Free cash flow burn has accelerated to a $15.7M deficit in 2026Q1, driven by a sharp increase in quarterly capital expenditures to $5.3M as the firm intensifies its drilling programs.
| 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 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | -40.86M | -35.88M | -22.57M | -16.94M | -14.22M | -7.87M | -1.61M | 430.12M | 339.69M | 287.08M | 215.76M | 361.02M | 335.17M | 341.69M | 263.11M | 308.02M | 193.41M | -15.2B | -6.91B | -7.22B | 102.72M | 124.98M | 166.6M | 197.55M | 134.41M | 51.62M |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 26.23% | 27.59% | 24.22% | 18.61% | 29.85% | 26.4% | 31.16% | 26.48% | 27.57% | 16.84% | -1780.25% | -639.8% | -700.31% | 10.26% | 1586.31% | 22.34% | 27.93% | 22.57% | 7.87% |
| Operating CF Growth % | -287.51% | -58.96% | -33.26% | -19.1% | -80.76% | -389.47% | -100.37% | 26.62% | 18.33% | 33.06% | -40.24% | 7.71% | -1.91% | 29.87% | -14.58% | 59.26% | 101.27% | -119.92% | 4.25% | -7126.64% | -17.82% | -24.98% | -15.67% | 46.98% | 160.38% | - |
| Net Income | -45.11M | -49.86M | -26.95M | -19.48M | -17.27M | -17.31M | -1.7M | 152.66M | 162.26M | 73.7M | 39.13M | 133.67M | 154.74M | 160.69M | 163.65M | 195.71M | 255.34M | 106.31M | 102.14M | 151.79M | 11.21M | 182.64M | 5.45M | 86.85M | 0 | 90.43M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 1.01M | 808.51K | 323.54K | 246.12K | 212.28K | 115.06K | 14.51K | 245.68M | 168.25M | 165.2M | 152.98M | 156.21M | 156.59M | 161.05M | 162.43M | 160.76M | 170.4M | 9.7B | 14.82B | 15.43B | 76.3M | 62.46M | 63.45M | 81.2M | 53.41M | 0 |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 2.44M | 2.79M | 1.17M | 1.47M | 2.17M | 780.04K | 88.55K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -40.08M | 11.54M | 34.19M | -20.49M | -74.1M | -63.6M | -65.99M | -19.93M | -23.62M | -54.87M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.52M | 75.94M | 30.25M | -6.26M | 56.93M | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 1.34M | 10.27M | 4.16M | 675.01K | 1.02M | 6.89M | 227.05K | 131.03M | -2.38M | -108.32M | 137.37M | 165.8M | 54.71M | 8.55M | -59.97M | -29.45M | -56.51M | -25.15B | -21.89B | -22.69B | 3.26M | -386.33M | 25.21M | 118.44M | 14.77M | -18.2M |
| Working Capital Changes | -531.01K | 118.99K | -1.27M | 152.46K | -348.32K | 1.66M | -236.98K | -59.18M | 21.71K | 122.31M | -93.22M | -20.55M | 32.73M | 77.4M | 16.93M | 4.61M | -120.95M | 146.57M | 58.45M | -101.7M | 8.43M | 190.28M | 42.24M | -82.68M | 9.3M | -20.61M |
| Change in Receivables | -8.73M | -8.46M | -1.13M | -1M | -546.27K | -192.99K | -444.81K | -9.53M | -215 | -25.7M | -23.31M | -13.66M | 11.56M | -26.36M | -11.54M | -15.8M | 35.16M | 335.54M | -128.5M | -349K | 10.28M | -54.36M | -8.29M | 10.17M | -7.68M | 1.34M |
| Change in Inventory | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18.46M | -2.98M | -44.99M | 22.19M | -13.7M | -12.15M | -18.63M | -9.54M | 35.44M | 7.46M | -239.99M | -129.72M | -86.23M | -32.39M | -7.86M | -7.79M | -5.34M | 526K | 0 |
| Change in Payables | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.51M | 22.42M | 11.01M | 9.14M | -25.29M | 4.48M | -1.66M | -23.02M | -1.14M | 3.46M | 296.63M | 247.01M | -1.91B | -30.09M | 32.34M | -3.84M | -21.73M | 5.89M | -3.18M |
| Cash from Investing | -19.94M | -14.66M | -238.93K | -353.51K | -319.01K | -234.03K | -52.92K | -1.12B | -289.03M | -208.84M | -198.64M | -167.95M | -246.51M | -236.22M | -229.16M | -101.67M | -285.14M | -14.2B | -484.41M | -1.44B | -251.77M | -153.92M | -60.63M | -53.01M | -84.6M | -77.95M |
