Free cash flow remains volatile, swinging from a 20.3% margin in 2025Q2 to a negative 2.3% in 2025Q4, largely driven by high capital intensity and lumpy working capital movements.
| Metric | TTM | Dec'25 | Dec'24 | Dec'23 | Dec'19 | Dec'18 | Dec'17 | Dec'16 | Dec'15 | Dec'14 | Dec'13 | Dec'11 | Dec'10 | Dec'09 | Dec'08 | Dec'07 | Dec'06 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 329M | 370M | 278M | 276M | 61.03M | 82.89M | 270M | 187M | 65M | 729M | 388M | -88M | -85M | 100.9M | 175.3M | 110.3M | 122.8M |
| Operating CF Growth % | -34.45% | - | 0.72% | 352.24% | -26.37% | -69.3% | 44.39% | 187.69% | -91.08% | 87.89% | 540.91% | -3.53% | -184.24% | -42.44% | 58.93% | -10.18% | - |
| Operating CF / Revenue % | 31.76% | 35.37% | 29.57% | 30.53% | 6.82% | 11.2% | 1133.64% | 20.03% | 6.64% | 80.09% | 47.8% | -12.95% | -13.05% | 100900% | 30.46% | 21.2% | 25.72% |
| Net Income | -326M | -309M | 70M | 41M | 2.19B | -873.3M | 724.59M | -3.67M | -26.02M | 7.56M | 9.41M | 5.84M | 8.96M | 1K | -1.87M | 13.5M | 18.52M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 223M | 262M | 207M | 230M | 266.33M | 206.95M | 4M | 24M | 46M | 19M | 311M | 125.74M | 126.11M | 123.4M | 114.4M | 87.6M | 82.1M |
| Deferred Taxes | -378M | -391M | 10M | 22M | 0 | -182.72M | -427M | 973M | 274M | 507M | 47M | 153M | 82M | 3.9M | 1.1M | 11.6M | 15.4M |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 1.01B | 831M | -4M | -4M | -2.4B | 876.8M | -134.59M | -731.33M | -240.97M | 116.44M | -146.41M | -365.58M | -302.07M | -97.7M | 46.69M | 51.75M | -11.12M |
| Working Capital Changes | -208M | -23M | -18M | -32M | -13.29M | 26.96M | 77M | -5M | -39M | 56M | 101M | -7M | 0 | 68.5M | 7.7M | -59.1M | 17.9M |
| Capital Expenditures | -239M | -248M | -247M | -222M | -148.48M | -134.35M | -163M | 793M | 68M | -340M | -1.1B | 0 | 0 | -120.98M | -221.46M | -151.31M | -96M |
| CapEx / Revenue % | 23.07% | 23.71% | 26.28% | 24.56% | 16.6% | 18.16% | 684.39% | 84.92% | 6.95% | 37.35% | 135.53% | 0% | 0% | 120983% | 38.48% | 29.08% | 20.11% |
| CapEx / D&A | 1.07x | 0.95x | 1.19x | 0.97x | 0.56x | 0.65x | 40.75x | 33.04x | 1.48x | 17.89x | 3.54x | 0.00x | 0.00x | 0.98x | 1.94x | 1.73x | 1.17x |
| CapEx Coverage (OCF/CapEx) | 1.38x | 1.49x | 1.13x | 1.24x | 0.41x | 0.62x | 1.66x | 0.24x | 0.96x | 2.14x | 0.35x | - | - | 0.83x | 0.79x | 0.73x | 1.28x |
| Cash from Investing | -227M | -218M | -193M | -214M | -130.68M | -180.23M | -163M | 793M | 68M | -340M | -1.1B | -9M | 0 | -125.9M | -291M | -175.1M | -102M |
| Acquisitions | 6M | 24M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -47.62M | 47.09M | 0 | 0 |
| Purchase of Investments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -48.58M | -159M | -350M | -1.33B | -878M | -1.77B | -9M | 0 | -305K | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sale of Investments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Investing | 6M | 6M | 54M | 8M | 17.8M | 182.93M | 162M | -785M | 203M | 354M | 1.1B | 9M | 0 | 43.01M | -116.63M | -23.79M | -6M |
| Cash from Financing | 197M | 202M | -107M | -76M | -6.94M | -1.72B | -22M | -1.99B | -613M | 823M | -2.55B | 97M | 85M | 43.8M | 132.5M | 20.2M | -7.5M |
| Dividends Paid | 0 | 0 | -150M | -65M | -180.17M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend Payout Ratio % | - | - | 214.29% | 158.54% | 8.24% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Debt Issuance (Net) | -4M | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stock Issued | 299M | 299M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27M | 0 | 0 | 423K | 415K | 3.31M | 11.47M |
| Share Repurchases | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -111.65M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1M | -145M | 0 | 0 | 400K | 400K | -12M | -20.7M |
| Other Financing | -10M | -9M | -5M | -5M | -20.18M | -1.72B | -22M | -1.99B | -613M | 823M | -2.55B | 97M | 85M | 43.8M | 132.5M | 20.2M | -7.5M |
| Net Change in Cash | 299M | 350M | -22M | -14M | -76.59M | -82.12M | 86M | -1.54B | 139M | 1.58B | -1.3B | 0 | 0 | 18.9M | 16.8M | -44.6M | 13.3M |
