The company's financial stability is deteriorating, as evidenced by the transition to a negative equity position of $56.9 million in 2025Q3 and a substantial reduction in goodwill from $837.6 million in 2023Q4.
| Metric | TTM | 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 |
|---|
| Total Current Assets | 265.36M | 248.05M | 286.9M | 345.27M | 406.52M | 502.96M | 380.68M | 394.99M | 393.62M | 439.93M | 359.27M | 370.83M | 377.06M | 353.12M | 324.34M | 59.69M | 64.71M | 100.49M | 90.62M | 62.88M | 71.24M | 95.58M | 73.39M | 131.43M | 66.05M | 64.01M | 281.45M | 55.7M |
| Cash & Short-Term Investments | 90.41M | 63.84M | 80.66M | 107.43M | 177.03M | 271.76M | 15.14M | 27.58M | 102.89M | 131.26M | 31.66M | 7.27M | 32.79M | 88.05M | 30.59M | 12.81M | 16.22M | 53M | 32.29M | 2.39M | 5.12M | 31.96M | 6.72M | 60.38M | 5.31M | 10.98M | 219.58M | 24.9M |
| Cash Only | 90.41M | 63.84M | 80.66M | 107.43M | 177.03M | 271.76M | 15.14M | 27.58M | 102.89M | 131.26M | 31.66M | 7.27M | 32.79M | 88.05M | 30.59M | 12.81M | 16.22M | 53M | 32.29M | 2.39M | 5.12M | 31.96M | 6.72M | 60.38M | 5.31M | 10.98M | 219.58M | 24.9M |
| Short-Term Investments | 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 |
| Accounts Receivable | 134.18M | 161.99M | 182.2M | 212.3M | 198.83M | 203.26M | 245.39M | 253.5M | 239.47M | 236.57M | 247.57M | 250.76M | 269.22M | 213.67M | 242.77M | 41.87M | 42.99M | 44.2M | 52.5M | 55.01M | 54.26M | 54.83M | 51.22M | 47.37M | 34.39M | 43.5M | 53.52M | 28.1M |
| Days Sales Outstanding | 70.75 | 71.49 | 78.74 | 81.27 | 79.19 | 90.9 | 80.44 | 81.14 | 76.97 | 75.65 | 77.32 | 72.44 | 95.76 | 72.44 | 161.25 | 58.04 | 61.29 | 51.78 | 58.36 | 60.06 | 60.42 | 62.52 | 66.3 | 68.44 | 62.35 | 70.28 | 108.52 | 103.81 |
| Inventory | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 88.86M | 82.45M | 9M | 38.17M | 53.14M | 25.06M | 6.15M | 5.92M | 26.17M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Days Inventory Outstanding | - | - | - | - | - | - | 79.96 | 74.72 | 8.15 | 32.57 | 48.93 | 10.12 | 3.36 | 3.27 | 28.64 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Current Assets | 40.77M | 22.23M | 24.04M | 25.54M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 82.45M | 9M | 38.17M | 53.14M | 25.06M | 6.15M | 5.92M | 28.66M | 604K | 0 | 3.29M | 5.83M | 5.48M | 154K | 416K | 747K | 14.16M | 19.69M | 11.07M | 8.35M | 2.7M |
| Total Non-Current Assets | 812.85M | 870.6M | 1.15B | 1.26B | 1.31B | 1.36B | 1.38B | 1.38B | 1.63B | 1.97B | 2.67B | 3.37B | 3.49B | 3.39B | 3.72B | 259.94M | 269.35M | 443.03M | 969.92M | 1.27B | 1.34B | 1.52B | 1.4B | 1.22B | 899.27M | 890.92M | 636.7M | 461.9M |
| Property, Plant & Equipment | 223.99M | 263.45M | 302.57M | 325.34M | 334.46M | 366.26M | 376.37M | 235.9M | 191.6M | 162.06M | 169.44M | 221.5M | 254.7M | 255.9M | 278.07M | 39.68M | 46.98M | 55.12M | 61.73M | 71.47M | 87.59M | 93.21M | 91.15M | 92.06M | 82.97M | 79.83M | 66.96M | 41.4M |
| Fixed Asset Turnover | 3.22x | 3.14x | 2.79x | 2.93x | 2.74x | 2.23x | 2.96x | 4.83x | 5.93x | 7.04x | 6.90x | 5.70x | 4.03x | 4.21x | 1.98x | 6.64x | 5.45x | 5.65x | 5.32x | 4.68x | 3.74x | 3.43x | 3.09x | 2.74x | 2.43x | 2.83x | 2.69x | 2.39x |
