Management has prioritized capital return through aggressive share buybacks, totaling over $9 million since 2023Q4, rather than deploying excess liquidity into higher-yielding loan assets.
Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (CLST) cash flow statement — 7-year operating, investing & financing cash flows
| Metric | TTM | Dec'25 | Dec'24 | Dec'23 | Dec'22 | Dec'21 | Dec'20 | Dec'19 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 3.52M | 3.29M | 3.17M | 2.01M | 772K | 3.43M | 857K | 1.71M |
| Operating CF Growth % | 64.53% | 3.63% | 57.97% | 160.1% | -77.48% | 300% | -49.91% | - |
| Net Income | 2.02M | 2.05M | -3.09M | 526K | 180K | 1.92M | -703K | 1.33M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 424K | 422K | 412K | 403K | 448K | 424K | 347K | 296K |
| Deferred Taxes | 338K | 312K | -894K | -12K | -9K | 152K | 0 | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | -19K | -105K | 5.86M | 296K | 320K | -118K | 1.43M | 149K |
| Working Capital Changes | -195K | -291K | 68K | 26K | -639K | 982K | -221K | -62K |
| Cash from Investing | -18.1M | -24.39M | 17.82M | -267K | -14.14M | -46.59M | -313K | 4.16M |
| Purchase of Investments | -25.23M | -26.5M | -7.87M | 0 | -13.21M | -77.55M | -34.14M | -10.58M |
| Sale/Maturity of Investments | 6.09M | 4.64M | 48.73M | 11M | 10.88M | 12.55M | 23.18M | 17.79M |
| Net Investment Activity | -19.14M | -21.85M | 40.85M | 11M | -2.32M | -64.99M | -10.96M | 7.21M |
| Acquisitions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Investing | 1.17M | -2.35M | -22.61M | -11.1M | -11.57M | 19.91M | 11.2M | -760K |
| Cash from Financing | 12.79M | 2.01M | 4.29M | 3.8M | -14.04M | 58.8M | 6.79M | -4.81M |
| Dividends Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | -1.98M | -2.59M | -5.76M | -6.32M | -2.34M | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stock Issued | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50.84M | 0 | 0 |
| Net Stock Activity | -1.98M | -2.59M | -5.76M | -6.32M | -2.34M | 50.84M | 0 | 0 |
| Debt Issuance (Net) | 0 | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 0 | -1000K | -1000K | 0 |
| Other Financing | 14.78M | -400K | 20.05M | 113K | -11.7M | 12.2M | 22.97M | -4.81M |
| Net Change in Cash | -1.78M | -19.09M | 25.28M | 5.54M | -27.41M | 15.64M | 7.34M | 1.07M |
| Exchange Rate Effect | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash at Beginning | 25.2M | 44.3M | 19.01M | 13.47M | 40.88M | 25.25M | 17.91M | 16.84M |
| Cash at End | 38.53M | 25.2M | 44.3M | 19.01M | 13.47M | 40.88M | 25.25M | 17.91M |
| Interest Paid | 4M | 3.98M | 4.29M | 1.4M | 496K | 634K | 1.77M | 1.9M |
| Income Taxes Paid | 116K | 116K | 200K | 0 | 243K | 82K | 75K | 112K |
| Free Cash Flow | 3.4M | 3.1M | 2.74M | 1.84M | 520K | 1.92M | 310K | -581K |
| FCF Growth % | 17.88% | 13.02% | 49.35% | 253.08% | -72.86% | 518.06% | 153.36% | - |
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying CLST stock.
Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (CLST) generated $3.3M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (CLST) generated $3.1M 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.
Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (CLST) spent $0.2M 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, Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (CLST) spent $2.6M on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.
Key Metrics
Top Statement Risk
Geographic concentration credit exposure
Metrics are mathematically derived from official filings.
Earnings Retention and Capital Buffer
According to recent financial disclosures, Catalyst Bancorp maintains a robust capital position, evidenced by consistent positive operating cash flows that reached $661,000 in 2026Q1, providing the bank with significant internal capacity to fund organic loan growth without immediate reliance on external capital markets or dilutive equity issuance.
The bank's ability to generate positive operating cash flow consistently, despite the volatility in net income, suggests a stable core earnings engine. This internal capital generation is critical for supporting the bank's expansionary phase while maintaining a fortress-like balance sheet with minimal debt reliance.
Securities Portfolio Liquidity Management
As reported in historical cash flow statements, the bank has actively managed its investment securities portfolio, including a significant $44.1 million liquidation in 2024Q1, which appears to have been a strategic move to reallocate capital toward higher-yielding loan opportunities or to bolster liquidity during periods of volatility.
The intermittent purchases of investment securities, such as the $16.3 million deployment in 2025Q3, indicate a tactical approach to managing excess liquidity. Investors should monitor whether these reinvestment cycles are effectively capturing yield or merely serving as a parking spot for idle cash.
Aggressive Capital Return Strategy
Based on the provided cash flow data, Catalyst Bancorp has prioritized share buybacks over dividend distributions, with cumulative repurchases exceeding $9 million since 2023Q4, signaling management's preference for reducing share count to enhance earnings per share rather than providing direct cash yield to shareholders at this stage.
The consistent use of cash for buybacks, even during periods of net income fluctuation, suggests a high degree of confidence in the bank's long-term valuation. However, this strategy may limit the bank's flexibility if regional economic conditions necessitate a larger capital buffer for loan loss absorption.
Provisioning Volatility and Credit Risk
As evidenced by the quarterly cash flow filings, the bank's provision for loan losses has exhibited significant variance, peaking at $337,000 in 2024Q3, which warrants further investigation into the underlying credit quality of the loan book and the potential for future earnings pressure from localized economic downturns.
The fluctuation in provisioning suggests that the bank is actively adjusting its reserves in response to perceived credit risks within its Acadiana-concentrated portfolio. This volatility may indicate that the bank's credit underwriting is sensitive to regional economic shifts, requiring careful monitoring of future non-performing asset trends.