A persistent disconnect exists between earnings and cash generation, evidenced by a $65.3M net income in 2026Q2 failing to prevent a negative $1.2M operating cash flow.
| Metric | TTM | Sep'25 | 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 | Sep'98 | Sep'97 | Sep'96 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | -3.54M | -2.32M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -52.56K | 9.47K | 21.11M | 118.3M | 1.9M | 13M | 11.8M | -3.7M | -2.1M | -3.2M | -3.2M | -2.4M | -2.6M | -1.9M | -1.7M | -1.5M | -1.5M |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | -2.69% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | -6% | 1.83% | 984.15% | 20754.39% | 104.4% | 2826.09% | 706.59% | -128.47% | -91.3% | -359.55% | -1000% | -393.44% | -276.6% | -107.34% | -1214.29% | -468.75% | -357.14% |
| Operating CF Growth % | -16.71% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 100% | -654.94% | -99.96% | -82.16% | 6126.32% | -85.38% | 10.17% | 418.92% | -76.19% | 34.38% | 0% | -33.33% | 7.69% | -36.84% | -11.76% | -13.33% | 0% | - |
| Net Income | 139.48M | 85.59M | 22.35M | -104.6K | 64.53K | 123.05K | -70.48K | 28.66K | 68.56K | -11.91K | 40.5K | 89.27K | 84.64K | 77.63M | 37.47M | 10.19M | -21.67M | 60.25M | 50.51M | -21.44M | 44.76M | 7.16M | 38.62M | -50.41M | -95.03M | -30.38M | 15.19M | 21.81M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 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 | 0 | 0 |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 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 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | 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 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | -165.59M | -87.71M | -22.35M | 104.6K | -64.53K | -123.05K | 70.48K | -28.66K | -68.56K | 11.91K | -40.5K | -141.77K | -76.12K | -56.53M | -37.47M | -10.19M | 21.67M | -60.25M | -50.51M | 21.44M | -44.76M | -7.16M | -38.62M | 50.41M | 95.03M | 30.38M | -15.19M | -21.81M |
| Working Capital Changes | -64.37K | -203.41K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -65 | 948 | -24.83K | 118.3M | 1.9M | 13M | 11.8M | -3.7M | -2.1M | -3.2M | -3.2M | -2.4M | -2.6M | -1.9M | -1.7M | -1.5M | -1.5M |
| Change in Receivables | 43.55K | 59.23K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -60 | -36 | -24.83K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Inventory | 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 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Payables | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -100K | 0 | 0 | 4.2M | 11.2M | -13.3M | -2.1M | 1.5M | -1.5M | 300K | 1.4M | 0 | 0 | 900K | 0 | 0 | -200K |
| Cash from Investing | 35.39M | 25.21M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14.3M | -58.2M | 9.8M | 8.5M | 9.3M | 9.6M | 10.2M | 2M | 7.8M | 500K |
| Capital Expenditures | 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 | 0 | 0 |
| CapEx % of Revenue | 0% | 0% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Acquisitions | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Investments | 561.89M | 514.12M | 412.77M | 414.08M | 534.01M | 488.94M | 381.47M | 466.45M | 466.98M | 9.85M | 443.83M | 440.09M | 295.35M | 216.34M | 170M | 255.4M | 255.9M | 277.9M | 308.8M | 269.4M | 227.7M | 191.8M | 191.7M | 156.8M | 214M | 101.3M | 132.1M | 123.5M |
| Other Investing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14.3M | -58.2M | 9.8M | 8.5M | 9.3M | 9.6M | 10.2M | 2M | 7.8M | 500K |
| Cash from Financing | -48.23M | -31.63M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52.53K | -9.44K | -21.1M | -118.3M | -7.3M | -7.6M | -11.8M | -10.6M | 60.3M | -7.3M | -5.7M | -5.9M | -7.2M | -8.1M | -1.6M | -6.3M | 0 |
| Debt Issued (Net) | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Equity Issued (Net) | 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 | 0 | 0 |
| Dividends Paid | -49.8M | -31.63M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -13.96K | -9.44K | -10.23M | -11.2M | -3.6M | -7.6M | -11.8M | -10.6M | -11.1M | -7.3M | -5.7M | -5.9M | -7.2M | -8.1M | -1.6M | -6.3M | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -10.88M | -107.1M | -3.8M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 71.4M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Financing | 1.57M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 66.49K | 0 | -10.88M | -107.1M | -3.7M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 71.4M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Net Change in Cash | 32 | 75.54K | 32 | -545 | 990 | 0 | 1.12M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -34 | 36 | 117 | 0 | -5.4M | 5.4M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -700K | -400K | 1M | -200K | 300K | -1.3M | -100K | -1M |
