Cash flow generation is highly erratic, highlighted by a volatile OCF/NI ratio that reached -153.86 in 2026Q1, reflecting significant difficulty in converting earnings into actual liquidity.
| Metric | TTM | Sep'25 | Sep'24 | 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'00 | Sep'99 | Sep'98 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 26.82M | 28.67M | 20.61M | 26M | 14.58M | 29.19M | 28.79M | 19.05M | 11.82M | 7.87M | 6.06M | -1.02M | -5.19M | -1.81M | 28.98K | -4.32M | -3.94M | -2.96M | 1.33M | 1.77M | 2.42M | 6.99M | 4.82M | 4.76M | 1.16M | 3.88M | 960.3K | -691.78K | -1.77M |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | 6.44% | 4.36% | 7.32% | 5.08% | 10.69% | 15.02% | 9.86% | 5.92% | 5.18% | 7.68% | -3.05% | -71.5% | -76.75% | 0.94% | -105.82% | -92.96% | -22.05% | 5.69% | 6.7% | 7.57% | 28.69% | 8.43% | 15.48% | 8.75% | 25.72% | 6.06% | -8.07% | -210.5% |
| Operating CF Growth % | -984.69% | 39.1% | -20.71% | 78.29% | -50.05% | 1.38% | 51.11% | 61.14% | 50.16% | 29.9% | 694.69% | 80.38% | -187.79% | -6327.6% | 100.67% | -9.66% | -32.98% | -322.24% | -24.48% | -27.05% | -65.38% | 45.08% | 1.18% | 311.24% | -70.16% | 304.06% | 238.82% | 60.93% | - |
| Net Income | 3.87M | 22.74M | -26.68M | -102K | 24.74M | 31.02M | 10.66M | -4.01M | 5.92M | 6.5M | 17.95M | -14.71M | -4.66M | -5.75M | -1.58M | -5.5M | -7.46M | -22.59M | -1.53M | 1.75M | -1.05M | -618.16K | 8.96M | 7.92M | 3.7M | 1.81M | 2.85M | -4.14M | -1.94M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 21.71M | 21.8M | 24M | 19.06M | 16.4M | 6.58M | 7.32M | 5.67M | 6.05M | 5.03M | 3.13M | 1.05M | 490.26K | 264.11K | 259.98K | 563.83K | 873.57K | 2.3M | 3.98M | 3.06M | 3.03M | 2.72M | 2.09M | 814.96K | 581.29K | 603.43K | 616.66K | 179.5K | 64.3K |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 151K | 200K | 325K | 446K | 37K | 489K | 86K | 270K | 497.16K | 203.69K | 256.15K | 767.22K | 167.99K | 173.07K | 16.94K | 38.23K | 38.45K | 82.04K | 788.43B | 1.48T | 0 | 1.42M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | -2.41M | 0 | -6.88M | -2.85M | 6.02M | 3.82M | 4.07M | -1.65M | 4.18M | 3.52M | -12.52M | 3.8M | 278.22K | -293.88K | -44.99K | 6.24M | 8.52M | 4.81M | 285.17K | 1.56M | -1.48M | -1.31M | 2.14M | -1.47M | 490.1K | 268.56K | -645.21K | -20.48K | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | -2.6M | -27.76M | 23.83M | 9.14M | -4.98M | -5.02M | 59K | 4.52M | -5.76M | -744.15K | -1.12M | 6.22M | 433.62K | 3.52M | 614.36K | -5.49M | -7.46M | 11.16M | -788.43B | -1.48T | 348.79K | -785.26K | 234.61K | -473.88K | -267.68K | -1.73M | 2.44M | 3.33M | 61.74K |
| Working Capital Changes | 6.1M | 11.69M | 6.02M | 310K | -27.63M | -7.69M | 6.59M | 14.25M | 935.42K | -6.64M | -1.63M | 1.85M | -1.9M | 279.52K | 757.9K | -171.51K | 1.54M | 1.27M | -1.93M | -5.44M | 1.27M | 5.56M | -8.61M | -4.41M | -4.73M | 2.62M | -4.3M | -36.17K | 44.76K |
| Change in Receivables | 3.8M | 8.61M | 750K | 792K | -1.13M | -1.58M | -951K | 1.99M | -1.16M | -2.86M | -144.54K | -152.04K | -296.52K | 888.75K | 292.9K | -84.55K | 317.11K | 3.12M | -536.27B | -237.77B | 0 | 3.78M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Inventory | -412K | 5.2M | 4.55M | -9.54M | -20.21M | -8.49M | 12.31M | 7.16M | -4.95M | -3.81M | 1.58M | 1.91M | -2.98M | -126.07K | 53.24K | 0 | 1.38M | -1.32M | 595.82B | 955.92B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Payables | -282K | -2.96M | 1.79M | 556K | -2.38M | 2.77M | -9.39M | -444K | 4.97M | -2.34M | -134.14K | -885.92K | 1.44M | -493.31K | 416.45K | 0 | -195.24K | -529.03K | -59.55B | -718.15B | 0 | -554.84K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Investing | -6.64M | -7.69M | -21.48M | -63.88M | -40.04M | -17.42M | -8.78M | 100K | -9.39M | -53.73M | -722.83K | -5.57M | -1.36M | -141.48K | -530.68K | 99.74K | -286.23K | 6.49M | -1.82M | -2.18M | -1.09M | -435.81K | -2.19M | -2.8M | -244.08K | -165.67K | -211.8K | -106.51K | -478.41K |
