Free cash flow conversion has improved significantly, with the company achieving a 41.6% FCF margin in 2026Q1 compared to 13.5% in 2024Q4.
| 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 | Dec'11 | Dec'10 | Dec'09 | Dec'08 | Dec'07 | Dec'06 | Dec'05 | Dec'04 | Dec'03 | Dec'02 | Dec'01 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 12.65B | 10.15B | 7.36B | 7.27B | 2.03B | 392.61M | 2.43B | -2.89B | -2.68B | -1.79B | -1.47B | -749.44M | 16.48M | 97.83M | 22.77M | 317.71M | 276.4M | 325.06M | 284.04M | 291.82M | 247.86M | 162.98M | 147.57M | 89.79M | 40.11M | 4.85M |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | 22.46% | 18.87% | 21.57% | 6.41% | 1.32% | 9.71% | -14.32% | -16.97% | -15.27% | -16.69% | -11.05% | 0.3% | 2.24% | 0.63% | 9.91% | 12.78% | 19.46% | 20.81% | 24.21% | 24.87% | 23.89% | 29.15% | 32.98% | 26.25% | 6.39% |
| Operating CF Growth % | 236.51% | 37.87% | 1.2% | 259% | 416.1% | -83.82% | 184.06% | -7.72% | -50.09% | -21.16% | -96.68% | -4646.74% | -83.15% | 329.74% | -92.83% | 14.95% | -14.97% | 14.44% | -2.67% | 17.74% | 52.08% | 10.44% | 64.35% | 123.84% | 727.6% | - |
| Net Income | 13.37B | 10.98B | 8.71B | 5.41B | 4.49B | 5.12B | 2.76B | 1.87B | 1.21B | 558.93M | 186.68M | 122.64M | 266.8M | 112.4M | 17.15M | 226.13M | 160.85M | 115.86M | 83.03M | 66.95M | 49.08M | 42.03M | 21.59M | 6.51M | -21.95M | -38.62M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 17.17B | 16.76B | 15.63B | 14.55B | 14.36B | 12.44B | 10.92B | 9.32B | 7.66B | 6.33B | 4.92B | 3.55B | 2.78B | 2.24B | 1.7B | 839.62M | 338.69M | 257.53M | 242.84M | 224.99M | 157.14M | 107M | 88.2M | 50.99M | 26.48M | 29.8M |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 436.88M | 368.45M | 272.59M | 339.37M | 575.45M | 403.22M | 415.18M | 405.38M | 320.66M | 182.21M | 173.68M | 124.72M | 115.24M | 73.1M | 73.95M | 61.58M | 28M | 12.62M | 12.26M | 11.98M | 14.33M | 14.33M | 16.59M | 0 | 9.83M | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | -219.31M | -442.06M | -590.7M | -459.36M | -166.55M | 199.55M | 70.07M | -94.44M | -85.52M | -208.69M | -46.85M | -58.66M | -30.06M | -22.04M | -30.07M | -15.11M | -962K | 6.33M | -8.43M | -661K | 16.15M | -34.91M | 176K | 0 | -9.83M | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | -17.85B | -17.06B | -16.63B | -12.45B | -16.48B | -17.52B | -11.71B | -14.43B | -12.08B | -8.71B | -6.9B | -4.66B | -3.25B | -2.43B | -1.77B | -904.65M | -477.55M | -21.63M | -21.6M | -41.43M | -23.96M | -3.58M | -2.46M | 9.22M | 19.58M | 6.73M |
| Working Capital Changes | -256.17M | -456.22M | -33.08M | -116.15M | -758.09M | -241.98M | -31.87M | 43.04M | 293.77M | 58.98M | 192.38M | 172.89M | 137.1M | 119.87M | 26M | 110.15M | 227.37M | -45.65M | -24.06M | 30M | 35.13M | 38.1M | 23.47M | 23.07M | 16M | 6.94M |
| Change in Receivables | -704.64M | 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 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 |
| Change in Payables | 268.54M | -8.04M | 121.35M | 93.5M | -158.54M | 145.12M | -41.6M | 96.06M | 199.2M | 74.56M | 32.25M | 51.62M | 83.81M | 18.37M | -3.76M | 24.31M | 139.98M | -2.26M | 7.11M | -1.22M | 8.25M | 13.72M | 17.12M | 0 | 6.63M | 0 |
| Cash from Investing | -225.85M | 1.04B | -2.18B | 541.75M | -2.08B | -1.34B | -505.35M | -387.06M | -339.12M | 34.33M | 49.77M | -179.19M | -42.87M | -255.97M | -245.92M | -265.81M | -116.08M | -246.08M | -144.96M | -450.81M | -185.87M | -138.72M | -68.38M | -64.68M | -67.3M | -12.67M |
| Capital Expenditures | -756.07M | -688.22M | -439.54M | -348.55M | -407.73M | -524.59M | -497.92M | -253.03M | -212.53M | -227.02M | -184.83M | -169.21M | -144.52M | -120.07M | -89.73M | -134.84M | -34.34M | -239.18M | -207.7M | -44.81M | -197.45M | -30.62M | -14.96M | -64.49M | -26.82M | -12.08M |
