9.49M | -4.35M | 11.75M | -18.49M | 40.87M | -333K | -194.86M | 177.67M | 23.59M | 3.76M | -2.62M | -15.11M | 2.48M | -82M | 58.81M | 7.37M | -4.05M | 6.98M | 4.2M | -3.1M | 20.43M | -7.77M | 811K | 1.62M | 5.69M | 7.15M | -92K |
| Free Cash Flow | 47.11M | 70.75M | 103.65M | 222.07M | -16.32M | 50.3M | 254.73M | 4.15M | 167.83M | -22M | 247.24M | 109.91M | 80.1M | 100.26M | 89.89M | 61.48M | 87.91M | 52.15M | 29.86M | 19.82M | 25.46M | 15.86M | 16.43M | 20.99M | 20.16M | 17.53M | 18.31M | 7.72M | 9.82M |
| FCF Margin % | 2.6% | 3.87% | 5.36% | 10.77% | -0.75% | 2.45% | 12.94% | 0.25% | 9.87% | -1.34% | 18.02% | 11.37% | 9.45% | 13.83% | 14.18% | 11.3% | 17.13% | 10.41% | 6.13% | 4.2% | 6.19% | 4.18% | 4.41% | 6.39% | 6.87% | 5.27% | 5.21% | 2.3% | 5.46% |
| FCF Growth % | -60.26% | -31.74% | -53.33% | 1460.47% | -132.45% | -80.25% | 6039.53% | -97.53% | 862.76% | -108.9% | 124.96% | 37.21% | -20.11% | 11.54% | 46.22% | -30.07% | 68.58% | 74.62% | 50.69% | -22.17% | 60.52% | -3.46% | -21.71% | 4.1% | 15.01% | -4.25% | 137.12% | -21.39% | - |
| FCF per Share | 0.59 | 0.89 | 1.31 | 2.99 | -0.23 | 0.77 | 3.95 | 0.06 | 2.53 | -0.33 | 3.90 | 1.94 | 1.49 | 1.89 | 1.81 | 1.27 | 1.82 | 1.33 | 0.81 | 0.60 | 0.92 | 0.58 | 0.82 | 0.76 | 0.73 | 0.64 | 0.66 | 0.28 | 0.36 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | -0.61x | -2.34x | -0.52x | -3.74x | -0.52x | 1.39x | 2.13x | 0.61x | 1.21x | 0.17x | 2.65x | 1.86x | 2.42x | 2.20x | 1.70x | 1.43x | 3.05x | 3.60x | 4.16x | 1.91x | 2.83x | 2.81x | 2.49x | 1.81x | 1.73x | 3.57x | -18.83x | 5.87x | 16.00x |
| Interest Paid | 89.39M | 149.04M | 142.42M | 141.95M | 119.12M | 102.49M | 97.45M | 87.98M | 102.11M | 75.78M | 69.75M | 47.23M | 42.64M | 43.94M | 53.89M | 31.38M | 30.3M | 49.23M | 48.39M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Taxes Paid | 4M | 5.77M | 21.23M | 24.84M | 25.57M | 5.65M | 9.81M | 47.51M | 4.67M | 17.23M | 15.41M | 9.4M | 13.62M | 2.72M | 10.06M | 14.34M | 6.37M | 1.61M | 711K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
High Debt Service Burden
Based on reported financial statements, the relationship between net income and operating cash flow is highly erratic, with OCF/NI ratios swinging from -6.29 in 2025Q4 to 63.17 in 2025Q1, indicating that accounting earnings are currently poor proxies for the company's actual cash-generating capacity.
The persistent divergence between net losses and positive operating cash flow suggests that non-cash charges, such as goodwill impairments or depreciation, are significantly distorting the bottom line. Investors should monitor whether this cash flow generation is sustainable or merely a result of aggressive working capital management that may reverse in subsequent periods.
As indicated by recent quarterly filings, BGS exhibits a highly inconsistent free cash flow trajectory, with margins fluctuating from a peak of 16.2% in 2025Q4 to a negative 16.1% in 2025Q3, reflecting the company's struggle to maintain stable cash conversion amidst declining top-line performance.
The volatility in FCF margins appears to be driven by the company's inability to consistently align operating cash inflows with its capital expenditure requirements. This lack of predictability complicates the assessment of the company's ability to service its substantial debt load without relying on external financing or asset divestitures.
According to the cash flow data, working capital changes have been a primary driver of quarterly cash flow variance, highlighted by a massive $119.3M outflow in 2025Q3 followed by a $37.6M inflow in 2025Q4, suggesting significant instability in inventory and receivables management cycles.
These dramatic swings in working capital suggest that the company may be experiencing difficulty in synchronizing its production cycles with retailer demand. Such fluctuations warrant further investigation into whether the company is forced to engage in aggressive inventory liquidations or delayed payables to manage its immediate liquidity needs.
Based on reported figures, BGS has consistently paid out approximately $15M in dividends per quarter despite recording net losses in seven of the last ten periods, which suggests a capital allocation strategy that prioritizes shareholder returns over the preservation of liquidity in a high-leverage environment.
The commitment to dividend payments while operating cash flow remains volatile may be placing unnecessary strain on the balance sheet. Given the company's negative net margins and high debt-to-equity ratio, the sustainability of this payout appears increasingly questionable without a structural improvement in core cash generation.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying BGS stock.
B&G Foods, Inc. (BGS) generated $101.4M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
B&G Foods, Inc. (BGS) generated $70.7M 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.
B&G Foods, Inc. (BGS) 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, B&G Foods, Inc. (BGS) returned $60.6M to shareholders via cash dividends. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.