Free cash flow generation remains highly erratic, with margins fluctuating from -1.0% in 2023Q4 to a peak of 39.9% in 2026Q1, largely driven by volatile working capital shifts.
| Metric | TTM | Jan'26 | Jan'25 | Jan'24 | Jan'23 | Jan'22 | Jan'21 | Jan'20 | Jan'19 | Jan'18 | Jan'17 | Jan'16 | Jan'15 | Jan'14 | Jan'13 | Jan'12 | Jan'11 | Jan'10 | Jan'09 | Jan'08 | Jan'07 | Jan'06 | Jan'05 | Jan'04 | Jan'03 | Jan'02 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 759.9M | 614.8M | 145.7M | -203.7M | 108.2M | -434.3M | 123.7M | -414.5M | 325.1M | 434.9M | 537.1M | 656.8M | 480.5M | 762.7M | 610.2M | 641.8M | 591.2M | 644.2M | 549.24M | 502.73M | 423.5M | 291.42M | 145.99M | 71.28M | 93.97M | 78.12M |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | 16.94% | 3.81% | -3.86% | 1.83% | -7.23% | 2.43% | -6.41% | 3.92% | 5.09% | 6.74% | 7.01% | 5.17% | 8.44% | 6.87% | 6.72% | 6.24% | 7.1% | 6.24% | 7.09% | 7.96% | 9.43% | 7.92% | 4.51% | 6.95% | 6.97% |
| Operating CF Growth % | 518.24% | 321.96% | 171.53% | -288.26% | 124.91% | -451.09% | 129.84% | -227.5% | -25.25% | -19.03% | -18.22% | 36.69% | -37% | 24.99% | -4.92% | 8.56% | -8.23% | 17.29% | 9.25% | 18.71% | 45.33% | 99.62% | 104.82% | -24.15% | 20.29% | - |
| Net Income | 763.2M | 418.4M | 131.3M | 6.7M | -313.1M | -381.3M | -215.3M | -470.9M | -673M | 34.7M | 353.2M | 402.8M | 393.1M | 354.2M | -269.8M | 338.5M | 406.8M | 375.7M | 398.28M | 288.29M | 158.25M | 100.78M | 60.93M | 63.47M | 52.4M | 6.96M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 18.4M | 19.5M | 38.9M | 56.2M | 61.7M | 77.2M | 80.7M | 96.2M | 126.9M | 123.5M | 166.7M | 158.2M | 156.5M | 169.2M | 178.9M | 188.6M | 176.8M | 164.1M | 146.36M | 138.11M | 116.29M | 68.2M | 37.45M | 29.8M | 23.4M | 30.3M |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 22M | 1.6M | 16.4M | 22.2M | 40.1M | 30.5M | 7.9M | 8.9M | 10.7M | 25.6M | 17.8M | 29.9M | 21.5M | 19.4M | 19.6M | 18.8M | 29.6M | 37.8M | 35.35M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | -5.3M | -66.7M | -1.8M | -100K | -2.6M | -16.3M | 80.3M | 61.4M | -4.1M | -107.9M | -37.2M | -1.5M | 9.2M | -2.7M | -58.2M | -25.2M | 38.2M | -1.21M | -24.7M | -13.15M | -3.08M | -8.22M | 4.75M | 5.71M | 4.71M | 319K |
| Other Non-Cash Items | -40.9M | 243M | 3.8M | 7.1M | 33.2M | 26.8M | -10.9M | 400.7M | 879.3M | 536.5M | 60.5M | -800K | -14.9M | 38M | 709.8M | 146M | 14.3M | 66.31M | 7.82M | 13.12M | 82.87M | 50.86M | 30.17M | 23.79M | 17.01M | 1.38M |
| Working Capital Changes | 2.1M | 600K | -42.9M | -295.8M | 288.9M | -171.2M | 181M | -510.8M | -14.7M | -177.5M | -23.9M | 68.2M | -84.9M | 184.6M | 29.9M | -4M | -81.7M | 1.5M | -42.13M | 76.36M | 69.17M | 79.79M | 12.69M | -51.5M | -3.55M | 39.16M |
| Change in Receivables | -22.7M | 6M | 28.9M | 65M | -16.8M | -38.4M | 39.8M | -10.9M | -34.4M | 35.7M | -43.9M | -58.1M | -44.3M | -1.4M | -8.1M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Inventory | 6.1M | 12.6M | 94.5M | 39.9M | 229.6M | -329.6M | 282.4M | 361.1M | 12.6M | -197.2M | 14.7M | -49.2M | -24.8M | -86.9M | -63.8M | 64.3M | -227.2M | 29.6M | -209.44M | -177.52M | -118.42M | -91.36M | -10.58M | -72.71M | -37.09M | -29.5M |
| Change in Payables | -68.1M | 800K | -179.5M | -397.7M | -66.2M | 224.4M | -78.6M | -792.8M | 0 | 0 | 64.1M | 91.4M | 59.4M | 0 | 48.1M | 0 | 0 | -85.01M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Investing | -2.44B | -3.23B | 265.1M | -33.2M | -222.7M | -64.8M | 36.9M | -60.9M | 635.5M | -60.6M | -577.4M | -444.6M | -235.9M | -207.5M | -152.7M | -201.6M | -240.1M | -187.2M | -820.87M | -174.51M | -125.94M | -996.81M | -98.37M | -67.51M | -41.42M | -20.48M |
