Free cash flow has deteriorated significantly, with quarterly outflows accelerating to $313.2 million in 2026Q1 due to intensive capital expenditures.
| Metric | TTM | Dec'25 | Dec'24 | Dec'23 | Dec'22 | Dec'21 | Dec'20 | Dec'19 | Dec'18 | Dec'17 | Sep'15 | Sep'14 | Sep'13 | Sep'12 | Sep'11 | Sep'10 | Sep'09 | Sep'08 | Sep'07 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | -61.19M | -62.29M | -13.01M | -39.53M | -51.99M | -42.94M | -20.25M | -17.65M | -18.54M | -12.91M | -6.71M | -5.42M | -4.42M | -7.34M | -3.67M | -2.8M | -1.92M | -507.93K | -63.49K |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | -382.9% | -301.03% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Operating CF Growth % | 1544.84% | -378.7% | 67.08% | 23.98% | -21.1% | -112.03% | -14.75% | 4.84% | -43.6% | -92.37% | -23.83% | -22.7% | 39.81% | -100.12% | -30.89% | -45.86% | -278.22% | -699.95% | - |
| Net Income | -111.79M | -86.26M | -42.63M | -5.09M | -67.8M | -47.03M | -25.22M | 51.66M | -28.27M | -33.25M | -7.55M | -1.3M | 466K | -8.09M | -5.37M | -5.09M | -3.2M | -2.03M | -63.49K |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 1.1M | 1.05M | 992K | 827K | 1.52M | 658K | 483K | 1.06M | 1.36M | 939K | 151K | 22K | 9K | 6K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 5.17M | 6.21M | 5.17M | 5.58M | 2.35M | 1.8M | 1.62M | 4.13M | 4.73M | 11.57M | 567K | 1.15M | 225K | 873K | 2.07M | 2.21M | 1.5M | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -77.81M | 2.32M | 9.38M | 284K | -5.19M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 6.26M | 10.72M | 5.83M | -32.51M | 3.08M | -392K | 659K | 744K | 987K | 291K | 697K | -47K | -5.18M | 0 | -170.57K | 135.84K | -186.58K | 1.49M | 0 |
| Working Capital Changes | 1.42M | 6M | 17.64M | -8.33M | 8.85M | 2.03M | 2.21M | 2.57M | 320K | -1.84M | -857K | -64K | 59K | -132K | -201.41K | -65.72K | -28.47K | 30.04K | 0 |
| Change in Receivables | -1.67M | -1.15M | 3.73M | -4.26M | -423K | -525K | 175K | 2.01M | -264K | -596K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Inventory | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 343K | 443K | -2.09M | -382K | -40K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Payables | 13.63M | 13.69M | -22K | -1.31M | 9.27M | 2.55M | 2.03M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Investing | -942.29M | -765.04M | -177.69M | -188.94M | -20.64M | 2.25M | -661K | -8.36M | -10.67M | -25.55M | -4.29M | -11.6M | -4.04M | -477K | -7.9M | -5.43M | -2.22M | -2.25M | -220.47K |
| Capital Expenditures | -942.29M | -765.04M | -177.69M | -188.94M | -5.63M | -1.93M | -667K | -29.85M | -2M | -1.69M | -4.36M | -11.76M | -4.04M | -477K | -7.9M | -5.43M | -2.22M | -2.25M | 0 |
| CapEx % of Revenue | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 41.34% | 39.28% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Acquisitions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.02M | -11.34M | -13.7M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.18M | 6K | 22.51M | 2.67M | -10.17M | 66K | -150K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -220.47K |
| Cash from Financing | 1.76B | 1.14B | 589.08M | 423.64M | 72.34M | 41.11M | 21.2M | 67.91M | 15.78M | 85.42M | 9.98M | 13.02M | 16.75M | 0 | 8.05M | 16.28M | 5.3M | 7.69M | 283.96K |
| Debt Issued (Net) | 869.27M | 647.66M | -836K | -34K | -374K | 23.25M | 13.49M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equity Issued (Net) | 651.6M | 408.2M | 262.15M | 320.15M | 72.71M | 20.11M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dividends Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.03M | -295.84K | 0 | 0 |
| Other Financing | 238.34M | 81.83M | 327.76M | 103.52M | 0 | -2.26M | 7.71M | 67.91M | 15.78M | 85.42M | 9.98M | 13.02M | 16.75M | 0 | 8.05M | 16.28M | 5.3M | 7.69M | 283.96K |
| Net Change in Cash | 766.34M | 311.44M | 398.37M | 195.17M | -297K | 421K | 294K | 42.01M | -13.79M | 47.34M | -1.61M | -4.2M | 8.01M | -7.38M | -3.35M | 7.92M | 1.35M | 4.83M | -1 |
