Free cash flow remains negative at -9.3% of revenue in 2026Q1, exacerbated by capital expenditures that consumed 23.0% of total revenue during the same period.
| 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 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 19.16M | 17.86M | 21.24M | 16.06M | -5.17M | 7.77M | 5.17M | 9.61M | 38.33K | -3.25M | -1.48M | -813.36K | -49.85K | -68.5K | -99.34K |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | 15.61% | 19.62% | 16.68% | -6.36% | 13.64% | 11.31% | 23.23% | 0.19% | -36.01% | -38.56% | -112.51% | -113.62% | -204.19% | - |
| Operating CF Growth % | 10.93% | -15.93% | 32.27% | 410.91% | -166.49% | 50.13% | -46.18% | 24984.28% | 101.18% | -118.98% | -82.25% | -1531.57% | 27.23% | 31.04% | - |
| Net Income | -13.91M | -12.43M | 3.37M | -6.17M | 10.23M | 55.48M | -2.43M | -1.48M | -9.16M | -6.48M | -3.17M | -1.05M | -66.78K | -69.56K | -95.28K |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 24.31M | 4.41M | 27.89M | 25.27M | 20.64M | 14.69M | 11.81M | 17.33M | 8.13M | 3.35M | 1.64M | 457.8K | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 360K | 1.06M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | -478.62K | 0 | -290.43K | -3.08M | -2.82M | 17.69M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -72K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 11.18M | 31.65M | -12.04M | 2.36M | -13.89M | -94.41M | 1.84M | -6.26M | -54.16K | 303.8K | 315.05K | -72.45K | 9.68K | -5.62K | -4.05K |
| Working Capital Changes | -3.96M | -6.84M | 2.31M | -2.33M | -19.34M | 14.32M | -6.05M | 24.49K | 1.12M | -424.2K | -261.12K | -151.28K | 7.25K | 6.68K | 0 |
| Change in Receivables | 567.93K | 458.6K | -508.99K | -6.55M | -1.58M | 191.45K | 146.39K | -25.98K | -2.07M | -96.26K | 8.94K | -286.26K | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Inventory | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.99M | -946.94K | -161.21K | -283.9K | -50.25K | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Payables | 1.99M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -12.28M | 0 | 0 | 1.99M | 711.44K | -265.82K | 92.66K | 155.02K | -6.13B | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Investing | 3.16M | -13.55M | 28.1M | -64.25M | -27.41M | -45.67M | -169.4M | -60.63M | -164.76M | -110.91M | -23.9M | -10.72M | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Capital Expenditures | -27.52M | -27.9M | -32.2M | -51.87M | -40.06M | -21.01M | -8.57M | -2.81M | -3.12M | -2.27M | -710.97K | -124.91K | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CapEx % of Revenue | 23.96% | 24.39% | 29.74% | 53.89% | 49.31% | 36.87% | 18.74% | 6.79% | 15.59% | 25.16% | 18.5% | 17.28% | - | - | - |
| Acquisitions | 131.31K | -14.51K | -517.9K | -17.98M | -167.83M | -96.76M | -39.62M | -9.7M | -135.57M | -12.3M | -22.98M | -10.59M | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | 0 | 0 | 0 | -248.27K | 0 | 20M | -20M | 44.27K | 41.94K | -258.74K | -262.58K | 78.15K | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Financing | -16.77M | 1.21M | -47.56M | 32.94M | 5.54M | 64.64M | 202.81M | 49.24M | 175.63M | 91.43M | 41.76M | 24.72M | 23.5K | 90K | 105K |
| Debt Issued (Net) | 5.47M | 9.21M | 12.23M | -1.16M | -1.5M | 6.94M | 5M | 18.06M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 215.5K | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equity Issued (Net) | -10.48M | -5.23M | -18.35M | 37.53M | -37.48K | 62.85M | 195.54M | 31.18M | 177.25M | 92.39M | 41.76M | 24.5M | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dividends Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | -10.47M | -5.75M | -18.35M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Financing | -11.76M | -2.77M | -41.43M | -3.42M | 7.08M | -5.15M | 2.27M | 0 | -1.61M | -961.95K | 0 | 5.16K | 23.5B | 90K | 105K |
| Net Change in Cash | -7.07M | 5.52M | 1.78M | -15.25M | -38.87M | 26.74M | 38.58M | -1.77M | 10.91M | -22.73M | 16.38M | 13.19M | -26.35K | -6.31B | -652.99M |
| Free Cash Flow | -8.36M | -10.04M | -10.96M | -35.81M | -45.22M | -13.24M | -3.4M | 6.8M | -3.08M | -5.51M | -2.19M | -938.26K | -49.85K | -68.5K | -99.34K |
