Commerce Bancshares demonstrates disciplined capital allocation, evidenced by $84.3 million in share buybacks during 2026Q1, supported by consistent quarterly net income generation of $141.6 million.
| 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 | 1.19B | 645.14M | 577.86M | 488.77M | 559.38M | 597.72M | 623.99M | 512.79M | 552.66M | 426.53M | 454.96M | 289.06M | 360.84M | 360.93M | 383.11M | 407.36M | 671.18M | 295.29M | 217.29M | 335.7M | 391.53M | 293.63M | 264.65M | 269.7M | 262.67M | 273.75M | 227.79M | 211.7M | 216.9M | 216.4M | 214.7M |
| Operating CF Growth % | 594.3% | 11.64% | 18.23% | -12.62% | -6.41% | -4.21% | 21.68% | -7.21% | 29.57% | -6.25% | 57.39% | -19.89% | -0.03% | -5.79% | -5.95% | -39.31% | 127.3% | 35.89% | -35.27% | -14.26% | 33.34% | 10.95% | -1.87% | 2.68% | -4.05% | 20.18% | 7.6% | -2.4% | 0.23% | 0.79% | 9.93% |
| Net Income | 576.28M | 570.7M | 534.4M | 485.18M | 500.02M | 540.59M | 353.88M | 422.71M | 438.21M | 319.9M | 276.85M | 266.98M | 262.78M | 261.12M | 271.44M | 259.62M | 221.71M | 169.07M | 188.66M | 206.66M | 219.84M | 223.25M | 220.34M | 206.52M | 199.5M | 181.97M | 178.57M | 166.2M | 150.1M | 132.7M | 119.5M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 71.71M | 56.5M | 54.08M | 49.51M | 46.86M | 44.87M | 43.77M | 41.15M | 38.68M | 39.73M | 40.93M | 42.8M | 42.3M | 41.94M | 43.45M | 46.74M | 48.92M | 51.51M | 50.7M | 52.47M | 60.75M | 59.05M | 67.4M | 71.02M | 54.22M | 43.31M | 38.72M | 46.3M | 36M | 39.6M | 51.3M |
| Deferred Taxes | 11.55M | 11.55M | -591K | -7.4M | 21.72M | 25.61M | -19.54M | 14.2M | 5.34M | 13.62M | -2.06M | 7.43M | -540K | 9.2M | 16.23M | -2.84M | -9.09M | -7.31M | 2.66M | -11.23M | -1.38M | -1.76M | 2.72M | -11.63M | 13M | -7.5M | -2.58M | -8M | 10.3M | 16.7M | 3.3M |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 493.76M | 14.08M | -10.05M | -100.82M | 12.12M | -40.2M | 241.46M | -2.48M | 47.42M | 73.28M | 125.74M | -43.24M | 49.53M | 43.06M | 59.28M | 91.19M | 396.75M | 171.93M | -49.72M | 60.2M | -7.19M | -3.81M | -4.72M | 5.23M | 13.97M | 57.24M | 7.32M | 18.4M | 22.9M | 19M | 31.6M |
| Working Capital Changes | 10.88M | -24.97M | -17M | 45.25M | -38.32M | 11.43M | -10.5M | 23.37M | 10.17M | -32.11M | 1.97M | 7.08M | -2.07M | 2K | -11.52M | 7.91M | 6.86M | -96.56M | 18.62M | 21.34M | 119.5M | 16.91M | -21.09M | -1.45M | -18.02M | -2.68M | 5.76M | -11.2M | -2.4M | 8.4M | 9M |
| Cash from Investing | 770.27M | -462.37M | 483.79M | 2.18B | 242.27M | -2.08B | -5.39B | -730.16M | -91.02M | 220.72M | -805.21M | -1.2B | -1.06B | -713.66M | -1.16B | -2.18B | -654.45M | -1.57B | -1.48B | -578.36M | -389.45M | 308.79M | -110.21M | -1.21B | -461.92M | -1.45B | 110.49M | -153.8M | -921.4M | -210.3M | -242.3M |
| Purchase of Investments | -975.7M | -1.45B | -2.68B | -246.29M | -2.15B | -5.95B | -6.99B | -1.86B | -2.09B | -1.85B | -1.99B | -3.54B | -2.5B | -2.41B | -3.18B | -4.52B | -3.22B | -4.08B | -2.41B | -1.1B | -888.13M | -2.01B | -1.57B | -2.85B | -2.18B | -3.66B | -1.06B | -1.21B | -1.79B | -1.26B | -1.35B |
| Sale/Maturity of Investments | 1.78B | 1.86B | 3.43B | 3.08B | 2.8B | 3.54B | 3.28B | 1.97B | 2.22B | 2.69B | 2.06B | 3.2B | 1.98B | 2.56B | 3.1B | 2.58B | 2.39B | 1.54B | 1.44B | 1.37B | 1.31B | 3.01B | 1.7B | 1.93B | 2.07B | 1.85B | 1.64B | 1.67B | 1.48B | 1.68B | 1.36B |
| Net Investment Activity | 803.59M | 409.3M | 750.7M | 2.83B | 650.37M | -2.41B | -3.72B | 108.27M | 129.52M | 838.2M | 68.68M | -338.39M | -519.54M | 147.27M | -85.32M | -1.94B | -830.64M | -2.54B | -969.83M | 279.12M | 425.05M | 1B | 133.53M | -919.35M | -113.28M | -1.81B | 572.95M | 461.6M | -307.5M | 424.4M | 3.9M |
