Liquidity is under severe pressure, evidenced by a $62.5 million free cash flow outflow in 2026Q1 and a dwindling cash balance of only $4.8 million.
The Children's Place, Inc. (PLCE) cash flow statement — 30-year operating, investing & financing cash flows
| Metric | TTM | Jan'26 | Jan'25 | Jan'24 | Jan'23 | Jan'22 | Jan'21 | Jan'20 | Jan'19 | Jan'18 | Jan'17 | Jan'16 | Jan'15 | Jan'14 | Jan'13 | Jan'12 | Jan'11 | Jan'10 | Jan'09 | Jan'08 | Jan'07 | Jan'06 | Jan'05 | Jan'04 | Jan'03 | Jan'02 | Jan'01 | Jan'00 | Jan'99 | Jan'98 | Jan'97 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 49.26M | 8.12M | -117.59M | 92.8M | -8.22M | 133.28M | -35.72M | 177.9M | 139.91M | 214.38M | 199.29M | 182.65M | 161.41M | 173.47M | 205.04M | 156.1M | 174.51M | 155.18M | 218.38M | -1.22M | 138.99M | 115.9M | 209.24M | 80.04M | 58.33M | 86.77M | 61.79M | 34.67M | 35M | 11.3M | 7.85M |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | 0.67% | -8.48% | 5.79% | -0.48% | 6.96% | -2.35% | 9.51% | 7.22% | 11.46% | 11.16% | 10.58% | 9.16% | 9.82% | 11.33% | 9.1% | 10.42% | 9.44% | 13.39% | -0.06% | 6.89% | 6.95% | 18.08% | 10.03% | 8.69% | 13.21% | 10.52% | 8.22% | 12.33% | 5.87% | 5.45% |
| Operating CF Growth % | 222.14% | 106.9% | -226.72% | 1229.23% | -106.17% | 473.14% | -120.08% | 27.15% | -34.74% | 7.57% | 9.11% | 13.16% | -6.95% | -15.4% | 31.35% | -10.55% | 12.46% | -28.94% | 17955.93% | -100.88% | 19.93% | -44.61% | 161.42% | 37.22% | -32.78% | 40.43% | 78.24% | -0.95% | 209.73% | 44.02% | - |
| Net Income | -133.02M | -88.26M | -57.82M | -154.54M | -1.14M | 187.17M | -140.37M | 73.3M | 100.96M | 84.7M | 102.34M | 57.88M | 56.89M | 53.03M | 63.24M | 77.22M | 83.59M | 88.84M | 73.94M | -59.57M | 87.39M | 65.58M | 43.28M | 22.96M | 8.93M | 46.58M | 42.69M | 35.05M | 20.7M | 7M | 30.44M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 23.94M | 33.07M | 39.61M | 47.19M | 51.46M | 58.42M | 66.41M | 74.79M | 68.88M | 68.16M | 65.73M | 62.69M | 60.49M | 64.86M | 77.44M | 74.57M | 71.64M | 71.45M | 71.41M | 80.14M | 66.28M | 53.42M | 49.31M | 48.9M | 43.08M | 27.63M | 20.94M | 13.85M | 8.6M | 6.4M | 4.02M |
| Stock-Based Compensation | -114K | 2.99M | 12.79M | -5.58M | 29.15M | 30.94M | 14.32M | 16.22M | 27.41M | 30.8M | 28.04M | 21.12M | 17.78M | 21.21M | 14.25M | 9.29M | 8.04M | 8.45M | 7.39M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | -581K | -581K | 0 | 36.98M | -13.68M | 25.85M | -32.66M | 5.36M | -5.57M | 34.89M | -9.38M | 12.17M | 5.63M | -3.55M | 1.97M | 2.27M | 24.17M | 17.34M | 32.15M | -55.84M | -30M | -37.12M | 1.64M | -5.03M | 213K | 490K | 1.89M | 2.73M | 12M | 4.2M | -21.26M |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 63.81M | 80.67M | 107.75M | 118.86M | 92.79M | 107.14M | 152.49M | 155.27M | 6.79M | 5.36M | 3.12M | 1.95M | 4.2M | 24.31M | -8.6M | -11.74M | -13.22M | -11.27M | 2.57M | 103.42M | 35.15M | 18.45M | 1.42M | -5.59M | 1.73M | 819K | 1.12M | 381K | 700K | 100K | 359K |