| FCF Margin % | -7.28% | -8.78% | -10.12% | -37.2% | -55.67% | -23.23% | -7.43% | 16.43% | -15.4% | -61.17% | -57.06% | -129.79% | -113.62% | -204.19% | - |
| FCF Growth % | 9.45% | 8.38% | 69.39% | 20.82% | -241.63% | -289.47% | -149.97% | 320.63% | 44.09% | -151.4% | -133.76% | -1782.13% | 27.23% | 31.04% | - |
| FCF per Share | -0.27 | -0.32 | -0.35 | -1.15 | -1.52 | -0.46 | -0.13 | 0.30 | -0.15 | -0.51 | -0.36 | -0.89 | -0.19 | -0.26 | -0.36 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | 0.60x | -1.44x | -16.44x | -2.29x | -0.50x | 0.15x | -105.41x | -6.47x | -0.00x | 0.50x | 0.47x | 0.78x | 0.75x | 0.98x | 1.04x |
| Interest Paid | 0 | 0 | 1.53M | 1.13M | 0 | 923.38K | 823.72K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Taxes Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 99.65K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Capital Intensive Growth Headwinds
According to the latest quarterly filings, Boston Omaha consistently reports negative net income while generating positive operating cash flow, with the OCF/NI ratio frequently reaching extreme negative levels, such as the -1.80 observed in 2026Q1, highlighting a significant divergence between accounting losses and actual cash generation.
The persistent gap between net income and operating cash flow suggests that non-cash charges, primarily depreciation and amortization, are heavily distorting the company's bottom-line performance. Investors should monitor this relationship closely, as the reliance on non-cash add-backs to justify operational health may obscure the underlying difficulty in achieving GAAP profitability.
As reported in financial statements, Boston Omaha has struggled to achieve positive free cash flow, with the company recording a negative FCF margin of -9.3% in 2026Q1, reflecting a trend where capital expenditures consistently outpace the cash generated from the company's diverse operating segments.
The inability to reach sustained positive free cash flow suggests that the current growth strategy is highly capital-intensive and reliant on external liquidity or existing cash reserves. This trajectory warrants further investigation into whether the infrastructure investments in broadband will eventually reach a scale that allows for self-funding.
Based on BOC's reported figures, capital intensity remains elevated, with CAPEX as a percentage of revenue reaching 23.0% in 2026Q1, a trend that underscores the company's aggressive commitment to building out its fiber-to-the-home network despite the lack of immediate bottom-line returns.
The high level of capital expenditure relative to revenue suggests that the company is prioritizing long-term asset accumulation over near-term cash flow optimization. Analysts should evaluate whether these investments are effectively replacing aging assets or if the majority of spending is directed toward new, unproven market expansion.
Data from recent filings indicates that Boston Omaha has utilized its cash reserves for share repurchases, including $4.8M in 2026Q1, even while the company continues to report negative free cash flow, suggesting a management preference for returning capital despite the ongoing need for infrastructure funding.
This deployment strategy appears counter-intuitive given the company's negative operating margins and capital-intensive growth requirements. Investors should monitor whether these repurchases are intended to signal confidence in intrinsic value or if they represent an inefficient use of capital that could otherwise be directed toward reducing the reliance on cash reserves.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying BOC stock.
Boston Omaha Corporation (BOC) generated $17.9M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Boston Omaha Corporation (BOC) reported negative free cash flow of $10.0M in 2025, indicating capital requirements exceeded cash from operations.
Boston Omaha Corporation (BOC) spent $27.9M 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, Boston Omaha Corporation (BOC) spent $5.8M on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.