| Acquisitions | 0 | 0 | 0 | -6.37M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -43.83M | 47.64M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3.49M | -54.49M | -14.05M | -8.5M | 0 | -2.28M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Investing | 35.33M | -818.92M | -220.78M | -552.94M | -342.91M | 381.93M | -1.64B | -795.86M | -187.25M | -586.66M | -849.41M | -825.11M | -455.65M | -884.73M | -1.04B | -228.42M | 194.71M | 999.24M | -412.1M | -788.33M | -764.52M | -628.92M | -210.25M | -252.84M | -294.6M | 442.47M | -413.38M | -546.3M | -583.6M | -607.1M | -219.8M |
| Cash from Financing | -1.39B | -11.04M | -372.94M | -883.12M | -4.2B | 3.57B | 6.07B | -84.06M | 223.25M | -924.54M | 652.56M | 308.34M | 533.05M | 842.42M | 1.04B | 1.83B | -19.88M | 441.46M | 1.23B | 416.59M | 478.1M | -583.01M | -174.97M | 795.32M | 85.44M | 1.38B | -406.71M | -111.5M | 464.9M | 138.8M | 86M |
| Dividends Paid | -154.23M | -150.24M | -145.09M | -134.73M | -127.47M | -122.69M | -127.57M | -122.47M | -109.24M | -100.62M | -96.07M | -93.96M | -88.29M | -82.1M | -211.61M | -79.14M | -78.23M | -74.72M | -72.06M | -68.92M | -65.76M | -63.42M | -61.13M | -51.27M | -42.19M | -40.25M | -37.61M | -36.1M | -33.7M | -30.4M | -27.5M |
| Share Repurchases | -236.64M | -207.57M | -170.47M | -76.37M | -186.62M | -129.36M | -204.16M | -284.9M | -75.23M | -17.77M | -39.39M | -23.18M | -210.97M | -69.35M | -104.91M | -101.15M | -40.98M | -528K | -9.49M | -128.58M | -134.96M | -234.5M | -173.83M | -125.72M | -83.88M | -58.69M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stock Issued | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -8K | -15K | -11K | -8K | -10K | -8K | 0 | 1.91M | 153.44M | 10.24M | 15.59M | 15.35M | 11.31M | 103.64M | 15.98M | 13.66M | 7.27M | 18.39M | 15.28M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Net Stock Activity | -236.64M | -207.57M | -170.47M | -76.37M | -186.63M | -129.38M | -204.17M | -284.91M | -75.24M | -17.78M | -39.39M | -21.26M | -57.54M | -59.11M | -89.32M | -85.81M | -29.67M | 103.11M | 6.49M | -114.92M | -127.68M | -216.11M | -158.55M | -125.72M | -83.88M | -58.69M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Debt Issuance (Net) | -2M | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -240K | -1000K | 422K | -1000K | -456K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K |
| Other Financing | -296.66M | 334.02M | -56.03M | 1.59B | -3.88B | 3.81B | 6.4B | 329.7M | 400.78M | -705.86M | 786.39M | 523.59M | 750.78M | 992.63M | 1.36B | 2.02B | 711.81M | 1.42B | 134.22M | 91.51M | 506.41M | 399.67M | 248.71M | 300.33M | -115.95M | 788.01M | 25.62M | -420.7M | 465.7M | 281.9M | 24.5M |
| Net Change in Cash | 569.41M | 171.72M | 688.71M | 1.79B | -3.4B | 2.09B | 1.3B | -301.43M | 684.89M | -277.29M | 298.92M | -598M | -168.8M | 489.69M | 262.27M | 56.88M | -3.16M | -835.52M | -28.89M | 173.93M | 480.18M | 19.41M | -20.52M | -143.28M | -113.81M | 207.49M | -68.43M | -53.5M | -239.5M | -833.3M | -774.9M |
| 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 | 100K | 100K | -6.1M | 0 |
| Cash at Beginning | 3.55B | 3.38B | 2.69B | 897.8M | 4.3B | 2.21B | 907.81M | 1.21B | 524.35M | 801.64M | 502.72M | 1.1B | 1.27B | 779.83M | 517.55M | 460.68M | 463.83M | 1.3B | 1.33B | 1.15B | 674.13M | 654.72M | 675.24M | 710.41M | 824.22M | 616.72M | 685.16M | 738.7M | 978.2M | 833.3M | 774.9M |
| Cash at End | 3.84B | 3.55B | 3.38B | 2.69B | 897.8M | 4.3B | 2.21B | 907.81M | 1.21B | 524.35M | 801.64M | 502.72M | 1.1B | 1.27B | 779.83M | 517.55M | 460.68M | 463.83M | 1.3B | 1.33B | 1.15B | 674.13M | 654.72M | 567.12M | 710.41M | 824.22M | 616.72M | 685.2M | 738.7M | 972.1M | 860.9M |
| Interest Paid | 372.34M | 363.18M | 453.17M | 336.51M | 53.74M | 16.05M | 52.24M | 97.81M | 63.24M | 43.69M | 31.9M | 27.76M | 28.22M | 32.43M | 39.34M | 56.5M | 93.01M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Income Taxes Paid | 162.91M | 162.91M | 126.13M | 130.96M | 117M | 119.67M | 90.07M | 76.17M | 84.17M | 120.74M | 119.6M | 95.34M | 120.17M | 114.34M | 119.17M | 106.65M | 100.61M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Free Cash Flow | 1.12B | 592.39M | 531.73M | 400.69M | 494.19M | 541.01M | 590.86M | 470.22M | 519.37M | 395.7M | 430.49M | 257.17M | 317.18M | 337.09M | 348.14M | 386.03M | 652.65M | 266.04M | 174.73M | 280.6M | 350.05M | 229.4M | 231.18M | 233.59M | 208.63M | 195.15M | 178.71M | 142.6M | 186.6M | 188.8M | 188.3M |
