Dividend outlays frequently exceed quarterly operating cash flow, as seen in 2025Q4 when the firm reported a -$96.6 million free cash flow while distributing $13.4 million to shareholders.
| Metric | TTM | Sep'25 | Sep'24 | Sep'23 | Sep'22 | Sep'21 | Sep'20 | Sep'19 | Sep'18 | Sep'17 | Sep'16 | Sep'15 | Sep'14 | Sep'13 | Sep'12 | Sep'11 | Sep'10 | Sep'09 | Sep'08 | Sep'07 | Sep'06 | Sep'05 | Sep'04 | Sep'03 | Sep'02 | Sep'01 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | -53.56M | 43.63M | 3.24M | -10.86M | -76.4M | -14.06M | -46.09M | 9.26M | -17.8M | -12.88M | 60.02M | -74.48M | 473K | 32.14M | 26.2M | -68.37M | 86.5M | 95.52M | -80.22M | -116.98M | 7.24M | 15.59M | 13.48M | 9.88M | 6.97M | -76.3K |
| Operating CF Growth % | -1778.59% | 1246.48% | 129.83% | 85.79% | -443.32% | 69.49% | -598.01% | 152.01% | -38.19% | -121.46% | 180.59% | -15846.09% | -98.53% | 22.67% | 138.32% | -179.04% | -9.44% | 219.08% | 31.43% | -1716.69% | -53.59% | 15.63% | 36.42% | 41.74% | 9239.58% | - |
| Net Income | 43.95M | 58.11M | 94.51M | 42.67M | 19.91M | 84.3M | -1.87M | 19.87M | 18.65M | 17.18M | 11.37M | 8.48M | 11.23M | 32.22M | -8.01M | -21.1M | 16.39M | 3.78M | -21.26M | 14.95M | 24.43M | 15.49M | 10.57M | 11.07M | 7.62M | -92.64K |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17.09M | -54.47M | 0 | -11.49M | 0 | -357K | 15.26M | -1.16M | 0 | -15.33M | 0 | 0 | -1.61M | 2.68M | 47.03M | 7.8M | -2K | 2.21M | 4.07M | 251.65K | 13.82K | 265 |
| Deferred Taxes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 68.85M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | -104.26M | -12.38M | -91.44M | -55.2M | -108.76M | -48M | -46.63M | -1.18M | -38.2M | -28.5M | 28.52M | -84.75M | -22M | 29.02M | 32.03M | -46.37M | -1.1M | 87.41M | -103.58M | 187.56K | -4.43M | -410K | -553K | -806.09K | -400.49K | 0 |
| Working Capital Changes | 7.07M | -2.11M | 179K | 1.67M | -4.64M | 4.11M | 2.42M | 2.05M | 1.75M | -1.2M | 4.88M | 2.96M | 11.24M | -13.77M | 2.18M | -905K | 3.72M | 1.65M | -2.41M | -139.92M | -12.76M | -1.7M | -599K | -635.32K | -256.8K | 16.08K |
| Cash from Investing | -39.91M | -49.12M | 0 | 0 | -259.05M | -165.99M | 0 | -134.39M | 0 | -103.85M | -58.59M | -107.52M | 0 | -83.6M | 0 | 0 | -20.13M | 22.84M | 2.48M | -2.48M | 190K | -76.28M | -95.99M | 10.31M | -40.19M | -31.79K |
| Purchase of Investments | -351.35M | -401.71M | 0 | 0 | -274.9M | -181.84M | 0 | -147.07M | 0 | -112.09M | -80.02M | -136.12M | 0 | -90.16M | 0 | 0 | -23.25M | -26.37M | 0 | -261.7M | 0 | -143.79M | -86.27M | -47.01M | -102.61M | 0 |
| Sale/Maturity of Investments | 204.56M | 352.59M | 0 | 0 | 15.85M | 15.85M | 0 | 12.68M | 0 | 8.24M | 21.44M | 28.6M | 0 | 6.56M | 0 | 0 | 3.12M | 49.2M | 2.48M | 0 | 0 | 88.02M | 47.16M | 0 | 62.49M | 0 |
| Net Investment Activity | -146.79M | -49.12M | 0 | 0 | -259.05M | -165.99M | 0 | -134.39M | 0 | -103.85M | -58.59M | -107.52M | 0 | -83.6M | 0 | 0 | -20.13M | 22.84M | 2.48M | -261.7M | 0 | -55.77M | -39.11M | -47.01M | -40.12M | 0 |
| Acquisitions | 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 |
| Other Investing | 106.88M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 259.22M | 190K | -20.5M | -56.88M | 57.4M | 2.14K | 0 |
| Cash from Financing | 94.07M | 35.55M | -2.34M | 10.15M | 77.66M | 12.44M | 32.81M | 4.49M | 14.53M | 11.74M | -57.68M | 71.97M | -8.06M | -28.09M | -22.8M | 67.37M | -84.04M | -96.74M | 75.39M | 127.58M | -7.2M | -4.76M | 47.3M | -10.96M | -6.68M | 132.93M |
| Dividends Paid | -44.77M | -55.48M | -43.14M | -35.41M | -27.32M | -25.97M | -25.16M | -24.58M | -22.8M | -21.43M | -19.49M | -17.7M | -17.64M | -17.64M | -17.65M | -17.67M | -17.69M | -26.57M | -33.38M | -22.14M | -18.63M | -17.11M | -17.11M | -9.87M | -6.04M | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | -541K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -572K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -28K | -41K | -852K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stock Issued | 26.52M | 20.98M | 11M | 87.39M | 4.53M | 26.85M | 11.66M | 17.25M | 21.99M | 23.7M | 19.66M | 1.17M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 106.23M | 0 | 0 | 270.25K | 24.54M | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Net Stock Activity | 25.98M | 20.98M | 11M | 87.39M | 4.53M | 26.85M | 11.66M | 17.25M | 21.99M | 23.7M | 19.09M | 1.17M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -28K | -41K | 105.37M | 0 | 0 | 270.25K | 24.54M | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Debt Issuance (Net) | 1.36M | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Financing | -4.84M | 0 | -840K | -4.83M | -2.04M | -3.44M | -1.85M | -2.58M | -23.65M | -2.97M | -1.28M | -2.1M | -2.8M | 2.79M | -3.55M | -804K | -1.52M | -2.1M | -3.2M | -2.17M | -211K | -216K | -872K | -1.09M | -641.35K | 590.38K |
