Cash flow generation remains erratic, highlighted by a 2026Q1 FFO/NI ratio of -7.81 and a dividend payout that consumes the majority of the $35.0 million in quarterly AFFO.
| 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 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 203.3M | 222.79M | 299.47M | 143.74M | 181.82M | 192.49M | 176.85M | 146M | 144.6M | 130.95M | 114.39M | 102.16M | -9.69M | -3.65M | -418K |
| Operating CF Growth % | -94.52% | -25.61% | 108.34% | -20.94% | -5.54% | 8.84% | 21.13% | 0.97% | 10.42% | 14.48% | 11.98% | 1153.9% | -165.78% | -772.49% | - |
| Operating CF / Revenue % | 43.06% | 44.75% | 37.2% | 27.91% | 47.99% | 49.2% | 53.57% | 47.68% | 51.24% | 50.5% | 53.41% | 49.75% | -10.38% | -92.31% | -1393.33% |
| Net Income | -41.16M | -225.46M | -131.57M | -211.91M | 12.02M | 11.37M | 10.78M | 46.48M | 10.9M | 23.59M | 47.58M | -2.02M | -53.59M | -6.99M | -413K |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 182.43M | 230.7M | 369.08M | 233.74M | 158.86M | 167.68M | 142.78M | 131.17M | 125.17M | 118.34M | 96.97M | 92.46M | 41.5M | 2.11M | 30K |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 13.46M | 12.51M | 8.93M | 39.19M | 12.07M | 11.03M | 10.06M | 9.53M | 2.65M | -3.79M | 3.75M | 2.35M | 106K | 24K | 11K |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 71.56M | 221.08M | 84.12M | 75.12M | 12.35M | -16.93M | 8.65M | -5.28M | 5.8M | 3.21M | -32.54M | -2.81M | 1M | 48K | 1K |
| Working Capital Changes | -1.13M | -16.05M | -31.51M | 7.6M | -13.48M | 8.43M | 4.58M | -22.6M | 2.34M | -10.94M | -2.71M | 12.63M | 3.39M | 1.16M | -47K |
| Cash from Investing | 974.15M | 1.8B | 759.9M | -551.9M | -16.54M | -436.57M | -470.53M | -294.48M | -457.95M | -78.98M | 134.15M | -222.28M | -1.52B | -111.5M | -1.36M |
| Acquisitions (Net) | 0 | 0 | 0 | -451.38M | 0 | 477.39M | 0 | 565.53M | 0 | 0 | 18.98M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Purchase of Investments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -477.39M | 0 | -565.53M | -480.21M | -98.78M | -4.18M | -223.07M | -490K | 0 | 0 |
| Sale of Investments | 0 | 0 | 803.41M | 0 | 0 | 48.75M | 0 | 288.4M | 23.72M | 10.63M | 107.79M | 10.52M | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Investing | 987.96M | 1.84B | 2.12M | -53.22M | 13.4M | -477.39M | -464.14M | -565.53M | -480.21M | -86.48M | 7.58M | -222.3M | -1.51B | -111.5M | -1.36M |
| Cash from Financing | -1.25B | -2.06B | -995.36M | 469.01M | -149.74M | 218.32M | 140.68M | 300M | 312.19M | -30.66M | -240.88M | 121.6M | 1.58B | 124.21M | 2.03M |
| Dividends Paid | -202.09M | -235.8M | -316.18M | -233.23M | -187.14M | -176.05M | -172.49M | -161.51M | -157.26M | -143.12M | -120.39M | -97.73M | -35.41M | -1.77M | -1K |
| Common Dividends | -128.12M | -192.06M | -272.44M | -206.99M | -166.84M | -156.22M | -155.06M | -150.78M | -147.44M | -142.74M | -120.39M | -97.73M | -35.41M | -1.77M | -1K |
| Debt Issuance (Net) | -3M | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 0 | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | -102.67M | -122.08M | -1.04M | -1.19M | -686K | -156K | -470K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -127.31M | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Financing | -141.84M | -15.29M | -7.74M | -10.09M | -10.52M | -17.47M | -14.68M | -19.61M | 160.36M | -10.21M | 178K | -3.94M | -190.63M | -22.89M | -3K |
| Net Change in Cash | -68.73M | -30.14M | 61.81M | 57.95M | 11.13M | -32.38M | -148.59M | 170.59M | -4.03M | 30.4M | -107K | 5.25M | 53.18M | 11.24M | 262K |
| Exchange Rate Effect | 6.96M | 5.81M | -2.21M | -2.9M | -4.41M | -6.63M | 4.4M | 19.07M | -2.88M | 9.08M | -7.77M | 3.77M | -2.85M | 2.18M | 10K |
| Cash at Beginning | 194.06M | 224.21M | 162.4M | 104.44M | 93.31M | 125.69M | 274.29M | 103.69M | 107.73M | 77.33M | 69.94M | 64.68M | 11.5M | 262K | 0 |
| Cash at End | 137.46M | 194.06M | 224.21M | 162.4M | 104.44M | 93.31M | 125.69M | 274.29M | 103.69M | 107.73M | 69.83M | 69.94M | 64.68M | 11.5M | 262K |
