Free cash flow generation remains highly unstable, with margins swinging from a negative 2.2% in 2023Q4 to a peak of 50.0% in 2025Q3, reflecting challenges in consistent cash conversion.
| 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 | 2.59B | 2.2B | 2.88B | 1.55B | 1.38B | 3.64B | 4.23B | 7.08B | 6.19B | 4.55B | 4.52B | 3.72B | 2.94B | 2.35B | 1.88B | 1.73B | 1.62B | 1.07B | 1.56B | 1.02B | 841.27M | 889.5M | 727.99M | 219.21M | 267.08M | 316.36M | 365.94M | 272.29M | 167.84M | 97.63M | 46.54M |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | 22.47% | 29.72% | 15.73% | 13.61% | 33.15% | 31.46% | 49.23% | 46% | 37.08% | 39.5% | 34.52% | 30.32% | 33.83% | 34.09% | 34.22% | 34.45% | 24.56% | 38.18% | 32.18% | 31.35% | 51.91% | 45.62% | 117.77% | 66.07% | 30.35% | 39.53% | 34.27% | 30.1% | 22.49% | 16.8% |
| Operating CF Growth % | 77.94% | -23.33% | 85.85% | 11.77% | -61.97% | -13.95% | -40.25% | 14.4% | 35.96% | 0.63% | 21.7% | 26.31% | 25.46% | 24.75% | 8.81% | 6.34% | 51.15% | -31.29% | 53.29% | 21.32% | -5.42% | 22.19% | 232.09% | -17.92% | -15.58% | -13.55% | 34.39% | 62.23% | 71.92% | 109.79% | 392.53% |
| Net Income | 1.37B | 1.29B | 1.63B | 1.16B | 2.96B | 1.73B | 4.06B | 5.89B | 4.47B | 2.67B | 3.7B | 3.59B | 2.94B | 1.86B | 1.38B | 1.27B | 898.57M | 977.06M | 783.17M | 638.17M | 217.51M | 160.71M | 25.09M | 0 | 199.15M | 272.68M | 333.58M | 220.45M | 138.7M | 89.17M | 40.53M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 801.1M | 779.9M | 673.2M | 494.8M | 518.4M | 487.7M | 457.2M | 464.6M | 650.5M | 1.08B | 682.7M | 600.4M | 637.25M | 531.74M | 365.65M | 358.93M | 354.1M | 427.96M | 462.06M | 380.29M | 375.87M | 402.21M | 439.44M | 61.31M | 45.1M | 36.91M | 38.82M | 31.1M | 24.59M | 19.3M | 15.26M |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 293.8M | 290.8M | 291.2M | 264.2M | 254.1M | 238.6M | 198.3M | 182.3M | 157.5M | 128M | 154.8M | 161.4M | 155.3M | 136.29M | 118.57M | 113M | 167.83M | 160.9M | 146.21M | 123.13M | 126.78M | 38.15M | 16.8M | 0 | 2.36M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | 413M | 361.6M | -158.1M | -305.8M | -168.6M | -426.8M | 149M | 67.1M | 108.3M | 91.7M | -175M | -145.6M | -308.22M | -245.08M | -116.9M | 153.58M | -81.41M | -137.35M | -139.55M | -81.56M | -106.34M | -115.54M | 9M | -3.89M | 42.2M | -18.1M | 25.2M | -23.98M | 7.49M | 22.46M | -5.54M |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 563M | 537M | 592.2M | 581.2M | -1.29B | 1.76B | -448M | 276.7M | 397.2M | 344.8M | 91.2M | 82.2M | -50.3M | -27.61M | 28.82M | 20.15M | 282.02M | -2.19M | 136.22M | 38.48M | 323.96M | 278.84M | 413.84M | 244.76M | -27.62M | 30.61M | -20.68M | 20.45M | -888K | 2.69M | 682K |
| Working Capital Changes | -852M | -1.06B | -155.2M | -648.7M | -890.3M | -145.5M | -187.2M | 199.3M | 400.2M | 235.4M | 73M | -575.5M | -484.36M | 87.39M | 103.73M | -184.61M | 3.56M | -351.48M | 174.34M | -77.88M | -96.52M | 139.78M | -176.17M | -80.81M | -79.23M | -5.75M | -10.99M | 24.27M | -2.04M | -35.99M | -4.4M |
