Cash flow generation remains highly volatile, with free cash flow margins swinging from a peak of 21.4% in 2024Q4 to a trough of -15.4% in 2026Q1.
| 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 | Dec'00 | Dec'99 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 32.94M | 51.4M | 50.24M | 17.09M | -26.36M | 19.18M | 101.56M | 55.69M | -9.6M | 8.08M | 19.19M | 19.87M | 30.04M | 33.34M | -39.31M | -5.91M | 18.51M | 33.76M | -16.73M | 32.25M | 25.82M | 9.22M | 11.1M | 4.83M | -15.87M | -1.21M | -14.36M | -15.97M |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | 6.09% | 6.02% | 2.07% | -3.22% | 2.27% | 12.04% | 9.89% | -1.66% | 2.45% | 7.6% | 7.98% | 10.14% | 12.05% | -15.47% | -2.28% | 7.42% | 14.84% | -5.34% | 10.07% | 9.24% | 4.74% | 6.5% | 5.18% | -25.37% | -0.7% | -27.73% | -1597500% |
| Operating CF Growth % | -204.64% | 2.3% | 194.02% | 164.81% | -237.44% | -81.11% | 82.39% | 680.35% | -218.75% | -57.9% | -3.41% | -33.86% | -9.89% | 184.81% | -565.13% | -131.93% | -45.18% | 301.71% | -151.89% | 24.91% | 179.96% | -16.91% | 130.03% | 130.4% | -1217.1% | 91.61% | 10.14% | - |
| Net Income | 31.37M | 39.64M | -54.23M | -66.21M | -98.08M | -177.19M | 88.59M | -130.07M | -76.81M | -35.25M | -13.93M | -31.89M | -16.86M | -22.12M | -50.17M | -12.7M | -10.69M | -4.93M | -118.8M | -23.64M | 102.85M | 8.37M | 24.48M | -15.14M | -68.47M | -645.43M | -50.04M | -23.89M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 61.29M | 60.92M | 64.4M | 71M | 76.48M | 83.59M | 78.1M | 61.17M | 60.92M | 25.6M | 15.47M | 19.07M | 16.09M | 16.88M | 15.66M | 12.03M | 11.95M | 10.34M | 12.82M | 13.69M | 9.51M | 7.98M | 8.2M | 12.13M | 16.99M | 122.95M | 5.11M | 5.89M |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 21.07M | 19.41M | 16.09M | 21.81M | 18.71M | 19.42M | 13.9M | 12.6M | 11.07M | 25.66M | 19.77M | 21.7M | 23.91M | 17.87M | 9M | 7.87M | 15.29M | 12.81M | 22.83M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | -2.95M | -85.6M | -16.89M | -9.2M | -18.25M | -45.6M | -4.62M | 5.3M | 513K | -20.36M | 1.09M | 752K | 885K | -553K | 785K | 66K | 406K | 449K | 78.09M | -4.8M | -73.1M | -519K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | -84.05M | 460K | 9.31M | -4.4M | 45.11M | 194.25M | -105.28M | 157.63M | 4.61M | 4.13M | -1.26M | -784K | 292K | 654K | 7.43M | 24K | 106K | 241K | 6.77M | 40.88M | 12M | 162K | 738K | 3.42M | 11.81M | 494.04M | 26.73M | 149K |
| Working Capital Changes | 6.21M | 16.58M | 31.57M | 4.08M | -50.33M | -55.29M | 30.88M | -50.94M | -9.9M | 8.31M | -1.94M | 11.03M | 5.72M | 20.61M | -22.02M | -13.19M | 1.46M | 14.85M | -18.45M | 5.98M | -26.15M | -6.76M | -22.31M | 4.41M | 23.8M | 27.24M | 3.84M | 1.88M |
| Change in Receivables | 17.8M | 20.03M | 12.42M | 5.73M | 14.29M | -47.28M | 9.58M | -3.94M | -13.02M | -30.76M | -851K | 11.37M | 4.77M | 3.54M | -8.92M | -217K | -4.69M | 27.79M | 10.01M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Inventory | -2.82M | 234K | -3.62M | -10.7M | -32.1M | -9.03M | 11.84M | 7.78M | 993K | 5.79M | 4.86M | -1M | 5.41M | 4.15M | -7.71M | 22.9M | -9.51M | -2.46M | 19.33M | -2.83M | -3.94M | -11.32M | -14.61M | -3.29M | 1.06M | 2.28M | -18.46M | 0 |
| Change in Payables | -4.46M | -3.26M | -6.02M | -10.5M | -448K | 34.48M | -49.56M | -16.28M | -6.06M | 13.41M | -821K | -1.26M | -3.76M | -555K | -4.95M | -3.54M | 11.54M | -4.23M | -9.17M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Investing | -16.27M | -25.34M | -22.87M | -9.48M | -12.14M | -14.19M | -330.07M | -3.53M | -35.38M | 21.01M | -27.35M | -4.58M | 24.27M | 8.31M | 52.4M | 48.76M | -81.26M | -31.6M | 18.55M | -2.16M | -168.5M | 18.45M | -28.09M | -114.76M | 11.98M | -50.36M | -55.79M | -6.35M |