| Capital Expenditures | -6.64M | -7.69M | -8.47M | -10M | -12.13M | -11.42M | -3.89M | -2.6M | -9.39M | -6.51M | -1.38M | -216.76K | -99.07K | -141.48K | -530.68K | -1.55K | -289.93K | -835.7K | -1.82M | -1.14M | -827.13K | -44.73K | -385.38K | -736.96K | -77.63K | -28.52K | -211.8K | -3.23M | -478.41K |
| CapEx % of Revenue | 1.52% | 1.73% | 1.79% | 2.82% | 4.23% | 4.18% | 2.03% | 1.35% | 4.71% | 4.28% | 1.74% | 0.65% | 1.36% | 6.02% | 17.28% | 0.04% | 6.84% | 6.22% | 7.76% | 4.34% | 2.59% | 0.18% | 0.67% | 2.4% | 0.59% | 0.19% | 1.34% | 37.69% | 56.88% |
| Acquisitions | 0 | 0 | -10.47M | -53.97M | -24.76M | -6M | -4.89M | 2.7M | 0 | -47.38M | -1.35M | -5.5M | -1.26M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4.11M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3.12M | 0 |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | 0 | 0 | -2.53M | 87K | 15K | 0 | 0 | 0 | -684K | 159.91K | 653.86K | 153.5K | 1.4K | -91.48K | -482.41K | 101.29K | 3.71K | 7.43M | -1.82T | 1.94T | -1.09M | -391.08K | -1.81M | -2.06M | -166.44K | -137.15K | 0 | 6.25M | 0 |
| Cash from Financing | -11.94M | -16.75M | 1.16M | 37.6M | 25.39M | -16.09M | -13.71M | -19.21M | -4.41M | 49.06M | -7.3M | 1.2M | 13.91M | 1.4M | 1.56M | 1.24M | -113.96K | -602.64K | -551.38K | -309.94K | -235.42K | -2.01M | -1.43M | -352K | -830.68K | -3.25M | -784.21K | 1.02M | 2.6M |
| Debt Issued (Net) | -11.11M | -16.22M | 2.05M | 38.72M | 36.19M | -16.05M | -11.91M | -18.1M | -2.54M | 50.91M | -4.58M | -539.67K | 13.92M | 0 | -1.04M | 938.38K | -88.08K | -70.12K | -23.61K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -307K | -830.68K | -3.2M | -868.54K | 393.68K | 37.84K |
| Equity Issued (Net) | -112K | -528K | -866K | -991K | -2.7M | -421K | -1.66M | -888K | -550K | -699.56K | -300.03K | 538.44K | 13.68M | 152.16K | 2.35M | 300K | -25.88K | -532.52K | -525.84K | -307.54K | -235.42K | -565.38K | 1.57K | -45K | 0 | -50.8K | 84.33K | 629.68K | 2.94M |
| Dividends Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4K | -959 | -1.92K | -1.92K | -17.27K | -1.92K | -1.92K | 0 | -1.92K | -1.92K | -1.92K | -2.4K | 0 | -1.45M | -1.43M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | -112K | -528K | -866K | -991K | -2.7M | -421K | -1.66M | -888K | -550K | -699.56K | -300.03K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -25.88K | -532.52K | -525.84K | -307.54K | -235.42K | -565.61K | 0 | -45K | 0 | -50.8K | 0 | 0 | -69.82K |
| Other Financing | -723K | 0 | -20K | -126K | -8.1M | 383K | -134K | -223K | -1.32M | -1.16M | -2.42M | 1.2M | -13.68M | 1.25M | 250K | 0 | 1.92K | 1.92K | 1.92K | 0 | 0 | 500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -375.72K |
| Net Change in Cash | 8.24M | 4.23M | 292K | -291K | -64K | -4.32M | 6.3M | -61K | -1.98M | 3.2M | -1.96M | -5.39M | 7.35M | -544.33K | 1.06M | -2.98M | -4.34M | 2.93M | -1.03M | -720.24K | 1.1M | 4.54M | 1.2M | 1.61M | 83.26K | 464.23K | -35.71K | 225.07K | 355.33K |
| Free Cash Flow | 20.18M | 20.98M | 12.14M | 15.99M | 2.45M | 17.77M | 24.91M | 16.45M | 2.43M | 1.36M | 4.69M | -1.24M | -5.29M | -1.95M | -501.69K | -4.32M | -4.23M | -3.8M | -483.37K | 621.78K | 1.59M | 6.95M | 4.43M | 4.03M | 1.08M | 3.85M | 748.5K | -3.92M | -2.25M |
| FCF Margin % | 4.61% | 4.71% | 2.57% | 4.5% | 0.85% | 6.51% | 12.99% | 8.51% | 1.22% | 0.9% | 5.93% | -3.7% | -72.86% | -82.76% | -16.34% | -105.86% | -99.8% | -28.27% | -2.06% | 2.36% | 4.98% | 28.51% | 7.75% | 13.08% | 8.16% | 25.53% | 4.73% | -45.76% | -267.38% |
| FCF Growth % | 7.94% | 72.81% | -24.1% | 552.24% | -86.2% | -28.66% | 51.38% | 576.95% | 78.25% | -70.9% | 479.03% | 76.65% | -171.96% | -287.98% | 88.39% | -2.18% | -11.36% | -685.92% | -177.74% | -60.97% | -77.06% | 56.68% | 10.12% | 272.58% | -71.95% | 414.58% | 119.08% | -74.42% | - |