| Working Capital Changes | 63.55M | -19.76M | -219.92M | 49.89M | -166.81M | -276.24M | -95.91M | -147.04M | -58.57M | -9.52M | 9.44M | 26.85M | 16.42M | 13.61M | 56.74M | 7.37M | 4.12M | -19.64M | 30.92M | -69.37M | -19.83M | 21.17M | 116.21M | 18.85M | 5.23M | 11.25M | -4.85M | -17.34M | -7M | -6.4M | -5.71M |
| Change in Receivables | 7.07M | 12.88M | -8.46M | 21.3M | -28.14M | 16.2M | -3.62M | 3.15M | -9.13M | 5.39M | -5.06M | 5.47M | -6.27M | -6.04M | -1.13M | 0 | 0 | 3.01M | 12.47M | -9.92M | -6.12M | -5.07M | -6.55M | 5.43M | -1.68M | -2.78M | -4.01M | -2.37M | -800K | -1M | -249K |
| Change in Inventory | 102.1M | 75.93M | -38.3M | 85.31M | -20.74M | -40.87M | -61.08M | -23.54M | 19.38M | -36.43M | -16.07M | 26.12M | 21.02M | -58.94M | -28.83M | 1.8M | 4.65M | 8.44M | -19.86M | -40.92M | -26.17M | -50.47M | 39.61M | -19.88M | -16.32M | 9.01M | -12.08M | -20.68M | -15M | -5.9M | -1.81M |
| Change in Payables | 9.68M | -12.01M | -107.86M | 39.95M | -41.73M | -58.33M | 71.72M | 17.5M | -56.89M | 28.93M | 18.99M | -4.04M | 6.05M | 73.61M | 63.28M | -617K | -13.13M | -18.91M | 47.29M | -565K | -1.64M | 1.16M | 30.84M | 4.09M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Investing | -26.24M | -17.38M | -15.83M | -27.79M | -45.95M | -29.29M | -30.37M | -134.35M | -56.86M | -25.14M | -44.25M | -30.62M | -61.71M | -119.7M | -105.22M | -77.66M | -84.32M | -64.33M | -60.77M | -124.59M | -229.22M | -89.02M | -168.93M | -31.79M | -48.54M | -49.11M | -53.12M | -58.18M | -19.8M | -17.2M | -8.49M |
| Capital Expenditures | -26.24M | -17.38M | -15.83M | -27.56M | -45.58M | -29.31M | -30.59M | -134.45M | -71.11M | -58.66M | -34.68M | -42.15M | -72.21M | -72.61M | -90.18M | -79.76M | -83.94M | -62.22M | -51.69M | -199.77M | -155.07M | -89.23M | -61.51M | -31.79M | -48.54M | -49.11M | -53.12M | -58.18M | -19.8M | -17.2M | -8.49M |
| CapEx % of Revenue | 2.33% | 1.44% | 1.14% | 1.72% | 2.67% | 1.53% | 2.01% | 7.19% | 3.67% | 3.14% | 1.94% | 2.44% | 4.1% | 4.11% | 4.98% | 4.65% | 5.01% | 3.79% | 3.17% | 9.24% | 7.69% | 5.35% | 5.31% | 3.98% | 7.23% | 7.48% | 9.04% | 13.8% | 6.97% | 8.93% | 5.9% |
| Acquisitions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.24M | -107.26M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | 0 | 0 | 0 | -231K | -371K | 17K | 211K | 103K | -749K | -788K | -368K | -379K | 5K | 406K | -38K | 2.1M | -373K | -2.11M | -9.07M | 0 | 1.02M | -2.03M | -157K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Financing | -22.41M | 6.97M | 128.4M | -68.27M | 17.06M | -112.74M | 60.93M | -44.37M | -259.18M | -140.6M | -155.05M | -131.35M | -87.6M | -64.14M | -82.26M | -85.03M | -78.01M | -154.01M | -4.43M | 89.94M | 38.16M | -21.34M | 44.26M | 1.84M | 2.05M | -608K | -680K | 9.35M | 400K | 3.3M | 3.5M |
| Debt Issued (Net) | -14.92M | -82.22M | 137.54M | -60.28M | 111.67M | -26.3M | 77.61M | 121.95M | 27.4M | 6.08M | 15.38M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -85M | 15.44M | 88.98M | 0 | -37.27M | 37.27M | 0 | 0 | -3.32M | -3.18M | 6.5M | -1M | -21.1M | -2.2M |
| Equity Issued (Net) | -33K | 89.18M | -673K | -7.13M | -94.62M | -83.97M | -15.49M | -131.39M | -253.54M | -118.58M | -157.81M | -120.89M | -76.13M | -65.83M | -89.02M | -91.76M | -90.62M | -73.99M | -642K | 809K | 27.16M | 15.93M | 7.62M | 2.02M | 2.05M | 2.72M | 2.63M | 2.91M | 1.5M | 50.7M | 7.09M |