| Capital Expenditures | -11.17M | -5.89M | -238.93K | -353.51K | -319.01K | -234.03K | -52.92K | -323.79M | -289.15M | -235.25M | -186.14M | -156.82M | -207.64M | -188.61M | -245.03M | -195.88M | -283.39M | -14.2B | -484.41M | -1.44B | -71K | -2.21M | -79.87M | -74.51M | -87.32M | -57K |
| CapEx % of Revenue | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 19.75% | 23.49% | 19.85% | 16.06% | 12.97% | 16.36% | 17.2% | 24.66% | 17.53% | 24.67% | 1662.79% | 44.84% | 140.2% | 0.01% | 28% | 10.71% | 10.53% | 14.66% | 0.01% |
| Acquisitions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -814.97M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | -8.77M | -8.77M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23.34M | 126K | 27.05M | -12.5M | -1.17M | 28.89M | -38.82M | 23.88M | 107.22M | -1.75M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -251.7M | -151.71M | 19.24M | 21.51M | 2.72M | -77.89M |
| Cash from Financing | 96.09M | 140.73M | 49.3M | 22.26M | 7.26M | 23.07M | 3.36M | 687.81M | -91.74M | -29.91M | -61.34M | -169.25M | -72.89M | -107.84M | -96.5M | -303.9M | 137.67M | 33.87B | 0 | 16.81B | 67.55M | 158.2M | -77.57M | -163.49M | 16.24M | 31.12M |
| Debt Issued (Net) | -931.19K | -730.07K | -114.79K | -54.44K | -88.99K | -155.75K | 63.66K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equity Issued (Net) | 100.33M | 146.13M | 47.26M | 21.88M | 7.89M | 12.43M | 2.9M | 0 | 404.76K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 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 |
| Share Repurchases | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -116.29M | 0 | -119.04M | -21.48M | 0 | -12.45M | 0 | -8.01M | -13.01M | -191.13M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -67K | 0 | -3.02M |
| Other Financing | -3.3M | -4.67M | 2.16M | 435.25K | -537.88K | 10.8M | 399.51K | 687.81M | -92.15M | -29.91M | -61.34M | -169.25M | -72.89M | -107.84M | -96.5M | -303.9M | 137.67M | 33.87B | 0 | 16.81B | 67.55M | 158.2M | -77.57M | -163.49M | 16.24M | 31.12M |
| Net Change in Cash | 35.92M | 90.72M | 24.76M | 5.66M | -7.81M | 14.59M | 1.72M | 116.29M | 110.17M | 48.33M | -44.22M | 23.82M | 15.77M | -2.36M | -62.56M | -97.55M | 45.94M | 4.48B | -7.4B | 8.15B | -81.5M | 129.27M | 28.41M | -18.95M | 66.04M | 4.79M |
| Free Cash Flow | -52.1M | -41.83M | -22.81M | -17.29M | -14.54M | -8.1M | -1.66M | 106.33M | 50.53M | 51.83M | 29.61M | 204.2M | 127.53M | 153.08M | 18.07M | 112.14M | -89.98M | -29.4B | -7.4B | -8.66B | 102.65M | 122.78M | 86.73M | 123.04M | 47.08M | 51.56M |
| FCF Margin % | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6.49% | 4.11% | 4.37% | 2.55% | 16.88% | 10.05% | 13.96% | 1.82% | 10.04% | -7.83% | -3443.04% | -684.65% | -840.51% | 10.26% | 1558.31% | 11.63% | 17.4% | 7.91% | 7.86% |
| FCF Growth % | -114.7% | -83.37% | -31.92% | -18.92% | -79.48% | -387.96% | -101.56% | 110.4% | -2.49% | 75.01% | -85.5% | 60.12% | -16.69% | 747.03% | -83.88% | 224.62% | 99.69% | -297.47% | 14.63% | -8539.14% | -16.4% | 41.57% | -29.51% | 161.31% | -8.68% | - |
| FCF per Share | -0.56 | -0.49 | -0.33 | -0.30 | -0.30 | -0.22 | -0.04 | 1.76 | 0.84 | 0.86 | 0.49 | 3.36 | 2.10 | 2.52 | 0.30 | 1.84 | -1.48 | -29395.24 | -7395.55 | -4331.22 | 102.65 | 40.93 | 86.73 | 123.04 | 47.08 | 51.56 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | 1.15x | 0.72x | 0.88x | 0.89x | 0.82x | 0.45x | 0.95x | 2.82x | 2.09x | 1.90x | 5.51x | 2.70x | 2.17x | 2.13x | 1.61x | 1.57x | 0.76x | -142.97x | -67.66x | -47.55x | 1.38x | 0.68x | 2.52x | 2.27x | - | 0.57x |
| Interest 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 |
| Taxes 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 |
Exploration Burn Rate Sustainability