| Goodwill | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 135.21M | 135.21M | 703.35M | 1.25B | 1.26B | 1.2B | 1.33B | 56.08M | 56.12M | 58.89M | 98.3M | 176.79M | 185.52M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Intangible Assets | 64.68M | 595.12M | 837.63M | 923.29M | 962.29M | 969.98M | 994.87M | 1.13B | 1.29B | 1.66B | 1.75B | 1.84B | 1.91B | 1.86B | 2.02B | 160.97M | 161.38M | 325.13M | 783.64M | 934.14M | 1.04B | 1.41B | 1.3B | 1.12B | 791.86M | 763M | 530.05M | 404.2M |
| Long-Term Investments | 0 | 0 | -12.32M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -12.38M | -12.38M | 0 | -388.05M | -415.88M | -507.99M | -500.51M | -559.92M | -556.77M | -24.73M | -21.3M | -44.48M | -162.89M | -197.04M | 0 | 0 | -747K | 0 | -6.69M | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Non-Current Assets | 524.18M | 12.02M | 25.53M | 9.15M | 7.76M | 12.76M | 9.41M | 15.08M | 20.08M | 18.8M | 40.13M | 58.94M | 70.11M | 77.83M | 87.75M | 3.21M | 4.87M | 3.88M | 26.25M | 87.86M | 20.68M | 18.82M | 13.38M | 14.18M | 24.43M | 48.1M | 39.69M | 16.3M |
| Total Assets | 1.08B | 1.12B | 1.44B | 1.61B | 1.72B | 1.86B | 1.76B | 1.78B | 2.03B | 2.41B | 3.02B | 3.75B | 3.87B | 3.74B | 4.04B | 319.64M | 334.06M | 543.52M | 1.06B | 1.33B | 1.41B | 1.62B | 1.48B | 1.36B | 965.32M | 954.93M | 918.16M | 517.6M |
| Asset Turnover | 0.71x | 0.74x | 0.59x | 0.59x | 0.53x | 0.44x | 0.63x | 0.64x | 0.56x | 0.47x | 0.39x | 0.34x | 0.27x | 0.29x | 0.14x | 0.82x | 0.77x | 0.57x | 0.31x | 0.25x | 0.23x | 0.20x | 0.19x | 0.19x | 0.21x | 0.24x | 0.20x | 0.19x |
| Asset Growth % | -87.88% | -22.33% | -10.49% | -6.31% | -7.65% | 5.59% | -0.78% | -12.44% | -15.97% | -20.24% | -19.24% | -3.23% | 3.39% | -7.35% | 1164.12% | -4.32% | -38.54% | -48.75% | -20.45% | -5.21% | -12.99% | 9.39% | 9.01% | 40.42% | 1.09% | 4.01% | 77.39% | - |
| Total Current Liabilities | 152.31M | 133.78M | 143.74M | 145.61M | 139.81M | 129.04M | 139.56M | 116.9M | 36.16M | 100.79M | 122.77M | 155.62M | 156.32M | 195.24M | 178.44M | 42.78M | 68.19M | 28.04M | 37.41M | 38.33M | 29.56M | 60.03M | 48.85M | 51.18M | 51.85M | 46.74M | 27.57M | 19.8M |
| Accounts Payable | 100.79M | 13.01M | 15.89M | 10.96M | 6.64M | 6.79M | 3.18M | 14.27M | 1.93M | 17.29M | 15.87M | 33.18M | 16.53M | 8.47M | 20.92M | 399K | 819K | 2.48M | 1.13M | 2.63M | 29.56M | 2.11M | 21.5M | 45.16M | 50.27M | 43.62M | 26.54M | 19M |
| Days Payables Outstanding | 103.41 | 14.64 | 17.4 | 11.19 | 6.76 | 7.35 | 2.86 | 12.93 | 1.75 | 14.75 | 14.61 | 13.39 | 9.03 | 4.67 | 22.9 | 0.91 | 1.8 | 4.46 | 1.96 | 4.48 | 47.75 | 3.8 | 43.71 | 103.18 | 129.58 | 83.22 | 71.06 | 92.96 |
| Short-Term Debt | 51.52M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34.8M | 5.25M | 5.25M | 13M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.94M | 76.47M | 13.25M | 15.16M | 49.03M | 7.4M | 13.49M | 7.5M | 0 | 40.96M | 27.31M | 5.56M | 770K | 208K | 20K | 0 |
