Operating cash flow swung from $401.4M in 2026Q1 to $24.4M in 2026Q2 and $39.4M in 2026Q3, suggesting capital generation depends on portfolio timing while dividends of $47.9M in 2026Q3 were funded beyond recurring earnings.
New Mountain Finance Corporation (NMFC) cash flow statement — 18-year operating, investing & financing cash flows
| 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 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 603.1M | 378.98M | 42M | 76M | 70.12M | 51.69M | 102.99M | 66.55M | -393.49M | -166.31M | 60.51M | -63.35M | -289.57M | -49.88M | -110.12M | -120.66M | 29.05M | -157.23M | -31.34M |
| Operating CF Growth % | 2331.4% | 802.36% | -44.74% | 8.4% | 35.66% | -49.81% | 54.75% | 116.91% | -136.6% | -374.86% | 195.52% | 78.12% | -480.59% | 54.71% | 8.74% | -515.33% | 118.48% | -401.64% | - |
| Net Income | -57.08M | 16.97M | 114.5M | 135.34M | 74.73M | 201.4M | 58.47M | 112.56M | 72.35M | 109.4M | 111.68M | 32.95M | 45.58M | 61.92M | 31.78M | 0 | 63.79M | 125.68M | -1.18M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 25.26M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22.09M | 4.3M | 3.46M | 35.27M | 43.86M | -7.99M | -9.93B | 23.1B | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | 19K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 112K | -140K | -642K | 1.18M | 493K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 222.21M | 361.09M | -73.33M | -47.04M | 5.91M | -134.22M | 15.89M | -25.23M | 4.62M | -262.81M | -45.49M | 518K | -55.98M | -53.93M | 9.79B | -23.42B | -45.96M | -116.12M | 1.44M |
| Working Capital Changes | 382.37M | 915K | 824K | -12.3M | -10.53M | -15.49M | 28.62M | -20.78M | 43.2M | -17.06M | -8.49M | -12M | 542K | -49.88M | 0 | 199.13M | 11.22M | -166.79M | -31.6M |
| Cash from Investing | 35.64M | 0 | 0 | 256.8M | -36.92M | -68.01M | 197.65M | -777.02M | -506.33M | -228.3M | -7.38M | -125.44M | -356.44M | -109.14M | -247.39B | -349.59B | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Purchase of Investments | -200.09M | 0 | 0 | -283.66M | -620.88M | -1.13B | -444.13M | -1.11B | -1.31B | -995.66M | -554.46M | -609.37M | -618.18M | -535.71M | -671.26B | -581.55B | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sale/Maturity of Investments | 644.95M | 0 | 0 | 540.46M | 583.96M | 1.07B | 641.78M | 328.15M | 802.96M | 767.36M | 547.08M | 483.94M | 261.75M | 426.56M | 423.87B | 231.96B | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Net Investment Activity | 444.86M | 0 | 0 | 256.8M | -36.92M | -68.01M | 197.65M | -777.02M | -506.33M | -228.3M | -7.38M | -125.44M | -356.44M | -109.14M | -247.39B | -349.59B | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Acquisitions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Investing | -409.22M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Financing | -660.39M | -378.74M | -31.36M | -333.96M | -19.69M | -4.53M | -270.25M | 709.38M | 408.22M | 155.32M | -44.68M | 70M | 313.02M | 49.88M | 110.12M | 120.66M | -22.42M | 161.15M | 31.53M |
| Dividends Paid | -111.24M | -135.7M | -147.19M | -150.74M | -121.29M | -114.22M | -120.07M | -113.14M | -101.06M | -94.21M | -85.81M | -77.35M | -72.78M | -50.16M | -23.31M | -26.59B | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | -14.7M | -51.95M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2.95M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 129.87M | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stock Issued | 0 | 0 | 67.69M | 20.83M | 39.8M | 12.22M | -278K | 277.78M | 0 | 81.48M | 79.06M | 79.42M | 141.16M | 100.04M | 133.43M | 330.24B | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Net Stock Activity | -14.7M | -51.95M | 67.69M | 20.83M | 39.8M | 12.22M | -278K | 277.78M | 0 | 81.48M | 76.11M | 79.42M | 141.16M | 100.04M | 133.43M | 330.37B | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Debt Issuance (Net) | -2M | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1000K | 1000K | 0 |
| Other Financing | -3.44M | -2.99M | -13.03M | -693K | -9.57M | 570K | 0 | 0 | -7.17M | -6.55M | 75.33M | -3.51M | 129.42M | 100.04M | 209.97B | 26.71B | 54.63M | 83.41M | 31.53M |
| Net Change in Cash | -21.77M | 398K | 10.23M | -1.1M | 13.11M | -20.89M | 30.39M | -1.09M | 14.73M | -10.99M | 15.83M | 6.66M | 23.45M | 2.23M | -2.57B | 4.57B | 6.63M | 3.92M | 189.47K |
| Exchange Rate Effect | -54K | 153K | -409K | 55K | -391K | -32K | 0 | 0 | 506.33M | 228.3M | 7.38M | 125.44M | 356.44M | 111.37M | 244.82B | 354.16B | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash at Beginning | 64.8M | 80.32M | 70.09M | 71.19M | 58.08M | 78.97M | 48.57M | 49.66M | 34.94M | 45.93M | 30.1M | 23.45M | 0 | 12.75M | 15.32B | 10.74B | 4.11M | 189.47K | 0 |