| Dividends Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -34.93M | -33.04M | -28.1M | -14.79M | -12.22M | -11.49M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | -33K | -422K | -673K | -7.13M | -94.62M | -83.97M | -15.49M | -131.39M | -253.54M | -118.58M | -157.81M | -120.89M | -76.13M | -65.83M | -89.02M | -91.76M | -90.62M | -73.99M | -642K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -11.85M |
| Other Financing | -7.45M | 0 | -8.47M | -861K | 0 | -2.47M | -1.19M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.17M | 1.76M | 17K | 1.69M | 6.76M | 6.73M | 12.62M | 4.98M | -19.23M | 156K | 11M | 0 | -626K | -175K | 0 | 0 | -122K | -63K | -100K | -26.3M | -1.39M |
| Net Change in Cash | -622K | 142K | -8.29M | -3.05M | -38.1M | -8.76M | -4.94M | -649K | -175.38M | 50.81M | 6.17M | 14.24M | -706K | -20.13M | 17.47M | -7M | 15.28M | -57.83M | 144.58M | -32.41M | -56.33M | 8.13M | 90.42M | 38.13M | -8.55M | 37.05M | 5.94M | -14.17M | 400K | 3.3M | 2.85M |
| Free Cash Flow | 23.02M | -9.26M | -133.42M | 65.24M | -53.8M | 103.97M | -66.3M | 43.45M | 68.79M | 155.73M | 164.61M | 140.5M | 89.2M | 100.86M | 114.86M | 76.34M | 90.57M | 92.96M | 166.69M | -200.99M | -19.46M | 26.67M | 151.44M | 36.57M | -10.87M | 37.66M | 6.62M | -23.52M | 15.2M | -5.9M | -646K |
| FCF Margin % | 2.04% | -0.77% | -9.62% | 4.07% | -3.15% | 5.43% | -4.35% | 2.32% | 3.55% | 8.33% | 9.22% | 8.14% | 5.06% | 5.71% | 6.35% | 4.45% | 5.41% | 5.66% | 10.22% | -9.29% | -0.96% | 1.6% | 13.08% | 4.58% | -1.62% | 5.73% | 1.13% | -5.58% | 5.35% | -3.06% | -0.45% |
| FCF Growth % | 607.25% | 93.06% | -304.51% | 221.28% | -151.74% | 256.81% | -252.6% | -36.84% | -55.83% | -5.4% | 17.15% | 57.52% | -11.57% | -12.19% | 50.46% | -15.71% | -2.58% | -44.23% | 182.93% | -932.99% | -172.96% | -82.39% | 314.14% | 436.55% | -128.85% | 468.68% | 128.16% | -254.7% | 357.63% | -813.31% | - |
| FCF per Share | 1.04 | -0.42 | -10.45 | 5.22 | -4.13 | 6.99 | -4.53 | 2.78 | 4.09 | 8.58 | 8.68 | 6.79 | 4.07 | 4.42 | 4.73 | 2.97 | 3.30 | 3.24 | 5.64 | -6.91 | -0.65 | 0.93 | 5.50 | 1.35 | -0.40 | 1.40 | 0.25 | -0.88 | 0.59 | -0.24 | -0.03 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | -0.17x | -0.09x | 2.03x | -0.60x | 7.22x | 0.71x | 0.25x | 2.43x | 1.39x | 2.53x | 1.95x | 3.16x | 2.84x | 3.27x | 3.27x | 2.02x | 2.10x | 1.76x | 2.65x | 0.02x | 1.59x | 1.77x | 4.83x | 3.49x | 6.53x | 1.86x | 1.45x | 0.99x | 1.69x | 1.30x | 0.26x |
| Interest Paid | 8.7M | 0 | 0 | 29.04M | 0 | 14.77M | 10.83M | 7.55M | 3.22M | 1.95M | 1.68M | 1.4M | 936K | 499K | 704K | 1.27M | 1.59M | 5.46M | 6.81M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Taxes Paid | 4.58M | 0 | 0 | 5.78M | 0 | 49.56M | 3.64M | 1.31M | 19.53M | 37.77M | 31.49M | 13.89M | 23.6M | 24.83M | 10.03M | 37.26M | 20.14M | 16.79M | 11.62M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying PLCE stock.
The Children's Place, Inc. (PLCE) generated $8.1M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
