Free cash flow margin improved to 39.9% in 2026Q2, with cumulative operating cash flow of $565.3M exceeding net income of $318.4M over ten quarters, though working capital swings of -$22.5M indicate timing effects.
Dave Inc. (DAVE) 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 | 326.95M | 290.02M | 125.14M | 33.75M | -44.88M | -541K | -9.15M | -10.93M |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | 52.33% | 36.05% | 13.03% | -21.91% | -0.35% | -7.51% | -14.34% |
| Operating CF Growth % | 329.94% | 131.76% | 270.73% | 175.2% | -8196.3% | 94.08% | 16.31% | - |
| Net Income | 222.64M | 195.87M | 57.87M | -48.52M | -128.91M | -19.99M | -6.96M | 787K |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 7.65M | 7.13M | 7.68M | 5.54M | 7.13M | 3.06M | 1.72M | 805K |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 37.55M | 29.9M | 37.33M | 26.67M | 40.64M | 7.38M | 1.52M | 446K |
| Deferred Taxes | -34.46M | -34.19M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20.2M |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 126.96M | 110.02M | 24.09M | 61.24M | 45.35M | 863K | 25.28M | -648K |
| Working Capital Changes | -33.38M | -18.7M | -1.84M | -11.19M | -9.1M | 8.15M | -30.71M | -32.52M |
| Change in Receivables | -18.12M | -11.35M | -6.16M | -4.08M | 330K | 2.57M | 1.98M | 4.86M |
| Change in Inventory | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4.86M |
| Change in Payables | -664K | 1.59M | 1.28M | -5.93M | 330 | 2.57M | 1.98M | 4.86M |
| Cash from Investing | -103.63M | -202.75M | -45.84M | -14.38M | -285.58M | -37.2M | 3.42M | -19.7M |
| Capital Expenditures | -404K | -317K | -262K | -688K | -9.31M | -371K | -231K | -2.58M |
| CapEx % of Revenue | 0.06% | 0.06% | 0.08% | 0.27% | 4.55% | 0.24% | 0.19% | 3.39% |
| Acquisitions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.75M |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | -101.63M | -202.37M | -118.76M | -70.86M | -114.32M | -46.27M | -3.99M | -1.75M |
| Cash from Financing | -75.39M | -56.29M | -71M | 22K | 321.77M | 65.05M | 4.24M | 33.87M |
| Debt Issued (Net) | 192.69M | 0 | -71M | 0 | 120M | 66.09M | 3.91M | -1.3M |
| Equity Issued (Net) | -236.9M | -43.73M | 1.27M | -12K | 194.46M | 0 | 0 | 49.52M |
| Dividends Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | -237.02M | -43.73M | 0 | -12K | -536K | 0 | 0 | -154K |
| Other Financing | -31.19M | -12.56M | -1.26M | 34K | 7.3M | -1.04M | 331K | -14.35M |
| Net Change in Cash | 147.93M | 30.99M | 8.3M | 19.4M | -8.7M | 27.3M | -1.48M | 3.24M |
| Free Cash Flow | 326.54M | 289.71M | 124.88M | 25.17M | -54.2M | -7.02M | -13.37M | -13.51M |
| FCF Margin % | 50.73% | 52.28% | 35.98% | 9.71% | -26.46% | -4.59% | -10.97% | -17.73% |
| FCF Growth % | 74.58% | 132% | 396.11% | 146.45% | -672.12% | 47.49% | 1.09% | - |
| FCF per Share | 23.87 | 20.01 | 9.03 | 2.11 | -4.59 | -0.60 | -1.15 | -1.16 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | 1.47x | 1.48x | 2.16x | -0.70x | 0.35x | 0.03x | 1.31x | -13.89x |
| Interest Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.99M | 0 | 0 |
| Taxes Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.8M | 0 |
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying DAVE stock.
Dave Inc. (DAVE) generated $290.0M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Dave Inc. (DAVE) generated $289.7M 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.
Dave Inc. (DAVE) spent $0.3M 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, Dave Inc. (DAVE) spent $43.7M on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.
Key Metrics
Top Statement Risk
Regulatory risk on tipping model
Metrics are mathematically derived from official filings.
Cash Conversion Quality Diverges
Operating cash flow exceeded net income by 10.2x in 2026Q2, per recent financials, but the 2026Q1 ratio of 1.42 suggests volatility; the gap may reflect non-cash items and working capital swings.