As reported in recent financial statements, Collective Mining's operating cash flow deficit reached $10.4M in 2026Q1, reflecting a persistent gap between net losses and cash outflows that suggests the company remains entirely reliant on external financing to sustain its ongoing exploration activities in Colombia.
The relationship between net income and operating cash flow remains consistently negative, which is expected for a pre-revenue explorer, yet the magnitude of the cash burn warrants close monitoring. Investors should note that the OCF/NI ratio fluctuates significantly, indicating that non-cash items like share-based compensation are masking the true cash-consuming nature of the firm's current operational phase.
Based on the company's reported figures, the free cash flow deficit has expanded to $15.7M in 2026Q1, marking a notable acceleration in cash consumption as the firm intensifies its drilling programs and technical evaluation efforts across its primary Colombian land packages.
The trajectory of free cash flow shows a clear downward trend, moving from smaller quarterly deficits to a double-digit million-dollar burn rate. This shift suggests that management is aggressively deploying capital to de-risk assets, though it simultaneously increases the pressure to achieve a major discovery to justify the current valuation.
According to recent SEC filings, Collective Mining's quarterly capital expenditures surged to $5.3M in 2026Q1, a significant increase from the sub-$200k levels seen in previous periods, signaling a transition toward more intensive, asset-heavy exploration and evaluation activities at the Guayabales project.
This spike in capital expenditure represents the physical cost of drilling and site development, which is the primary driver of the company's current cash outflow. Analysts should interpret this as a deliberate attempt to accelerate resource definition, though it necessitates a higher frequency of capital raises to maintain the current liquidity runway.
As indicated by the quarterly data, working capital changes have swung from a $498k inflow in 2025Q2 to an $839k outflow in 2025Q4, highlighting the inherent unpredictability of cash management for an exploration-stage entity operating within a complex regulatory environment like Colombia.
The erratic nature of these working capital shifts suggests that timing differences in tax refunds or vendor payments are creating noise in the cash flow statement. Investors should monitor these fluctuations for signs of potential liquidity friction, particularly if the company's ability to recover VAT or manage local payables becomes constrained.
Based on the provided financial data, share-based compensation has become a recurring non-cash expense, reaching $862.7k in 2025Q4, which effectively obscures the true economic cost of operations by diluting shareholder equity without providing a corresponding cash inflow to the company's treasury.
While these expenses are non-cash, they represent a real cost to shareholders that is often overlooked when focusing solely on headline cash burn metrics. The reliance on equity-based incentives suggests that management is preserving cash for drilling, but this strategy creates a persistent overhang of dilution that must be factored into long-term valuation models.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying CNL stock.
Collective Mining Ltd. (CNL) generated $-35.9M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Collective Mining Ltd. (CNL) reported negative free cash flow of $41.8M in 2025, indicating capital requirements exceeded cash from operations.
Collective Mining Ltd. (CNL) spent $5.9M on capital expenditures in 2025. CapEx represents the cash invested in physical assets like property, plant, and equipment to maintain or grow the business.