| Change in Receivables | 222.4M | 42.1M | 194.2M | 56.7M | -222.4M | 326M | 179.5M | 5.5M | -199.5M | -667.6M | -227.5M | -2.1M | -512.39M | -126.75M | -36.1M | -79.64M | -127.9M | -100.44M | -97.8M | -68.68M | -37.01M | -8.52M | -96.64M | 5.56M | 11.79M | 704K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Inventory | -10.5M | -64.7M | -273.8M | -130.9M | -320.2M | -462.4M | -316.3M | -19.2M | -52.1M | -94.5M | -165.6M | -174.4M | -185.92M | -243.96M | -140.31M | -59.22M | -4.53M | -42.77M | -54.2M | -83.19M | -36.64M | -15.85M | -90.8M | 173.9M | -50.29M | 41.77M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Payables | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -54.38M | 20K | 2.13M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Investing | -1.53B | -1.37B | -799.2M | -4.09B | 1.59B | -563.7M | -608.6M | 470.5M | -2.05B | -2.96B | -2.48B | -4.55B | -1.54B | -1.6B | -950.34M | -1.65B | 345.32M | -395.03M | -365.87M | -286.57M | -599.77M | 417.74M | -382.43M | -278.93M | -289.51M | -252.91M | -105M | -210.08M | -158.68M | -155.2M | -82.05M |
| Capital Expenditures | -85.4M | -153.8M | -359.8M | -311.4M | -243.2M | -294.9M | -551.8M | -669.5M | -886.1M | -1.96B | -727.7M | -643M | -287.75M | -3.51B | -261.18M | -252.18M | -173.06M | -165.65M | -275.95M | -284.11M | -198.31M | -318.38M | -369.76M | -301.25M | -165.9M | -195.53M | -199.12M | -86.33M | -33.61M | -35.55M | -65.64M |
| CapEx % of Revenue | 0.87% | 1.57% | 3.72% | 3.17% | 2.39% | 2.69% | 4.1% | 4.66% | 6.59% | 15.99% | 6.36% | 5.97% | 2.97% | 50.62% | 4.74% | 4.99% | 3.67% | 3.78% | 6.73% | 8.96% | 7.39% | 18.58% | 23.17% | 161.84% | 41.04% | 18.76% | 21.51% | 10.87% | 6.03% | 8.19% | 23.69% |
| Acquisitions | 0 | 0 | -1.07B | -6.91B | 595M | 28.1M | 0 | 179.3M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -198.8M | 0 | -15M | -72.4M | -2.79M | -157.43M | 0 | -25M | -79.12M | -229.24M | 408.13M | 0 | 136.79M | -6M | 4.78M | -4.71M | -3.8M | -4.56M | -6.65M | -3.61M |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | -1.29B | -38.7M | 83.9M | -11.3M | 24.4M | 12.9M | -26.9M | -273M | -1.5B | -1.21B | -1.22B | -909.9M | -391M | 7.37M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22.5M | 531.07M | -4.78M | -287K | -6.2M | -438K | -4.35M | -13.17M |
| Cash from Financing | -322.6M | -301.9M | -683.5M | 137M | -1.76B | -2.09B | -5.27B | -5.86B | -4.47B | -2.38B | -987.8M | 986.4M | -755.87M | -716.53M | -877.48M | -319.86M | -1.78B | -724.15M | -1.24B | -735.22M | -148.41M | -948.52M | -450.96M | 51.19M | 14.26M | -58.16M | -269.14M | -30.73M | -54.08M | 65.9M | 51.77M |
| Debt Issued (Net) | -16.9M | -16.9M | -650M | 187.3M | -1B | -170M | 1.47B | 0 | -3.2M | -560.9M | -2.7M | 5.93B | -2.67M | -452.34M | -2.43M | -11.8M | 119.51M | -28.58M | -704.21M | 1.7B | -6.78M | -745.55M | 9.93M | 0 | 696M | -4.89M | -4.89M | -4.89M | -29.7M | 25.28M | 31.78M |