| Free Cash Flow | 178.09M | 189.4M | 253.84M | 96.45M | 151.88M | 184.57M | 170.47M | 128.65M | 143.14M | 127.84M | 114.19M | 91.66M | -18.53M | -3.65M | -418K |
| FCF Growth % | -18.69% | -25.39% | 163.19% | -36.5% | -17.71% | 8.27% | 32.5% | -10.12% | 11.97% | 11.95% | 24.58% | 594.63% | -408.12% | -772.49% | - |
| FCF / Revenue % | 37.72% | 38.04% | 31.53% | 18.73% | 40.09% | 47.18% | 51.64% | 42.01% | 50.72% | 49.3% | 53.32% | 44.64% | -19.84% | -92.31% | -1393.33% |
Dividend coverage and leverage
Based on reported financial statements, GNL's dividend payout ratio has fluctuated significantly, with the 2026Q1 dividend coverage ratio of 1.13x suggesting that while the distribution is currently supported by AFFO, the margin of safety remains thin given the historical volatility in distributable cash flow generation.
The inconsistency in AFFO generation, which saw negative figures in 2025, implies that the dividend is vulnerable to any further operational disruptions or unexpected capital requirements. Investors should monitor whether the current payout level is sustainable without relying on external financing, as the buffer between AFFO and dividends paid remains insufficient to absorb prolonged portfolio underperformance.
According to recent SEC filings, the relationship between FFO and GAAP operating cash flow is highly erratic, as evidenced by the 2026Q1 FFO/NI ratio of -7.81, which underscores the disconnect between accounting earnings and the actual cash generated by the underlying real estate portfolio.
The wide variance between GAAP operating cash flow and FFO suggests that non-cash adjustments and merger-related accounting noise continue to obscure the true cash-generating capacity of the assets. This divergence warrants further investigation into whether the reported FFO accurately reflects the recurring cash flow available to shareholders or if it is being artificially inflated by non-recurring items.
As reported in financial statements, GNL's recurring capital expenditures, including tenant improvements and leasing commissions, have remained a persistent drag on cash flow, with quarterly outflows frequently exceeding $10 million during the 2024 fiscal year, thereby reducing the net cash available for distribution or debt reduction.
The necessity of these capital outlays suggests that the portfolio requires ongoing investment to maintain occupancy, particularly within the office segment where tenant retention is critical. If these maintenance costs continue to scale alongside the expanded portfolio, it may further constrain the company's ability to deleverage and improve its overall financial health.
Based on GNL's reported figures, the persistent gap between GAAP net income and FFO highlights the significant distortion caused by non-cash depreciation charges, which have historically masked the underlying cash flow reality of the company's diversified industrial and retail asset base throughout the recent merger integration period.
The reliance on FFO as a primary performance metric is necessary given the GAAP net losses, yet it also highlights the company's sensitivity to asset valuation adjustments. Analysts should interpret these figures with caution, as the high depreciation expense may be concealing the true economic cost of maintaining an aging or secondary-market portfolio.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying GNL stock.
Global Net Lease, Inc. (GNL) generated $222.8M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Global Net Lease, Inc. (GNL) generated $189.4M 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.
Global Net Lease, Inc. (GNL) spent $33.4M 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, Global Net Lease, Inc. (GNL) returned $235.8M to shareholders via cash dividends and spent $122.1M on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.