| Capital Expenditures | -16.27M | -25.34M | -22.41M | -9.38M | -10.25M | -17.13M | -330.07M | -10.82M | -35.38M | 21.01M | -27.35M | -7.79M | 24.27M | -6.18M | 52.4M | 48.76M | -81.26M | -31.6M | 18.55M | -11.67M | -168.5M | -14.23M | -28.09M | -114.76M | 11.98M | -50.36M | -55.79M | -6.35M |
| CapEx % of Revenue | 1.97% | 3% | 2.69% | 1.14% | 1.25% | 2.03% | 39.12% | 1.92% | 6.12% | 6.37% | 10.83% | 3.13% | 8.19% | 2.23% | 20.62% | 18.77% | 32.6% | 13.89% | 5.92% | 3.64% | 60.29% | 7.31% | 16.45% | 123.12% | 19.15% | 29.07% | 107.76% | 635100% |
| Acquisitions | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | 0 | 0 | -462K | -100K | -3.3M | 0 | 43.5M | 0 | 18.92M | 576K | 1.3M | 896K | 268K | 14.49M | 62.94M | -310K | -2M | 0 | 25M | -24.66M | 250K | 65K | 410K | -757K | -96K | -194K | -681K | -436K |
| Cash from Financing | -20.73M | -19.43M | 37.71M | -47.86M | 931K | -33.68M | 319.3M | -51.28M | 31.77M | -4.48M | -9.87M | -6.2M | -85.13M | -56.53M | -30.34M | 804K | -277K | 264K | 2.51M | 43.9M | 31.31M | 6.69M | 5.21M | 186.37M | 5.08M | 13.58M | 148.37M | 27.63M |
| Debt Issued (Net) | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Equity Issued (Net) | -8.95M | -8.96M | -56.85M | 53.35M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4.54M | 0 | 0 | -9.83M | -7.92M | -93.22M | -59.67M | 0 | 0 | 1.35M | 1.12M | 3.75M | 5.61M | 41.35M | 6.78M | 5.39M | 189.73M | 2.83M | 11.87M | 153M | 24.52M |
| 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 | 0 | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | -9.78M | -8.96M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4.54M | 30M | -7.52M | -9.53M | -10.26M | -93.22M | -59.67M | -342K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -6K | -177K | -19K | -65K | 0 |
| Other Financing | -6.53M | -4.35M | -10.6M | -6.15M | 46.58M | -15.23M | -15.75M | -22.86M | -2.58M | -6.38M | 0 | 1.79M | 10.56M | 3.26M | 1.6M | 892K | -1.41M | -622K | -1.07M | 39.15M | 0 | -87K | -182K | 0 | 0 | 238K | 108K | 21K |
| Net Change in Cash | -4.21M | 7.65M | 63.85M | -40.63M | -39.22M | -29.21M | 91.05M | 949K | -13.38M | 25.15M | -18.19M | 8.95M | -31.27M | -15.58M | -17.45M | 42.95M | -62.82M | 3.12M | 3.27M | 74.73M | -111.47M | 33.75M | -11.78M | 76.44M | 1.18M | -37.98M | 78.22M | 5.3M |
| Free Cash Flow | 16.67M | 26.06M | 27.37M | 7.61M | -39.92M | 2.05M | -228.51M | 44.86M | -44.97M | 29.09M | -8.15M | 12.08M | 54.31M | 27.16M | 13.09M | 42.85M | -62.76M | 2.16M | 1.81M | 20.58M | -142.68M | -5.01M | -16.99M | -109.94M | -3.89M | -51.56M | -70.14M | -22.33M |
| FCF Margin % | 2.02% | 3.09% | 3.28% | 0.92% | -4.87% | 0.24% | -27.08% | 7.97% | -7.78% | 8.82% | -3.23% | 4.85% | 18.33% | 9.81% | 5.15% | 16.5% | -25.17% | 0.95% | 0.58% | 6.42% | -51.05% | -2.57% | -9.95% | -117.94% | -6.22% | -29.77% | -135.49% | -2232600% |
| FCF Growth % | 1232.69% | -4.81% | 259.87% | 119.05% | -2047.22% | 100.9% | -609.37% | 199.75% | -254.61% | 456.68% | -167.52% | -77.76% | 99.99% | 107.42% | -69.44% | 168.28% | -3008.11% | 19.09% | -91.19% | 114.42% | -2749.67% | 70.53% | 84.54% | -2725.39% | 92.45% | 26.49% | -214.18% | - |
| FCF per Share | 0.09 | 0.14 | 0.16 | 0.04 | -0.25 | 0.01 | -1.58 | 0.41 | -0.43 | 0.49 | -0.17 | 0.24 | 1.08 | 0.49 | 0.23 | 0.77 | -1.14 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.39 | -2.76 | -0.10 | -0.33 | -2.49 | -0.10 | -1.49 | -3.66 | -2.60 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | 0.53x | 1.30x | -0.93x | -0.26x | 0.27x | -0.11x | 1.15x | -0.43x | 0.12x | -0.23x | -1.38x | -0.62x | -1.78x | -1.51x | 0.78x | 0.47x | -1.73x | -6.84x | 0.14x | -1.36x | 0.25x | 1.10x | 0.45x | -0.32x | 0.23x | 0.00x | 0.29x | 0.67x |