| CapEx % of Revenue | 1.61% | 1.52% | 1.13% | 1.03% | 1.29% | 1.77% | 1.99% | 1.26% | 1.35% | 1.94% | 2.09% | 2.5% | 2.63% | 2.74% | 2.49% | 4.21% | 1.59% | 14.32% | 15.22% | 3.72% | 19.81% | 4.49% | 2.96% | 23.69% | 17.55% | 15.92% |
| Acquisitions | -585.74M | -17.19M | 0 | 0 | -757.39M | -788.35M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -53.72M | -77.18M | -77.96M | -74.79M | -65.93M | -48.27M | -85.15M | -110.98M | 11.16M | 12.37M | -223.44M | 0 | -114.43M | -102.97M | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | -17.19M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -757.39M | -26.92M | -7.43M | -134.03M | -126.59M | 47.03M | 76.24M | 76.05M | 76.12M | 71.87M | 57.09M | 88.83M | -70K | 71K | 12.37M | 21.94M | 11.58M | 6.33M | 5.13M | 1.49M | 2.54M | -586K |
| Cash from Financing | -7.55B | -10.35B | -4.07B | -5.95B | -664.25M | -1.15B | 1.24B | 4.51B | 4.05B | 3.08B | 1.09B | 1.64B | 541.71M | 476.26M | 5.59M | 261.66M | -100.05M | -84.64M | -176.63M | -64M | 126.18M | 13.31M | 5.6M | 4.96M | 70.87M | 9.06M |
| Debt Issued (Net) | -1.03B | -1.83B | 1.39B | 0 | -700M | -500M | 1.01B | 4.47B | 3.96B | 3.02B | 1B | 1.5B | 400M | 279.46M | -2.61M | 195.98M | -1.78M | 191.74M | -823K | 0 | 0 | -79K | -436K | -1.33M | -17.14M | 8.95M |
| Equity Issued (Net) | -6.5B | -8.46B | -5.43B | -5.88B | 35.75M | -425.61M | 235.41M | 72.49M | 124.5M | 88.38M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.66M | 19.89M | -160.48M | -289.06M | -181.03M | -90.25M | 112.96M | 13.39M | 6.04M | 6.3M | 88.01M | 113K |
| Dividends 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 |
| Share Repurchases | -6.86B | -9.13B | -6.26B | -6.05B | 0 | -600.02M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -199.67M | -210.26M | -324.33M | -199.9M | -99.86M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -6K | -12K |
| Other Financing | -17.98M | -51.97M | -38.03M | -75.45M | 0 | -224.17M | -7.56M | -36.13M | -37.83M | -31.9M | 91.63M | 140.28M | 141.71M | 196.81M | 4.54M | 45.78M | 62.21M | 12.68M | 5.22M | 26.25M | 13.22M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Net Change in Cash | 5.06B | 1.23B | 688.82M | 1.95B | -884.53M | -2.18B | 3.2B | 1.23B | 989.25M | 1.36B | -341.75M | 695.72M | 508.64M | 314.67M | -217.76M | 313.55M | 60.27M | -5.66M | -37.56M | -222.99M | 188.17M | 37.8M | 84.57M | 30.08M | 43.68M | 1.24M |
| Free Cash Flow | 11.89B | 9.46B | 6.92B | 6.93B | 1.62B | -131.97M | 1.93B | -3.14B | -2.89B | -2.01B | -1.66B | -918.64M | -128.03M | -22.24M | -66.97M | 182.88M | 242.06M | 85.89M | 76.34M | 247.02M | 50.42M | 132.36M | 132.61M | 25.3M | 13.29M | -7.24M |
| FCF Margin % | 25.37% | 20.94% | 17.75% | 20.54% | 5.12% | -0.44% | 7.72% | -15.58% | -18.32% | -17.22% | -18.78% | -13.55% | -2.33% | -0.51% | -1.86% | 5.71% | 11.19% | 5.14% | 5.59% | 20.49% | 5.06% | 19.4% | 26.2% | 9.29% | 8.7% | -9.53% |
| FCF Growth % | 59.74% | 36.68% | -0.06% | 327.9% | 1326.39% | -106.84% | 161.43% | -8.55% | -43.72% | -21.35% | -80.57% | -617.51% | -475.71% | 66.79% | -136.62% | -24.45% | 181.83% | 12.51% | -69.1% | 389.96% | -61.91% | -0.19% | 424.15% | 90.33% | 283.68% | - |
| FCF per Share | 2.77 | 2.19 | 1.58 | 1.54 | 0.36 | -0.03 | 0.42 | -0.70 | -0.64 | -0.45 | -0.38 | -0.21 | -0.03 | -0.01 | -0.02 | 0.05 | 0.06 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.05 | 0.01 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.00 | 0.00 | -0.01 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | 0.89x | 0.92x | 0.85x | 1.35x | 0.45x | 0.08x | 0.88x | -1.55x | -2.21x | -3.20x | -7.90x | -6.11x | 0.06x | 0.87x | 1.33x | 1.41x | 1.72x | 2.81x | 3.42x | 4.36x | 5.05x | 3.88x | 6.83x | 13.79x | -1.83x | -0.13x |
