Free cash flow generation is highly erratic, with margins oscillating between a peak of 21.0% in 2024Q3 and a trough of -39.7% in 2024Q2, reflecting poor earnings quality.
| 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 | Dec'98 | Dec'97 | Dec'96 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 227M | 189M | 98M | 235M | 799M | 327M | 1.55B | 916M | 647.42M | 431.1M | 591.77M | 400.69M | 430.45M | 160.58M | 237.47M | 148.51M | 154.96M | 105.44M | 211.13M | 146.21M | 155.33M | 54.55M | 120.11M | 148.75M | 149.62M | 58.89M | 69.13M | 130.2M | 150.5M | 96.6M | 69M |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | 5.96% | 2.76% | 7.5% | 20.34% | 5.33% | 26.05% | 21.6% | 21.19% | 15.77% | 21.62% | 18.06% | 21.78% | 11.78% | 22.37% | 19.41% | 20.2% | 16.06% | 27.98% | 20.36% | 21.72% | 7.88% | 16.96% | 20.14% | 20.33% | 8.29% | 8.76% | 17.75% | 20.43% | 18.71% | 18.23% |
| Operating CF Growth % | 732.22% | 92.86% | -58.3% | -70.59% | 144.34% | -78.88% | 69% | 41.49% | 50.18% | -27.15% | 47.68% | -6.91% | 168.07% | -32.38% | 59.9% | -4.16% | 46.97% | -50.06% | 44.4% | -5.87% | 184.76% | -54.59% | -19.25% | -0.58% | 154.07% | -14.81% | -46.91% | -13.49% | 55.8% | 40% | 30.93% |
| Net Income | 64M | -99M | 319M | -279M | 2.7B | -326M | -2.43B | 105M | 346M | 594.1M | 250.76M | 176.1M | 215.12M | 75.82M | 144.95M | 76.18M | 75.05M | -138.03M | -241.49M | 22.7M | 53.98M | 187.31M | 24.02M | 24.39M | -564.49M | -127.72M | 77.36M | 167.7M | -5.8M | -4.5M | 1.1M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 360M | 145M | 250M | 271M | 647M | 2.94B | 1.75B | 1.06B | 280.09M | 275.93M | 282.32M | 264.89M | 228.79M | 141.37M | 87.54M | 51.38M | 55.4M | 65.57M | 63.37M | 165.23M | 160.32M | 142.4M | 168.85M | 175.47M | 197.82M | 279.6M | 259.19M | 250.9M | 201.7M | 152.1M | 121.8M |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 29M | 51M | 51M | 45M | 50M | 60M | 52M | 33M | 26.52M | 15.89M | 16.94M | 18.32M | 14.3M | 10.57M | 5.9M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.08M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.56M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | -100M | -121M | 82M | -358M | 906M | -92M | -604M | -5M | -102.62M | -159.46M | 6.12M | -28.45M | -818K | 22.52M | 8.31M | 43.97M | 38.64M | -24.95M | -116.2M | 39.84M | 17.66M | 80.61M | 16.95M | 17.25M | 8.17M | -10.6M | 6.42M | 25.2M | 30.7M | 20.6M | 2.3M |
| Other Non-Cash Items | -64M | 298M | -23M | 175M | -3.45B | -1.95B | 2.69B | -433M | 179.64M | -124.05M | 140.92M | 135.97M | 51.66M | 77.09M | 80.08M | -87.07M | -34.84M | -26.86M | 444.92M | -13.41M | 7.57M | -247.87M | 7.59M | -19.16M | 622.54M | 65.75M | -163.7M | 100K | 14.9M | 200K | 100K |
| Working Capital Changes | -126M | -85M | -581M | 381M | -53M | -311M | 90M | 155M | -82.2M | -171.3M | -105.29M | -166.13M | -78.58M | -189.27M | -83.75M | 3.25M | -49.91M | -67.67M | 54.45M | -63.43M | -75.33M | -107.9M | -97.31M | -49.2M | -115.99M | -148.14M | -110.14M | -6M | -79.9M | -78M | -55.6M |
| Change in Receivables | 41M | -47M | -28M | -8M | 20M | -187M | 70M | 70M | -36.68M | -41.91M | -71.72M | -38.67M | -44.25M | -90.64M | -23.23M | -11.62M | 0 | 823K | 22.88M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -601.47M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Inventory | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -185M | 0 | 0 | -117.89M | -120.88M | -112.47M | -112.53M | 0 | -90.41M | -92.47M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.01B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Payables | 7M | 43M | -495M | 512M | -14M | 113M | -3M | 334M | 23.67M | 34.86M | 60.09M | -18.13M | 53.31M | 7.95M | 35.88M | 0 | -14.49M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 209.68M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Investing | -102M | -120M | 77M | 52M | -381M | -246M | -159M | -9.53B | -118.21M | -198.03M | -606M | -151.31M | -1.4B | -1.05B | -1.15B | -112.25M | 31.93M | -93.85M | -142.32M | -56.37M | -15.14M | 284.83M | -17.7M | -93M | 52.82M | -33.34M | 209.82M | 453M | -1.81B | -219M | -1.01B |