| Deferred Revenue (Current) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6M | 6M | 7.38M | 98.92M | 0 | 19.97M | 12.82M | 59K | 220K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Current Liabilities | -27.66M | 94.45M | 26.7M | 7.24M | -6.14M | 67.99M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 94.61M | 92.85M | 19.09M | 10.69M | 16.88M | 0 | -7.87M | -27.63M | 0 | 33K | 458K | 808K | 2.91M | 1.01M | 800K |
| Current Ratio | 1.74x | 1.85x | 2.00x | 2.37x | 2.91x | 3.90x | 2.73x | 3.38x | 10.89x | 4.36x | 2.93x | 2.38x | 2.41x | 1.81x | 1.82x | 1.40x | 0.95x | 3.58x | 2.42x | 1.64x | 2.41x | 1.59x | 1.50x | 2.57x | 1.27x | 1.37x | 10.21x | 2.81x |
| Quick Ratio | 1.74x | 1.85x | 2.00x | 2.37x | 2.91x | 3.90x | 2.09x | 2.67x | 10.64x | 3.99x | 2.49x | 2.22x | 2.37x | 1.78x | 1.67x | 1.40x | 0.95x | 3.58x | 2.42x | 1.64x | 2.41x | 1.59x | 1.50x | 2.57x | 1.27x | 1.37x | 10.21x | 2.81x |
| Cash Conversion Cycle | -32.66 | - | - | - | - | - | 157.54 | 142.93 | 83.37 | 93.47 | 111.64 | 69.17 | 90.09 | 71.04 | 166.99 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total Non-Current Liabilities | 982.83M | 977.92M | 1.01B | 1.06B | 1.16B | 1.33B | 1.17B | 1.27B | 2.69B | 2.8B | 2.89B | 3.05B | 3.2B | 3.23B | 3.57B | 618.16M | 638.38M | 763.62M | 903.86M | 957.81M | 790.79M | 680.03M | 644.48M | 583.49M | 489.58M | 316.61M | 296.14M | 239M |
| Long-Term Debt | 792.45M | 669.04M | 672.42M | 714.46M | 798.92M | 967.66M | 1.01B | 1.23B | 2.33B | 2.38B | 2.4B | 2.49B | 2.62B | 2.62B | 2.84B | 575.84M | 584.48M | 688.6M | 722.81M | 743.75M | 569M | 441.14M | 460.03M | 414.7M | 319.25M | 285.02M | 285.23M | 222.7M |
| Capital Lease Obligations | 390.76M | 99.34M | 115.31M | 119.92M | 125.87M | 129.53M | 111.33M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.23B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Tax Liabilities | 13.93M | 2.33M | 12.32M | 653K | 112.08M | 101.06M | 21.04M | 12.38M | 219.25M | 388.05M | 415.88M | 507.99M | 500.51M | 559.92M | 556.77M | 24.73M | 0 | 44.48M | 162.89M | 197.04M | 203.87M | 234.24M | 183.34M | 152.68M | 32.86M | 29.67M | 8.94M | 15.1M |
| Other Non-Current Liabilities | 186.56M | 207.21M | 209.92M | 219.98M | 233.27M | 235.92M | 27.69M | 25.74M | 355.07M | 419.48M | 483.08M | 55.12M | 79.91M | 45.31M | -1.61B | 42.32M | 53.9M | 30.54M | 18.16M | 15.79M | 17.93M | 4.64M | 1.11M | 1.94M | 2.98M | 1.92M | 1.98M | 1.2M |
| Total Liabilities | 1.14B | 1.11B | 1.15B | 1.2B | 1.3B | 1.46B | 1.31B | 1.39B | 2.72B | 2.9B | 3.01B | 3.2B | 3.36B | 3.43B | 3.75B | 660.95M | 706.58M | 791.67M | 941.26M | 996.14M | 820.36M | 740.06M | 693.33M | 634.67M | 541.43M | 363.36M | 323.71M | 258.8M |
| Total Debt | 843.97M | 794.71M | 813.08M | 862.35M | 988M | 1.13B | 1.16B | 1.24B | 2.33B | 2.38B | 2.43B | 2.49B | 2.63B | 2.7B | 2.85B | 591.01M | 633.51M | 696M | 736.3M | 751.25M | 569M | 482.1M | 487.34M | 420.26M | 320.02M | 285.23M | 285.25M | 222.7M |
| Net Debt | 753.56M | 730.87M | 732.42M | 754.92M | 810.97M | 858.54M | 1.14B | 1.22B | 2.23B | 2.25B | 2.39B | 2.48B | 2.59B | 2.61B | 2.82B | 578.19M | 617.28M | 643M | 704.01M | 748.86M | 563.88M | 450.14M | 480.62M | 359.88M | 314.71M | 274.25M | 65.67M | 197.8M |
| Debt / Equity | -14.83x | 114.33x | 2.84x | 2.11x | 2.36x | 2.84x | 2.54x | 3.19x | - | - | 151.28x | 4.59x | 5.12x | 8.48x | 9.81x | - | - | - | 6.17x | 2.23x | 0.97x | 0.55x | 0.62x | 0.58x | 0.75x | 0.48x | 0.48x | 0.86x |