The Children's Place, Inc. (PLCE) reported negative free cash flow of $9.3M in 2025, indicating capital requirements exceeded cash from operations.
The Children's Place, Inc. (PLCE) spent $17.4M 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, The Children's Place, Inc. (PLCE) spent $0.4M on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.
Key Metrics
Top Statement Risk
Immediate liquidity and solvency
Metrics are mathematically derived from official filings.
Earnings Quality Remains Severely Compromised
According to the provided cash flow data, the persistent disconnect between net losses and operating cash flow, highlighted by the 2026Q1 operating cash outflow of $54.5 million, suggests that the company is struggling to convert its business model into sustainable cash generation for its stakeholders.
The recurring inability to align operating cash flow with net income indicates that the company's accruals and working capital requirements are consistently draining liquidity. Investors should monitor whether this trend reflects structural inefficiencies in the core retail operations rather than temporary accounting timing differences.
Free Cash Flow Trajectory Remains Negative
As reported in financial statements, the company's free cash flow has remained largely negative over the last ten quarters, with a significant $62.5 million outflow in 2026Q1, underscoring the firm's inability to fund its operations through internal cash generation during this period of revenue contraction.
The consistent failure to achieve positive free cash flow margins suggests that the business model is currently incapable of self-funding. This trajectory warrants further investigation into how the company intends to bridge its funding gap without further diluting shareholders or increasing its debt burden.
Working Capital Volatility Strains Liquidity
Based on the reported figures, working capital fluctuations have been a primary driver of cash volatility, with a $25.7 million outflow in 2026Q1 following a $88.1 million inflow in 2025Q4, indicating that the company's inventory and payables management is highly sensitive to seasonal demand shifts.
The extreme swings in working capital suggest that the company is struggling to manage its inventory levels effectively in a declining sales environment. This instability forces the firm to rely heavily on external financing to manage its day-to-day operational requirements.
Capital Allocation Limited by Constraints
As indicated by the historical cash flow data, the company has ceased meaningful capital deployment activities like dividends and share repurchases, with only nominal buybacks recorded, reflecting a shift toward capital preservation as liquidity reserves have dwindled to a reported $5.5 million in recent periods.
The cessation of capital returns to shareholders appears to be a direct consequence of the company's deteriorating financial position. Any future capital allocation will likely be restricted to essential maintenance or debt service, leaving little room for strategic investment or growth initiatives.