| FCF per Share | 4.37 | 4.54 | 3.86 | 5.10 | 0.78 | 5.58 | 7.05 | 8.65 | 0.65 | 0.34 | 1.42 | -0.47 | -2.42 | -1.24 | -0.49 | -13.02 | -13.40 | -12.02 | -1.47 | 2.21 | 6.73 | 28.28 | 17.81 | 16.78 | 4.69 | 18.01 | 3.54 | -33.53 | -37.94 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | 5.21x | 1.26x | -0.77x | -254.85x | 0.59x | 0.94x | 2.63x | -4.75x | 2.00x | 1.21x | 0.34x | 0.07x | 1.11x | 0.31x | -0.02x | 0.79x | 0.53x | 0.13x | -0.87x | 1.01x | -2.30x | 9.64x | 0.59x | 0.60x | 0.31x | 2.14x | 0.34x | 0.16x | 0.91x |
| Interest Paid | -3.62M | 14.93M | 0 | 7.8M | 3.96M | 4.34M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.33M | 1.25M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57.27K | 5.84K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Taxes Paid | -1.74M | 2.14M | 0 | 379K | 6.15M | 1.54M | 0 | 0 | 758K | 149.31K | 466K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.6K | 1.6K | 1.86K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Volatile Cash Flow Conversion
As reported in quarterly financial statements, Live Ventures exhibits extreme volatility in its cash conversion, with OCF/NI ratios fluctuating wildly from 0.01 in 2025Q2 to -153.86 in 2026Q1, suggesting that net income is a poor proxy for the company's actual ability to generate cash from operations.
The persistent divergence between net income and operating cash flow indicates that non-cash charges and working capital swings are significantly distorting reported profitability. Investors should monitor whether this instability reflects fundamental operational challenges or merely the accounting impact of the company's aggressive acquisition-led strategy.
Based on the provided cash flow data, Live Ventures' free cash flow trajectory remains highly erratic, swinging from a peak of $10.8 million in 2025Q3 to a deficit of $4.0 million in 2026Q2, highlighting the difficulty in maintaining consistent cash generation across its diverse business segments.
The lack of a stable FCF margin trend suggests that the company's core operations are highly sensitive to cyclical shifts and inventory management. This inconsistency complicates the valuation of the firm, as it remains unclear whether the business can sustain positive cash flow without relying on external financing or asset divestitures.
According to recent SEC filings, working capital changes have been a primary driver of cash flow variance, ranging from a $8.6 million inflow in 2025Q4 to a $7.7 million outflow in 2026Q2, which underscores the operational complexity of managing inventory across manufacturing and retail segments.
These sharp swings in working capital suggest that the company may be struggling to align its inventory procurement with actual sales demand. Such instability in cash conversion cycles warrants further investigation into the efficiency of the company's supply chain and its ability to manage trade-in inventory in the retail segment.
As indicated by historical financial data, Live Ventures maintains a relatively low capital intensity, with CapEx/Revenue ratios consistently hovering between 1.2% and 3.1%, suggesting that the company's manufacturing assets may require significant ongoing maintenance to remain competitive in their respective industrial niches.
While the capital expenditure levels appear modest relative to revenue, the recurring nature of these outlays is necessary to support the aging machinery in the steel and flooring segments. Analysts should consider whether these expenditures are sufficient to drive future growth or if they are merely sustaining existing, low-margin operations.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying LIVE stock.
Live Ventures Incorporated (LIVE) generated $28.7M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Live Ventures Incorporated (LIVE) generated $21.0M 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.
Live Ventures Incorporated (LIVE) spent $7.7M 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, Live Ventures Incorporated (LIVE) spent $0.5M on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.