| Equity Issued (Net) | -40.8M | -10M | -31.3M | -44.3M | -751.9M | -1.8B | -6.68B | -5.87B | -4.35B | -1.37B | -956.3M | -4.95B | -831.89M | -333.54M | -917.22M | -183.32M | -1.89B | -703.36M | -560.45M | -2.5B | -173.31M | -202.97M | -460.89M | 24.44M | -111.94M | -53.25M | -264.24M | -117.14M | -24.38M | 17.45M | 20M |
| Dividends Paid | 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 |
| Share Repurchases | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -750M | -1.8B | -6.68B | -5.87B | -4.35B | -1.37B | -1B | -5B | -886.78M | -400.31M | -984.72M | -497.98M | -2.08B | -751.17M | -738.94M | -2.99B | -320.27M | -322.59M | -734.43M | 0 | -135M | -88.28M | -300.19M | -197.72M | -65.55M | -7M | 0 |
| Other Financing | -264.9M | -275M | -2.2M | -6M | -5.6M | -115.5M | -56.4M | 7.9M | -116.2M | -453.7M | -28.8M | 3.8M | 78.69M | 69.35M | 42.17M | -124.74M | -10.34M | 7.79M | 27.99M | 69.67M | 31.68M | 0 | 0 | 26.75M | 696M | -17K | -13K | 0 | 0 | 23.16M | 0 |
| Net Change in Cash | 782.1M | 633.5M | 1.33B | -2.37B | 1.16B | 930.2M | -1.58B | 1.69B | -349.2M | -752.7M | 1.02B | 103.1M | 602.36M | 602.6M | 56.18M | -245.06M | 177.71M | -40.5M | -37.28M | -1.72M | 93.21M | 358.72M | -105.4M | -35.28M | -8.93M | 5.3M | -8.18M | 31.48M | -44.91M | 8.33M | 16.26M |
| Free Cash Flow | 2.62B | 2.05B | 2.52B | 1.24B | 1.14B | 3.38B | 3.81B | 6.56B | 5.3B | 3.68B | 3.86B | 3.07B | 2.63B | -1.16B | 1.63B | 1.48B | 1.45B | 909.25M | 1.29B | 736.53M | 642.96M | 571.13M | 358.22M | -82.03M | 13.32M | 120.82M | 166.82M | 185.96M | 134.23M | 62.08M | -19.1M |
| FCF Margin % | 26.61% | 20.9% | 26% | 12.56% | 11.24% | 30.79% | 28.3% | 45.65% | 39.41% | 30.01% | 33.71% | 28.55% | 27.06% | -16.79% | 29.47% | 29.23% | 30.78% | 20.77% | 31.45% | 23.22% | 23.96% | 33.33% | 22.45% | -44.07% | 3.29% | 11.59% | 18.02% | 23.41% | 24.07% | 14.3% | -6.89% |
| FCF Growth % | 14.27% | -18.48% | 103.57% | 8.02% | -66.17% | -11.12% | -42.03% | 23.81% | 43.92% | -4.56% | 25.59% | 17.02% | 325.63% | -171.61% | 10.15% | 1.65% | 59.65% | -29.44% | 74.95% | 14.55% | 12.58% | 59.43% | 536.67% | -716.02% | -88.98% | -27.57% | -10.29% | 38.53% | 116.22% | 425.09% | 53.26% |
| FCF per Share | 17.68 | 13.98 | 17.24 | 8.49 | 7.84 | 22.61 | 23.59 | 35.03 | 25.82 | 17.29 | 17.64 | 13.29 | 11.07 | -4.88 | 6.78 | 6.02 | 5.70 | 3.14 | 4.37 | 2.30 | 1.86 | 1.65 | 1.04 | -0.25 | 0.03 | 0.30 | 0.36 | 0.39 | 0.14 | 0.07 | -0.02 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | 1.91x | 1.70x | 1.76x | 1.33x | 0.45x | 2.34x | 1.06x | 1.20x | 1.40x | 1.79x | 1.22x | 1.05x | 1.00x | 1.26x | 1.36x | 1.40x | 1.62x | 1.11x | 2.00x | 1.60x | 3.87x | 5.53x | 29.02x | -0.25x | 1.80x | 1.16x | 1.10x | 1.24x | 1.21x | 1.09x | 1.15x |
| Interest Paid | 0 | 0 | 245.4M | 252.2M | 262.5M | 280.8M | 272.7M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40.03M | 35.44M | 0 | 38.02M | 0 | 0 | 3.49M | 3.95M | 4.31M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Taxes Paid | 0 | 0 | 355.1M | 740.7M | 932.9M | 247.9M | 906.7M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 371.98M | 251.93M | 397.93M | 90.07M | 1.22M | 41.25M | 51.55M | 79M | 42.68M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Neurology pipeline execution failure