| Net Change in Cash | 596K | 30.07M | 903K | -706K | 1.26M | -1.62M | -13.28M | 13.74M | -3.27M | -1.14M | 2.34M | -2.51M | -7.59M | 4.04M | 3.4M | -1M | 2.46M | -1.22M | -2.35M | 8.11M | 228K | -65.45M | -35.21M | 9.24M | -39.89M | 132.93M |
| Exchange Rate Effect | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 259.05M | 165.99M | 0 | 134.39M | 0 | 103.85M | 58.59M | 107.52M | 0 | 83.6M | 0 | 0 | 20.13M | -22.84M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108.09K |
| Cash at Beginning | 4.17M | 2.3M | 1.4M | 2.11M | 846K | 2.47M | 15.75M | 2M | 5.27M | 6.15M | 3.81M | 6.31M | 13.9M | 9.86M | 6.46M | 7.46M | 5.28M | 6.49M | 8.84M | 731.74K | 504K | 65.95M | 101.17M | 91.93M | 131.82M | -108.09K |
| Cash at End | 3.39M | 32.37M | 2.3M | 1.4M | 2.11M | 846K | 2.47M | 15.75M | 2M | 5.01M | 6.15M | 3.81M | 6.31M | 13.9M | 9.86M | 6.46M | 7.73M | 5.28M | 6.49M | 8.84M | 732K | 503.78K | 65.95M | 101.17M | 91.93M | 132.82M |
| Interest Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20.41M | 0 | 0 | 9.65M | 0 | 5.79M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.65M | 0 | 4.48M | 3.08M | 0 | 0 | 8.23M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Income Taxes Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Free Cash Flow | -53.56M | 43.63M | 3.24M | -10.86M | -76.4M | -14.06M | -46.09M | 9.26M | -17.8M | -12.88M | 60.02M | -74.48M | 473K | 32.14M | 26.2M | -68.37M | 86.5M | 95.52M | -80.22M | -116.98M | 7.24M | 15.59M | 13.48M | 9.8M | 6.9M | -108.09K |
| FCF Growth % | -144.91% | 1246.48% | 129.83% | 85.79% | -443.32% | 69.49% | -598.01% | 152.01% | -38.19% | -121.46% | 180.59% | -15846.09% | -98.53% | 22.67% | 138.32% | -179.04% | -9.44% | 219.08% | 31.43% | -1716.69% | -53.59% | 15.63% | 37.57% | 42.01% | 6485.57% | - |
Earnings and Cash Divergence
According to the provided cash flow statements, the relationship between net income and operating cash flow is highly erratic, with OCF/NI ratios swinging from -6.76 in 2025Q4 to 2.49 in 2026Q1, suggesting that reported earnings frequently decouple from the actual cash generated by the underlying loan portfolio.
The extreme volatility in the conversion of net income to operating cash flow indicates that accounting-based fair value adjustments likely dominate the bottom line. Investors should interpret this divergence as a signal that reported profitability may not reflect the liquidity available to sustain the firm's dividend commitments.
As reported in financial statements, free cash flow has exhibited significant instability over the last ten quarters, oscillating between a peak of $54.2 million in 2024Q3 and a trough of -$96.6 million in 2025Q4, which complicates the assessment of long-term dividend sustainability for income-focused shareholders.
The frequent swings into negative free cash flow territory suggest that the company's cash generation is highly sensitive to the timing of investment activities and portfolio exits. This trajectory implies that the firm may rely on external financing or capital recycling to maintain its distribution schedule during periods of lower cash inflow.
Based on GLAD's reported figures, working capital changes have been a material driver of cash flow variance, notably shifting from a $5.0 million contribution in 2026Q2 to a $267,000 use of cash in 2025Q1, highlighting the unpredictable nature of cash movements within the BDC's operating cycle.
These fluctuations in working capital appear to reflect the timing of interest collections and the settlement of accrued fees. Such variability warrants further investigation into whether these movements are indicative of underlying credit stress or merely the standard timing differences inherent in the firm's lending operations.
As evidenced by the historical cash flow data, dividend payments have remained a consistent cash outflow, often exceeding the quarterly operating cash flow, which suggests that the firm is frequently distributing capital that is not fully supported by the cash generated from its core investment activities.
The persistent commitment to monthly dividends despite erratic cash flow performance may indicate a reliance on capital recycling or balance sheet flexibility. This deployment strategy appears to prioritize shareholder yield, yet it may limit the firm's ability to retain cash for reinvestment during periods of market volatility.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying GLAD stock.
Gladstone Capital Corporation (GLAD) generated $43.6M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Gladstone Capital Corporation (GLAD) generated $43.6M 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.
Gladstone Capital Corporation (GLAD) spent $0.0M 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, Gladstone Capital Corporation (GLAD) returned $55.5M to shareholders via cash dividends. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.