| Capital Expenditures | -519.1M | -517.5M | -16.1M | -34.9M | -55.9M | -62M | -60M | -78.5M | -93.7M | -113.4M | -142.7M | -173.2M | -159.6M | -125.6M | -139.6M | -165.1M | -197.6M | -163.8M | -183.19M | -175.57M | -133.93M | -110.7M | -98.31M | -64.48M | -40.63M | -20.46M |
| CapEx % of Revenue | 13.91% | 14.26% | 0.42% | 0.66% | 0.94% | 1.03% | 1.18% | 1.21% | 1.13% | 1.33% | 1.79% | 1.85% | 1.72% | 1.39% | 1.57% | 1.73% | 2.09% | 1.8% | 2.08% | 2.47% | 2.52% | 3.58% | 5.33% | 4.08% | 3% | 1.83% |
| Acquisitions | 800K | -100K | 7M | 13.1M | 55.9M | 0 | 5.2M | 5.2M | 727.9M | 50M | -441.2M | -267.5M | -77.3M | -77.4M | -1.5M | -30.1M | -38.1M | -8.4M | -630.71M | 1.06M | -11.3M | -886.12M | -62K | -3.03M | 0 | 0 |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | -1.45B | -16.9M | 18.8M | 2.8M | 26.6M | -2.8M | 91.7M | 12.4M | 1.3M | 2.8M | 6.5M | -3.9M | 1M | -4.5M | -11.6M | -6.4M | -4.4M | -15M | -6.97M | 19.3M | 19.3M | -825K | -825K | -522K | -788K | -23K |
| Cash from Financing | 2.67B | 4.15B | 3.44B | -11.6M | -7.9M | 1.2B | -55.4M | -644.7M | -174.7M | -202.5M | 238.7M | -346.2M | -131.2M | -350.6M | -498.5M | -492.6M | -555.6M | -154.4M | 29.62M | -131.84M | -46.66M | 935.68M | -81.61M | -30.93M | 98.73M | 14.47M |
| Debt Issued (Net) | 2.69B | 4.15B | -10.8M | -10.7M | -3.9M | -332.4M | -58.2M | -404.5M | -12.2M | -21.8M | 474.6M | -2.2M | 350M | -31.8M | 0 | -250M | -200M | -100M | -30M | -282.17M | -121.61M | 928.34M | 36.52M | -2.3M | -250M | 14.47M |
| Equity Issued (Net) | -2M | 200K | 3.45B | 0 | 0 | 1.67B | 0 | -198.7M | -5.1M | -22M | -71.5M | -194.3M | -330.4M | -200.3M | -397.8M | -244M | -370.4M | -58.4M | 28.95M | 64.88M | 33.86M | 20.8M | -117.3M | -28.11M | 348.35M | 0 |
| Dividends Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -300K | -40.5M | -157.4M | -155.2M | -155.5M | -154.1M | -148.8M | -130.9M | -102M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -198.7M | -5.1M | -22M | -71.5M | -194.3M | -331.1M | -258.3M | -409.4M | -262.1M | -381.2M | -58.4M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -126.78M | -35.01M | 0 | 0 |
| Other Financing | -22.6M | 0 | 0 | -900K | -4M | -139.8M | 3.1M | -1M | -5.1M | -3.5M | -8.9M | 4.4M | -2M | 12.4M | 1.3M | 1.4M | 14.8M | 4M | 30.67M | 85.45M | 41.1M | -13.47M | -825K | -522K | 377K | 0 |
| Net Change in Cash | 987.7M | 1.55B | 3.85B | -257.1M | -123.9M | 684.9M | 121.5M | -1.13B | 771.4M | 194.4M | 217.3M | -159.7M | 73.9M | 161.8M | -41.4M | -38.7M | -194.6M | 327.3M | -279.27M | 205.01M | 250.81M | 230.6M | -33.91M | -27.13M | 151.28M | 72.11M |
| Free Cash Flow | 740.8M | 597.3M | 129.6M | -238.6M | 52.3M | -496.3M | 63.7M | -493M | 231.4M | 321.5M | 394.4M | 483.6M | 320.9M | 637.1M | 470.6M | 476.7M | 393.6M | 480.4M | 366.04M | 327.16M | 289.57M | 180.72M | 47.68M | 6.79M | 53.34M | 57.66M |
| FCF Margin % | 19.85% | 16.46% | 3.39% | -4.53% | 0.88% | -8.26% | 1.25% | -7.62% | 2.79% | 3.76% | 4.95% | 5.16% | 3.45% | 7.05% | 5.3% | 4.99% | 4.15% | 5.29% | 4.16% | 4.61% | 5.44% | 5.85% | 2.59% | 0.43% | 3.94% | 5.14% |
| FCF Growth % | 70.73% | 360.88% | 154.32% | -556.21% | 110.54% | -879.12% | 112.92% | -313.05% | -28.02% | -18.48% | -18.45% | 50.7% | -49.63% | 35.38% | -1.28% | 21.11% | -18.07% | 31.24% | 11.89% | 12.98% | 60.23% | 279.02% | 601.93% | -87.27% | -7.49% | - |
| FCF per Share | 1.25 | 1.09 | 0.33 | -0.78 | 0.17 | -1.71 | 0.25 | -1.41 | 0.57 | 0.79 | 0.95 | 1.13 | 0.71 | 1.34 | 0.93 | 0.85 | 0.64 | 0.72 | 0.55 | 0.50 | 0.46 | 0.36 | 0.10 | 0.01 | 0.11 | 0.18 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | 0.97x | 1.47x | 1.11x | -30.40x | -0.35x | 1.14x | -0.57x | 0.88x | -0.48x | 12.53x | 1.52x | 1.63x | 1.22x | 2.15x | -2.26x | 1.89x | 1.45x | 1.71x | 1.38x | 1.74x | 2.68x | 2.89x | 2.40x | 1.12x | 1.79x | 11.22x |