| Free Cash Flow | -1.01B | -840.73M | -190.71M | -228.47M | -57.62M | -44.87M | -20.92M | -47.5M | -20.55M | -14.6M | -11.07M | -17.18M | -8.46M | -7.82M | -11.57M | -8.23M | -4.14M | -2.75M | -63.49K |
| FCF Margin % | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | -424.24% | -340.3% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| FCF Growth % | -262.13% | -340.85% | 16.53% | -296.51% | -28.41% | -114.52% | 55.96% | -131.17% | -40.74% | -31.84% | 35.54% | -102.98% | -8.26% | 32.45% | -40.57% | -98.98% | -50.29% | -4235.7% | - |
| FCF per Share | -2.87 | -3.45 | -0.95 | -1.42 | -0.43 | -0.34 | -0.16 | -0.52 | -0.23 | -0.19 | -0.42 | -0.79 | -0.42 | -0.39 | -0.63 | -0.50 | -0.37 | -0.27 | -0.01 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | 9.07x | 0.51x | 0.31x | 7.77x | 0.77x | 0.91x | 0.76x | -0.34x | 0.66x | 0.39x | 0.89x | 4.17x | -9.48x | 0.91x | 0.68x | 0.55x | 0.60x | 0.25x | 1.00x |
| Interest Paid | 0 | 0 | 268K | 168K | 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 |
Commercial scale execution risk
As reported in financial statements, the relationship between net income and operating cash flow is highly erratic, with the 2025Q4 period showing a $98.7 million net income figure that contrasts sharply with a $15.0 million operating cash outflow, highlighting significant non-cash accounting distortions.
The divergence between reported net income and operating cash flow suggests that earnings are currently driven by non-operating derivative revaluations rather than core operational performance. Investors should monitor this disconnect, as it implies that the company's bottom line provides little insight into the actual cash burn required to sustain development activities.
Based on recent SEC filings, the company's free cash flow trajectory has deteriorated significantly, with quarterly outflows accelerating from $47.8 million in 2024Q1 to a peak of $313.2 million in 2026Q1, reflecting the massive capital intensity required for the Thacker Pass project development.
The consistent and deepening negative free cash flow trend underscores the company's reliance on external financing to bridge the gap until production commences. This trajectory warrants further investigation into the company's liquidity runway, as the current rate of cash consumption is clearly outpacing internal resource generation.
According to the provided cash flow data, capital expenditures have surged to $295.2 million in 2026Q1, illustrating that the firm is in a heavy investment phase where nearly all cash outflows are directed toward long-term asset construction rather than maintenance of existing operations.
This level of capital intensity is typical for a pre-revenue developer, yet it highlights the extreme sensitivity of the firm's valuation to construction delays or cost overruns. The absence of revenue means that every dollar of CAPEX represents a direct increase in the company's total funding requirement.
As indicated by the quarterly cash flow statements, working capital changes have been highly inconsistent, swinging from a $19.5 million inflow in 2025Q4 to a $15.0 million outflow in 2026Q1, which may indicate erratic timing in vendor payments or project-related inventory management.
The lack of a stable working capital cycle suggests that the company is still refining its operational processes and supply chain logistics. Investors should monitor these fluctuations, as they may indicate potential friction in the procurement of critical reagents and materials needed for the upcoming production phase.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying LAC stock.
Lithium Americas Corp. (LAC) generated $-62.3M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Lithium Americas Corp. (LAC) reported negative free cash flow of $840.7M in 2025, indicating capital requirements exceeded cash from operations.
Lithium Americas Corp. (LAC) spent $765.0M on capital expenditures in 2025. CapEx represents the cash invested in physical assets like property, plant, and equipment to maintain or grow the business.