| FCF Growth % | 110.53% | 11.41% | 32.7% | -18.92% | -8.65% | -8.44% | 25.66% | -9.46% | 31.25% | -8.08% | 67.4% | -18.92% | -5.91% | -3.17% | -9.81% | -40.85% | 145.32% | 52.26% | -37.73% | -19.84% | 52.59% | -0.77% | -1.03% | 11.96% | 6.91% | 9.2% | 25.32% | -23.58% | -1.17% | 0.27% | 11.09% |
Regulatory interchange fee pressure
According to recent quarterly filings, Commerce Bancshares consistently generates positive net income, with 2026Q1 earnings of $141.6 million, providing a stable foundation for capital retention that supports the bank's conservative balance sheet philosophy and ongoing investment in its proprietary payment and treasury service infrastructure platforms.
The bank's ability to maintain steady earnings despite interest rate volatility suggests a high degree of operational resilience. This consistent capital generation allows the firm to fund organic growth initiatives without relying on external capital markets, reinforcing its status as a self-funding regional institution.
As reported in financial statements, the bank frequently rotates its investment securities portfolio, evidenced by the $467.9 million in proceeds from sales during 2026Q1, which indicates a proactive approach to managing duration and liquidity in response to shifting interest rate environments across its core Midwest markets.
The high volume of investment sales relative to purchases suggests that management is actively optimizing the yield profile of its liquid assets. Investors should monitor whether this turnover reflects a strategic repositioning to capture higher yields or a defensive move to mitigate potential unrealized losses in the portfolio.
Based on the provided cash flow data, Commerce Bancshares maintains a disciplined capital return policy, with $84.3 million allocated to buybacks in 2026Q1, demonstrating a commitment to returning excess capital to shareholders while simultaneously preserving a fortress-like capital position relative to its regional banking peers.
The consistent dividend payments alongside opportunistic share repurchases suggest a management team that prioritizes shareholder value without compromising regulatory capital buffers. This balanced approach appears to be a key driver of the premium valuation the market assigns to the bank's equity compared to traditional regional lenders.
Data from recent quarterly reports indicates that the bank maintains a conservative credit risk posture, with provision expenses remaining relatively low at $11.0 million in 2026Q1, which suggests that the bank's underwriting standards continue to effectively mitigate potential credit losses within its commercial and consumer loan portfolios.
The modest level of provisioning relative to net income implies that the bank is not currently experiencing significant credit deterioration. This conservative stance provides a buffer that may protect future earnings should regional economic conditions soften, further reinforcing the bank's reputation for prudent risk management.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying CBSH stock.
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH) generated $645.1M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH) generated $592.4M 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.
Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH) spent $52.7M 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, Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH) returned $150.2M to shareholders via cash dividends and spent $207.6M on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.