| Free Cash Flow | -3.54M | -2.32M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -52.56K | 9.47K | 21.11M | 118.3M | 1.9M | 13M | 11.8M | -3.7M | -2.1M | -3.2M | -3.2M | -2.4M | -2.6M | -1.9M | -1.7M | -1.5M | -1.5M |
| FCF Margin % | -3.29% | -2.69% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | -6% | 1.83% | 984.15% | 20754.39% | 104.4% | 2826.09% | 706.59% | -128.47% | -91.3% | -359.55% | -1000% | -393.44% | -276.6% | -107.34% | -1214.29% | -468.75% | -357.14% |
| FCF Growth % | -99999900% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 100% | -654.94% | -99.96% | -82.16% | 6126.32% | -85.38% | 10.17% | 418.92% | -76.19% | 34.38% | 0% | -33.33% | 7.69% | -36.84% | -11.76% | -13.33% | 0% | - |
| FCF per Share | -0.12 | -0.08 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | -2.77 | 0.63 | 1462.72 | 8113.85 | 87.00 | 592.26 | 559.77 | -184.26 | -109.20 | -253.77 | -265.12 | -210.34 | -249.76 | -203.86 | -233.20 | -213.98 | -224.55 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | -0.03x | -0.03x | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | -0.00x | 0.00x | 0.27x | 3.16x | 0.19x | -0.60x | 0.20x | -0.07x | 0.10x | -0.07x | -0.45x | -0.06x | 0.05x | 0.02x | 0.06x | -0.10x | -0.07x |
| Interest Paid | 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 | 0 | 0 |
| Taxes Paid | 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 | 0 | 0 |
Portfolio Valuation Volatility
As reported in recent financial statements, HQL exhibits a persistent disconnect between net income and operating cash flow, with the fund reporting a net income of $65.3M in 2026Q2 while simultaneously generating a negative operating cash flow of $1.2M, highlighting significant quality of earnings concerns.
The stark divergence between accounting profits and cash reality suggests that HQL's reported net income is heavily reliant on unrealized valuation adjustments rather than cash-generative investment activity. Investors should monitor this gap, as it implies that the fund's ability to fund distributions is not supported by its underlying operational cash flow.
Based on the provided quarterly data, HQL's free cash flow trajectory remains consistently negative, with the fund recording a $1.3M outflow in 2025Q4, indicating that the investment vehicle is currently unable to sustain its distribution policy through internally generated cash from its portfolio holdings.
The persistent negative FCF margins, such as the -11.0% observed in 2025Q4, suggest that the fund is likely liquidating assets or utilizing capital reserves to meet its managed distribution obligations. This trend warrants further investigation into whether the current payout structure is sustainable without eroding the long-term capital base.
According to recent SEC filings, HQL continues to prioritize shareholder distributions despite negative operating cash flows, evidenced by the $18.2M dividend payment in 2026Q2, which significantly exceeds the fund's ability to generate cash from its core investment portfolio during the same period.
The reliance on capital distributions in the absence of positive operating cash flow suggests a potential for destructive return of capital, which may impair the fund's future investment capacity. Analysts should scrutinize whether these distributions are being funded by the liquidation of core holdings rather than recurring investment income.
As indicated by the historical data, the cash flow statement for HQL appears to obscure the true economic impact of its investment activities, as the lack of consistent operating cash flow data prior to 2025 masks the underlying volatility of the fund's cash-generating capabilities.
The absence of meaningful operating cash flow data in earlier periods makes it difficult to assess the long-term sustainability of the fund's cash management. This lack of transparency suggests that investors should rely more heavily on NAV-based metrics rather than traditional cash flow analysis to gauge the fund's health.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying HQL stock.
Tekla Life Sciences Investors (HQL) generated $-2.3M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Tekla Life Sciences Investors (HQL) reported negative free cash flow of $2.3M in 2025, indicating capital requirements exceeded cash from operations.
Tekla Life Sciences Investors (HQL) 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, Tekla Life Sciences Investors (HQL) returned $31.6M to shareholders via cash dividends. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.