The OCF/NI ratio of 10.23 in 2026Q2 is extreme, driven by a modest net income of $6.7M against $68.4M operating cash flow, indicating that earnings understate cash generation. However, the 2026Q1 ratio of 1.42 and 2025Q3's 0.90 show inconsistency, suggesting that net income is not a reliable predictor of cash flow. The large SBC ($16.3M in 2026Q2) and working capital changes (negative $22.5M) are key non-cash and timing factors, implying that investors should focus on operating cash flow rather than net income for valuation.
Free Cash Flow Margin Expansion
FCF margin improved from 22.7% in 2024Q1 to 39.9% in 2026Q2, as per quarterly data, with FCF reaching $68.1M, reflecting strong operating leverage and minimal capex requirements.
The FCF margin has more than doubled over the past two years, from 22.7% in 2024Q1 to 39.9% in 2026Q2, indicating that the business is converting revenue into cash at an accelerating rate. This trend is supported by consistent FCF generation, with 2026Q2 FCF of $68.1M, and is particularly notable given the company's high revenue growth. The minimal capex (0.1% of revenue) suggests that the asset-light model allows for nearly all operating cash flow to flow through to FCF, a key differentiator versus traditional lenders.
Minimal Capital Intensity Sustains Cash Flow
Capex averaged just 0.1% of revenue over the last ten quarters, per financial statements, indicating a highly asset-light model where nearly all operating cash flow converts to free cash flow.
Capex has remained negligible, with the highest quarterly spend at $232K in 2026Q2, representing less than 0.2% of revenue. This suggests that the company's technology platform requires minimal fixed asset investment, allowing for high cash conversion. The low capital intensity is a structural advantage, as it enables Dave to scale without significant reinvestment, but it also implies that growth is dependent on variable costs like marketing and credit provisioning rather than fixed asset expansion.
Working Capital Swings Reflect Advance Dynamics
Working capital changes were negative $22.5M in 2026Q2, per recent filings, contrasting with a positive $170K in 2026Q1, indicating timing effects from ExtraCash advance volumes and collections.
The working capital changes are volatile, with a significant negative swing in 2026Q2, which may indicate an increase in outstanding advances or a timing mismatch between disbursements and repayments. This is consistent with the company's core product, where advances are made and repaid within short cycles. The negative working capital change in 2026Q2 reduced operating cash flow by $22.5M, but the overall OCF remained strong, suggesting that the company can manage these fluctuations. Investors should monitor this metric as it directly impacts cash flow and may signal changes in credit risk or seasonality.
Capital Returned via Buybacks, No Dividends
Dave repurchased $204.1M of stock in 2026Q1, as per cash flow data, while paying no dividends, indicating a focus on shareholder returns through buybacks despite minimal debt.
The company has not paid dividends, but it has engaged in significant share repurchases, with $204.1M in 2026Q1 and smaller amounts in other quarters. This suggests that management views the stock as undervalued and is returning capital to shareholders, which is notable given the company's low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21%. The buyback activity may also be a signal of confidence in future cash flows, but it also reduces cash reserves, so investors should assess the sustainability of such repurchases given the company's growth needs.
Cumulative Cash Outpaces Earnings
Over the last ten quarters, cumulative operating cash flow of $565.3M exceeds cumulative net income of $318.4M, per reported data, indicating that earnings understate cash generation.
The cumulative operating cash flow of $565.3M is significantly higher than cumulative net income of $318.4M, a gap of $246.9M. This divergence suggests that the company's earnings are conservative, possibly due to non-cash charges like SBC and depreciation, or that working capital changes are favorable. The consistent OCF/NI ratios above 1 in most quarters support this, but the 2025Q3 ratio of 0.90 shows that the relationship is not always positive. This cumulative cash generation provides a cushion for growth and capital returns, but investors should be aware that the gap may narrow if working capital dynamics shift.
What Could Invalidate the Base Case
The cash flow statement obscures the reliance on 'tips' and 'express fees' as core revenue, per company disclosures, which could be reclassified as interest under regulatory scrutiny, potentially altering cash flow sustainability.
While operating cash flow appears robust, the underlying revenue model depends heavily on user 'tips' and 'express fees' for instant transfers, which are not explicitly separated in the cash flow statement. If regulators reclassify these as finance charges, the company might face refunds or changes in revenue recognition, directly impacting cash collections. Additionally, the provision for unrecoverable advances is a significant variable cost that could rise if credit conditions deteriorate, reducing operating cash flow. Investors should monitor regulatory developments and credit metrics, as these could undermine the current cash generation narrative.