| Interest Paid | 0 | 0 | 674.5M | 684.5M | 701.69M | 763.43M | 762.9M | 599.13M | 375.83M | 213.31M | 138.57M | 111.76M | 41.09M | 19.11M | -19.01M | -19.39M | 20.1M | 3.88M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Taxes Paid | 0 | 0 | 1.64B | 1.15B | 811.72M | 509.26M | 291.58M | 400.66M | 131.07M | 113.59M | 26.81M | 27.66M | 50.57M | 7.46M | -28.85M | -79.07M | 56.22M | 58.77M | 40.49M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Content cost inflation volatility
As reported in recent financial statements, Netflix's operating cash flow to net income ratio reached 1.00 in 2026Q1, signaling a significant improvement in earnings quality compared to the more volatile conversion metrics observed in previous periods, such as the 0.60 ratio recorded during the 2024Q2 fiscal quarter.
The convergence of net income and operating cash flow suggests that the company is successfully transitioning away from the heavy cash-burn phase that previously characterized its aggressive content acquisition strategy. Investors should monitor whether this alignment persists, as it indicates that accounting profits are increasingly backed by tangible cash generation rather than non-cash accruals.
Based on the provided quarterly data, Netflix achieved a robust 41.6% free cash flow margin in 2026Q1, a substantial increase from the 13.5% margin reported in 2024Q4, which underscores the company's growing ability to convert subscription revenue into discretionary cash after accounting for necessary content production expenditures.
This trajectory appears to validate the company's shift toward monetization of existing reach and disciplined content spending. The expansion of FCF margins suggests that the platform has reached a critical scale where incremental subscriber growth requires less proportional capital investment, potentially providing management with greater flexibility for future capital allocation.
According to historical filings, Netflix maintained a capital expenditure to revenue ratio of just 1.6% in 2026Q1, demonstrating that the company's core streaming infrastructure requires minimal ongoing physical investment compared to the massive, non-capitalized content production costs that dominate the company's broader cash flow statement.
The low capital intensity highlights the platform's digital-first nature, where the primary investment is in intangible content assets rather than physical property or equipment. This structure allows the company to direct the vast majority of its cash flow toward content production or shareholder returns without the burden of heavy maintenance capex.
As evidenced by the $1.3 billion in share repurchases during 2026Q1, Netflix has pivoted toward a capital return model, marking a departure from its historical reliance on external financing to fund the massive content production cycles that defined its earlier growth phase as a pure-play streaming entity.
The consistent use of share buybacks suggests that management views internal reinvestment opportunities as having reached a point of diminishing returns relative to the company's current valuation. Investors should investigate whether this shift indicates a long-term commitment to returning capital or if it is a temporary response to the current cash-rich environment.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying NFLX stock.
Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) generated $10.15B in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) generated $9.46B 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.
Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) spent $688.2M 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, Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) spent $9.13B on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.