| Cash at End | 41.91M | 80.72M | 80.32M | 70.09M | 71.19M | 58.08M | 78.97M | 48.57M | 49.66M | 34.94M | 45.93M | 30.1M | 23.45M | 14.98M | 12.75B | 15.32B | 10.74M | 4.11M | 189.47K |
| Interest Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Income Taxes Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Free Cash Flow | 626.84M | 378.98M | 42M | 76M | 70.12M | 51.69M | 102.99M | 66.55M | -393.49M | -166.31M | 60.51M | -63.35M | -289.57M | -49.88M | -110.12M | -120.66M | 29.05M | -157.23M | -31.34M |
| FCF Growth % | 179.18% | 802.36% | -44.74% | 8.4% | 35.66% | -49.81% | 54.75% | 116.91% | -136.6% | -374.86% | 195.52% | 78.12% | -480.59% | 54.71% | 8.74% | -515.33% | 118.48% | -401.64% | - |
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying NMFC stock.
New Mountain Finance Corporation (NMFC) generated $379.0M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
New Mountain Finance Corporation (NMFC) generated $379.0M 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.
New Mountain Finance Corporation (NMFC) 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, New Mountain Finance Corporation (NMFC) returned $135.7M to shareholders via cash dividends and spent $52.0M on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.
Key Metrics
Top Statement Risk
Dividend coverage under pressure
Metrics are mathematically derived from official filings.
Operating Cash Volatility Clouds Capital Generation
Based on NMFC's reported quarterly cash flows, operating cash flow swung from $401.4M in 2026Q1 to $24.4M in 2026Q2 and $39.4M in 2026Q3, a pattern that suggests capital generation is driven by portfolio timing rather than steady recurring spread income.
The large 2026Q1 operating inflow against a net loss of -$50.9M implies that working capital and investment-related reclassifications, rather than earnings, drove that quarter's cash generation. The subsequent normalization to low double-digit millions suggests underlying retained capital capacity is modest, and investors should monitor whether this supports organic regulatory capital growth.
Dividend Coverage Relies on Non-Earnings Cash
As reported in financial statements, NMFC paid dividends of roughly $23.6M to $47.9M per quarter across the period, and in several quarters these payouts exceeded reported net income, raising questions about sustainability.
In 2026Q1 and 2025Q4, net losses of -$50.9M and -$26.9M were accompanied by continued dividend payments of $31.1M and $32.9M, indicating distributions were funded from balance sheet cash or portfolio realizations rather than current earnings. Such a gap may indicate that the dividend is not covered by recurring net investment income, warranting further investigation of the payout policy.
Lumpy Portfolio Realizations Drive Investing Flows
Based on NMFC's reported figures, sale of investments reached $644.9M in 2026Q3 and $309.1M in 2024Q2 against purchases of $200.1M and $438.1M, suggesting portfolio cash flows are concentrated in episodic exit periods.
The pattern of zero investment activity in most quarters followed by large two-way movements implies that deployment and realization are lumpy, which limits the predictability of cash flows. The 2026Q3 net realization of roughly $445M may reflect deleveraging or rotation, and it warrants monitoring whether reinvestment rates keep pace with repayments.
Credit Cost Recognition Appears Irregular
According to recent SEC filings, NMFC's loan loss line moved from -$18.4M in 2026Q1 to -$10.6M in 2026Q3, with zero entries across 2025Q1 and 2025Q2, a discontinuity that may reflect inconsistent reserve recognition.
Zero credit loss entries in consecutive quarters are difficult to reconcile with a portfolio carrying non-accrual exposure, which suggests either reporting gaps or timing effects in reserve builds and releases. The 2025Q4 entry of -$187.9B is clearly a data error and should not be relied upon for analysis, underscoring the need to verify the underlying filings before drawing credit conclusions.
Reported Cash Strength May Mask Earnings Weakness
As reflected in the reported figures, NMFC's strong operating cash inflows in 2026Q1 and 2026Q3 contrast with net losses in the same period, suggesting cash generation may be overstated relative to recurring earnings power.
Operating cash flow can be inflated by non-cash items such as unrealized mark reversals, PIK interest accruals, and balance sheet reclassifications that do not reflect durable spread income. Investors should monitor whether the apparent cash strength persists once these items are normalized, since a reversal in portfolio timing could quickly reduce the cushion that currently supports distributions.