As reported in recent quarterly filings, Biogen's operating cash flow to net income ratio has fluctuated wildly, ranging from a negative 10.57 in 2025Q4 to a positive 2.85 in 2024Q4, indicating that reported net income is a poor proxy for the company's actual cash-generating capacity.
The significant divergence between net income and operating cash flow suggests that non-cash charges and working capital swings are heavily distorting the bottom line. Investors should monitor whether this volatility is a temporary byproduct of restructuring or a structural issue related to the timing of collaboration-based revenue recognition.
Based on the provided financial data, Biogen's free cash flow margins have exhibited extreme variance, swinging from a negative 2.2% in 2023Q4 to a peak of 50.0% in 2025Q3, reflecting the company's ongoing struggle to maintain consistent cash conversion during its current strategic transition period.
This erratic trajectory suggests that Biogen's cash generation is highly sensitive to the timing of large-scale R&D investments and the commercial ramp-up of new assets. The lack of a stable FCF trend warrants caution, as it complicates the ability to forecast long-term capital allocation capacity.
According to quarterly cash flow statements, Biogen has experienced significant working capital outflows, most notably a $789.6 million drain in 2025Q2, which suggests that the company's cash conversion cycle is currently being disrupted by inventory management or the timing of collaboration-related payments from partners.
These large, non-linear working capital movements indicate that operational cash flow is not yet stabilized following recent portfolio shifts. Analysts should investigate whether these outflows represent a permanent increase in the capital required to support the Leqembi launch or merely transient timing differences in receivables.
As evidenced by the reported figures, Biogen's capital expenditure as a percentage of revenue has remained relatively contained, peaking at 5.3% in 2024Q3, which suggests that the company's core biologic manufacturing infrastructure does not require excessive ongoing investment to maintain its current operational capacity.
The relatively low capital intensity provides a degree of flexibility, allowing the company to prioritize R&D and M&A over heavy asset maintenance. However, investors should monitor if future manufacturing requirements for complex new modalities necessitate a step-up in capital spending that could further pressure free cash flow.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying BIIB stock.
Biogen Inc. (BIIB) generated $2.20B in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Biogen Inc. (BIIB) generated $2.05B 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.
Biogen Inc. (BIIB) spent $153.8M on capital expenditures in 2025. CapEx represents the cash invested in physical assets like property, plant, and equipment to maintain or grow the business.