| Interest Paid | 0 | 0 | 32.97M | 25.57M | 19.34M | 14.87M | 15.55M | 4.07M | 2.37M | 317K | 41K | 64K | 89K | 89K | 780K | 10K | 191K | 147K | 291K | 167K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Taxes Paid | 0 | 0 | 29.28M | 18.88M | 16.99M | 14.45M | 9.29M | 4.67M | 5.5M | 2.29M | 1.25M | 1.43M | 2.25M | 1.57M | 2.39M | 926K | 1.61M | 789K | 1.65M | 2.93M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Carrier CapEx Cycle Sensitivity
As reported in recent financial statements, the relationship between net income and operating cash flow remains highly erratic, with the OCF/NI ratio swinging from 9.71 in 2024Q4 to 0.64 in 2026Q1, indicating that reported earnings frequently fail to translate into meaningful cash generation for the firm.
The persistent disconnect between accounting profits and cash inflows suggests that Ribbon's earnings are heavily influenced by non-cash items and timing differences. Investors should monitor this volatility, as the inability to consistently convert net income into operating cash flow may indicate that the underlying business model is struggling to generate sustainable liquidity.
Based on the provided quarterly data, free cash flow margins have exhibited extreme instability, ranging from a peak of 21.4% in 2024Q4 to a trough of -15.4% in 2026Q1, reflecting the company's difficulty in maintaining positive cash flow amidst fluctuating revenue and high operational costs.
The erratic FCF trajectory underscores the company's sensitivity to project-based revenue cycles and the high fixed-cost burden of its R&D initiatives. This lack of predictability in cash generation warrants further investigation into whether the company can achieve a stable, positive FCF profile without further diluting shareholder value.
According to historical cash flow data, working capital changes have been a primary driver of quarterly cash flow variance, with a significant $30.9M inflow in 2024Q4 contrasting sharply with subsequent periods of volatility, suggesting that management's ability to manage receivables and payables remains inconsistent.
The reliance on working capital fluctuations to bridge the gap between operating performance and cash flow suggests that the company's core operations are not yet self-funding. Investors should be wary of these swings, as they may be masking underlying operational inefficiencies or delays in customer payments that could impact future liquidity.
As indicated by the quarterly cash flow statements, stock-based compensation consistently consumes between $3.5M and $6.0M per quarter, which effectively acts as a recurring cash-equivalent expense that further pressures the company's already strained free cash flow position during periods of operational loss.
While SBC is a non-cash expense, its persistence in the face of negative net income suggests a misalignment between compensation structures and actual cash generation. This ongoing dilution warrants close monitoring, as it represents a structural drain on the company's resources that is not fully captured by traditional GAAP operating metrics.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying RBBN stock.
Ribbon Communications Inc. (RBBN) generated $51.4M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Ribbon Communications Inc. (RBBN) generated $26.1M 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.
Ribbon Communications Inc. (RBBN) spent $25.3M 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, Ribbon Communications Inc. (RBBN) spent $9.0M on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.