| Debt / EBITDA | -4.56x | - | 48.12x | 6.33x | 8.05x | 27.11x | 4.77x | 5.86x | - | - | - | 8.97x | 8.51x | 11.84x | 21.16x | 7.36x | - | - | - | 42.73x | - | 4.83x | 5.56x | 5.26x | 8.62x | - | 8.04x | 11.97x |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -4.07x | - | 43.34x | 5.54x | 6.61x | 20.59x | 4.70x | 5.73x | - | - | - | 8.94x | 8.41x | 11.46x | 20.94x | 7.20x | - | - | - | 42.59x | - | 4.51x | 5.48x | 4.50x | 8.48x | - | 1.85x | 10.63x |
| Interest Coverage | -0.03x | -3.48x | -0.58x | 1.23x | 1.02x | -0.16x | 2.00x | 3.06x | -1.66x | -2.95x | -3.38x | 1.11x | 1.10x | 0.43x | 0.94x | 2.35x | -3.37x | -12.22x | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total Equity | -56.92M | 6.95M | 286.58M | 408.4M | 419.5M | 397.59M | 455.22M | 389.83M | -696.12M | -491.74M | 16.03M | 541.58M | 512.74M | 318.5M | 290.71M | -341.31M | -372.51M | -248.15M | 119.28M | 337.01M | 586.01M | 876.33M | 784.3M | 720.84M | 423.88M | 591.58M | 594.44M | 258.8M |
| Equity Growth % | -445.81% | -97.57% | -29.83% | -2.64% | 5.51% | -12.66% | 16.77% | 156% | -41.56% | -3167.23% | -97.04% | 5.62% | 60.98% | 9.56% | 185.18% | 8.38% | -50.12% | -308.04% | -64.61% | -42.49% | -33.13% | 11.73% | 8.8% | 70.06% | -28.35% | -0.48% | 129.69% | - |
| Book Value per Share | -3.26 | 0.41 | 16.60 | 20.40 | 20.04 | 19.57 | 22.44 | 23.55 | -23.75 | -16.80 | 0.55 | 18.92 | 12.55 | 15.67 | 32.81 | -66.29 | -73.72 | -46.91 | 22.09 | 53.05 | 70.06 | 98.10 | 93.72 | 105.88 | 96.19 | 135.04 | 190.67 | 106.12 |
| Total Shareholders' Equity | -56.92M | 6.95M | 286.58M | 408.4M | 419.5M | 397.59M | 455.22M | 389.83M | -696.12M | -491.74M | 16.03M | 541.58M | 512.74M | 318.5M | 290.71M | -341.31M | -372.51M | -248.15M | 119.28M | 337.01M | 586.01M | 876.33M | 784.3M | 720.84M | 423.88M | 591.58M | 594.44M | 258.8M |
| Common Stock | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 321K | 321K | 2.56M | 2.56M | 2.38M | 1.99M | 1.74M | 660K | 660K | 660K | 659K | 660K | 705K | 699K | 660K | 626K | 359K | 352K | 348K | 0 |
| Retained Earnings | -370.25M | -304.66M | -21.4M | 96.48M | 80.24M | 62.96M | 122.68M | 61.42M | -2.09B | -1.89B | -1.38B | -830.35M | -842.12M | -1.02B | -985.47M | -1.05B | -1.08B | -952.03M | -590.36M | -366.97M | -323.41M | -118.68M | -149.04M | -154.09M | -61.33M | -30.78M | -25.21M | -17.3M |
| Treasury Stock | -47.11M | -46.83M | -45.75M | -36.53M | -2.98M | -2.41M | -1.17M | 0 | -229.31M | -229.31M | -229.31M | -231.59M | -251.19M | -252M | -251.67M | -256.79M | -261.38M | -265.28M | -267.08M | -282.19M | -110.38M | -14.64M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Accumulated OCI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -14.98M | -307.03M | 0 | -251.59M | -220.74M | -186.91M | -187.44M | -170.19M | -160.75M | 0 | 828K | 4.8M | 7.03M | 2.41M | -2.13M | -4.59M | -9.98M | -19.4M | -9.98M | -12.1M | -4M |
| Minority Interest | 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 |
Negative equity and impairment