| Exchange Rate Effect | 0 | -4M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 0 | 0 | 100K | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash at Beginning | 424M | 74M | 97M | 111M | 171.52M | 574.15M | 487M | 2.02B | 1.88B | 307M | 1.96B | 0 | 0 | 29.9M | 13.1M | 57.6M | 44.4M |
| Cash at End | 435M | 424M | 75M | 97M | 94.92M | 492.03M | 573M | 487M | 2.02B | 1.88B | 658M | 0 | 0 | 48.8M | 29.9M | 13M | 57.7M |
| Free Cash Flow | 90M | 122M | 31M | 54M | -87.45M | -51.46M | 107M | 980M | 133M | 389M | -712M | -88M | -85M | -20.08M | -46.16M | -41.01M | 26.8M |
| FCF Growth % | - | - | -42.59% | 161.75% | -69.93% | -148.1% | -89.08% | 636.84% | -65.81% | 154.63% | -709.09% | -3.53% | -323.24% | 56.49% | -12.55% | -253.02% | - |
| FCF Margin % | 8.69% | 11.66% | 3.3% | 5.97% | -9.77% | -6.96% | 449.26% | 104.95% | 13.59% | 42.74% | -87.72% | -12.95% | -13.05% | -20083% | -8.02% | -7.88% | 5.61% |
| FCF / Net Income % | -27.61% | -39.48% | 44.29% | 131.71% | -4% | 5.89% | 14.77% | -26724.84% | -511.05% | 5147.55% | -7569.64% | -1507.11% | -949.19% | -2008300% | 2469.66% | -303.7% | 144.72% |
Regulatory Subsidy Dependency
As reported in recent financial filings, the OCF/NI ratio has fluctuated wildly, reaching 4.33 in 2026Q1, which suggests that reported net income is a poor proxy for the actual cash-generating capacity of the underlying Alaskan telecommunications operations due to significant non-cash accounting distortions.
The extreme divergence between net income and operating cash flow indicates that non-operating items, likely related to the Liberty corporate structure, frequently obscure the core business performance. Investors should monitor this disconnect, as the reliance on non-cash adjustments makes it difficult to ascertain the true cash-conversion efficiency of the operating assets.
Based on the provided cash flow data, free cash flow margins have shown significant instability, swinging from a high of 20.3% in 2025Q2 to a negative 2.3% by 2025Q4, highlighting the difficulty in maintaining consistent cash generation amidst a challenging competitive and regulatory environment.
The erratic FCF trajectory suggests that the company's ability to self-fund its infrastructure requirements is highly sensitive to quarterly fluctuations in working capital and subsidy timing. This inconsistency warrants caution, as it implies that the business may struggle to sustain positive free cash flow if revenue pressures continue to mount.
According to historical data, the company maintains a high capital intensity, with CapEx/Revenue ratios consistently exceeding 20% in recent quarters, which indicates that the maintenance of remote Alaskan infrastructure requires a substantial and ongoing commitment of financial resources to prevent service degradation.
The persistent level of capital expenditure relative to revenue suggests that the company is in a constant state of reinvestment, which limits the amount of cash available for other corporate purposes. This high capital burden appears to be a structural necessity of operating in extreme environments, potentially constraining future financial flexibility.
As evidenced by the $154.0M working capital outflow in 2025Q4, the company's cash flow is subject to significant, lumpy movements in current assets and liabilities, which often disrupt the predictability of quarterly cash generation and complicate short-term liquidity management for the firm.
These large swings in working capital may reflect the timing of government subsidy receipts or the cyclical nature of business contract renewals. The lack of stability in these flows suggests that the company's cash position is vulnerable to timing mismatches that could temporarily impair its ability to meet operational obligations.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying GLIBA stock.
GCI Liberty, Inc. (GLIBA) generated $370.0M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
GCI Liberty, Inc. (GLIBA) generated $122.0M 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.
GCI Liberty, Inc. (GLIBA) spent $248.0M on capital expenditures in 2025. CapEx represents the cash invested in physical assets like property, plant, and equipment to maintain or grow the business.