| Interest Paid | 0 | 0 | 1.2M | 3.2M | 2.6M | 18.3M | 0 | 34.3M | 49.7M | 52.5M | 38M | 21.8M | 2.7M | 2.7M | 2.7M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Taxes Paid | 0 | 0 | 6.2M | 6.2M | 13.5M | 21.4M | 0 | 51.1M | 114.1M | 160.5M | 230.1M | 122.2M | 265.9M | 238M | 246.1M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Core retail revenue erosion
According to the provided cash flow data, the relationship between net income and operating cash flow is highly erratic, with OCF/NI ratios swinging from a low of -0.17 in 2023Q4 to a high of 4.64 in 2024Q2, indicating significant volatility in underlying cash generation quality.
The wide variance in the conversion ratio suggests that reported net income is heavily influenced by non-cash items or timing differences rather than consistent operational performance. Investors should monitor this divergence, as it implies that the company's accounting earnings may not reliably reflect the actual cash-generating capacity of the retail business.
As reported in financial statements, free cash flow margins have fluctuated wildly, reaching a peak of 39.9% in 2026Q1 while dipping into negative territory in 2023Q4, demonstrating that the company's ability to generate surplus cash remains tethered to inconsistent seasonal cycles and non-operating income streams.
The lack of a stable FCF trajectory highlights the difficulty in forecasting cash availability for future strategic initiatives. This inconsistency suggests that the core retail operations are struggling to maintain a predictable cash flow profile, making the enterprise increasingly dependent on its existing cash reserves.
Based on GME's reported figures, working capital changes have been a primary driver of cash flow volatility, with a notable $172.1 million inflow in 2026Q1 contrasting sharply with the $110.0 million outflow observed in 2023Q4, reflecting aggressive inventory and payables management strategies.
These significant swings in working capital suggest that management is actively utilizing inventory and accounts payable as levers to manage short-term liquidity. Such reliance on working capital adjustments may indicate an attempt to smooth out cash flow fluctuations caused by the underlying contraction in retail sales.
As indicated by recent SEC filings, capital expenditure remains exceptionally low, with CapEx/Revenue ratios consistently hovering near 0.5%—excluding the 2025Q4 outlier—which suggests a strategic decision to minimize investment in the company's aging physical store infrastructure and prioritize capital preservation over growth.
The consistently low capital intensity implies that the company is not aggressively reinvesting in its retail network, which may accelerate the obsolescence of its physical locations. This approach appears to prioritize the maintenance of a liquid balance sheet over the long-term modernization of the core business model.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying GME stock.
GameStop Corp. (GME) generated $614.8M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
GameStop Corp. (GME) generated $597.3M 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.
GameStop Corp. (GME) spent $517.5M on capital expenditures in 2025. CapEx represents the cash invested in physical assets like property, plant, and equipment to maintain or grow the business.