As reported in recent financial filings, Cumulus Media's equity position has deteriorated from a positive $286.6 million in 2023Q4 to a negative $56.9 million by 2025Q3, reflecting a persistent trend of capital erosion that underscores the company's struggle to maintain solvency amidst ongoing secular revenue headwinds.
The rapid transition into negative equity suggests that cumulative losses are outpacing the company's ability to preserve its book value. Investors should monitor whether this trajectory necessitates a further restructuring of the capital stack to address the widening deficit in retained earnings.
Based on the provided quarterly data, the company's goodwill balance plummeted from $837.6 million in 2023Q4 to just $64.7 million in 2025Q3, indicating that management has been forced to aggressively write down the carrying value of its broadcasting licenses and other intangible assets.
This massive reduction in goodwill suggests that the market value of the company's radio station portfolio has significantly diverged from historical book values. Such impairments are often a precursor to further balance sheet volatility and highlight the difficulty in justifying the long-term utility of legacy terrestrial assets.
According to the latest balance sheet figures, cash reserves have declined from $80.7 million in 2023Q4 to $90.4 million in 2025Q3, while the current ratio remains at 1.74, suggesting that the firm is maintaining a narrow buffer against its ongoing operational cash burn.
While the current ratio appears superficially adequate, the lack of consistent positive free cash flow makes this liquidity buffer highly sensitive to seasonal advertising fluctuations. The company's reliance on existing cash to fund operations warrants close scrutiny regarding its long-term runway.
As indicated by the transition to negative equity, the company's balance sheet is currently distorted by significant accumulated deficits, which reached -$370.3 million in 2025Q3, potentially masking the true extent of the firm's financial fragility and its limited capacity to absorb further operational shocks.
The shift into negative equity territory is a critical red flag that suggests the company's liabilities now exceed its total assets, rendering the traditional book value metric less meaningful. This structural imbalance may limit the firm's ability to access traditional credit markets without significant concessions or equity dilution.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying CMLS stock.
As of 2024, Cumulus Media Inc. (CMLS) had total assets of $1.12B including $248.1M in current assets.
Cumulus Media Inc. (CMLS) carries total debt of $794.7M, offset by $63.8M in cash and short-term investments. Comparing total debt to cash helps evaluate the company's debt burden and net leverage.
Cumulus Media Inc. (CMLS) has total shareholders' equity (book value) of $7.0M ($0.41 book value per share). Book value represents the net worth of the company belonging to common stock holders.
Cumulus Media Inc. (CMLS) reported a current ratio of 1.85x. A current ratio above 1.0x indicates that the company has more current assets than current liabilities, suggesting sufficient short-term liquidity.