| Capital Expenditures | -71M | -74M | -84M | -92M | -105M | -80M | -157M | -156M | -105.06M | -83.81M | -94.47M | -108.43M | -1.57B | -1.05B | -1.18B | -47.76M | -21.8M | 0 | -42.29M | -23.23M | -16.92M | -16.67M | -44.88M | -69.53M | -84.09M | -29.02M | -33.26M | -268.1M | -2.08B | -110M | -12.6M |
| CapEx % of Revenue | 2.22% | 2.34% | 2.37% | 2.94% | 2.67% | 1.3% | 2.64% | 3.68% | 3.44% | 3.07% | 3.45% | 4.89% | 79.25% | 76.99% | 111.08% | 6.24% | 2.84% | - | 5.61% | 3.23% | 2.37% | 2.41% | 6.34% | 9.41% | 11.43% | 4.09% | 4.22% | 36.55% | 281.95% | 21.3% | 3.33% |
| Acquisitions | 6M | -29M | 0 | 0 | -315M | -4M | -16M | -9B | -35.8M | -326.4M | -477.1M | -44.72M | -8.1M | -10.77M | -24.05M | 54.63M | 18.94M | -10.6M | -52.16M | -39.08M | -1.71M | -15.54M | 0 | -18M | 0 | -490K | -89.94M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | -5M | 4M | 211M | 216M | 15M | 94M | 153M | 77M | 22.66M | 179.77M | -41.22M | -26.55M | 1.49B | 971.81M | 55.41M | -103.4M | 42.04M | -83.25M | -142.32M | 5.93M | 3.49M | 317.95M | 32.73M | 95K | 136.91M | -3.83M | 333.01M | 735.3M | 264M | -109.4M | -999.3M |
| Cash from Financing | 88M | 100M | -140M | -509M | -353M | -524M | -1.46B | 8.89B | -464.82M | 188.26M | 124.25M | -117.09M | 704.48M | 1.15B | 921.71M | -45.27M | -188.15M | -4.84M | -73.32M | -136.27M | -82.44M | -340.21M | -120.65M | -32.35M | -229.17M | 2.42M | -291.26M | -570M | 1.53B | 259.4M | 832.8M |
| Debt Issued (Net) | 196M | 194M | -61M | -85M | -135M | -244M | 80M | 8.72B | -163M | -174M | 350.47M | -12.26M | 917.96M | 768.53M | 1.07B | -1.92M | -153.63M | 17.63M | 15.72M | -93.09M | -43.69M | -314.27M | -92.09M | -15.21M | -233.6M | 36.31M | -178.08M | -557.2M | 1.24B | -130.9M | 848.6M |
| Equity Issued (Net) | 0 | 0 | 0 | -343M | -120M | -61M | -890M | 543M | -220.89M | 458M | -136.28M | -28.82M | -133.16M | 472.91M | 0 | 1.81M | 0 | -1.45M | -29.84M | 13.38M | -34.94M | 178K | -13.15M | -113K | 2.81M | -3.81M | -107.27M | -3.2M | 309.5M | 313.4M | -700K |
| Dividends Paid | -70M | -69M | -66M | -65M | -77M | -65M | -99M | -106M | -74.57M | -71.36M | -65.91M | -62.73M | -61.1M | -56.77M | -123.85M | -38.36M | -34.23M | -16.04M | -66.68M | -49.49M | 0 | -24.2M | -14.45M | -10.35M | -10.35M | -10.35M | -10.35M | -10.4M | -10.4M | -2.4M | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | 0 | 0 | 0 | -153M | -120M | -61M | -343M | -145M | -221M | -30M | -136.28M | -28.82M | -133.16M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.45M | -29.84M | 0 | -36.06M | 0 | -14.3M | -1.54M | 0 | -4.4M | -107.32M | -5M | -26.7M | -4.6M | -700K |
| Other Financing | -38M | -25M | -13M | -16M | -21M | -154M | -551M | -270M | -7.11M | -23M | -43.86M | -15.51M | -21.36M | -36.78M | -22.34M | -6.8M | -287K | -4.97M | 6.84M | -7.07M | -3.81M | -1.91M | -953K | -6.68M | 11.97M | -19.73M | 4.43M | 800K | -15.6M | 79.3M | -7.5M |
| Net Change in Cash | 213M | 169M | 35M | -222M | 65M | -443M | -71M | 273M | 64.39M | 421.34M | 110.01M | 132.29M | -262.42M | 257.24M | 9.9M | -9.01M | -1.25M | 6.75M | -4.51M | -46.43M | 57.75M | -836K | -18.24M | 23.4M | -26.74M | 27.97M | -12.32M | 13.1M | -136.1M | 137M | -110.1M |
| Free Cash Flow | 154M | 115M | 14M | 143M | 694M | 247M | 1.39B | 760M | 542.36M | 347.29M | 497.3M | 292.26M | -1.14B | -888.96M | -941.86M | 100.76M | 133.16M | 105.44M | 168.84M | 122.99M | 138.41M | 37.88M | 75.23M | 79.22M | 65.53M | 29.87M | 35.87M | -137.9M | -1.93B | -13.4M | 56.4M |
| FCF Margin % | 4.81% | 3.63% | 0.39% | 4.56% | 17.67% | 4.03% | 23.41% | 17.92% | 17.75% | 12.7% | 18.17% | 13.17% | -57.48% | -65.21% | -88.71% | 13.17% | 17.36% | 16.06% | 22.38% | 17.13% | 19.35% | 5.47% | 10.62% | 10.72% | 8.91% | 4.21% | 4.55% | -18.8% | -261.52% | -2.59% | 14.9% |
| FCF Growth % | 450% | 721.43% | -90.21% | -79.39% | 180.97% | -82.24% | 83.03% | 40.13% | 56.17% | -30.16% | 70.16% | 125.73% | -27.8% | 5.62% | -1034.79% | -24.34% | 26.3% | -37.55% | 37.28% | -11.14% | 265.43% | -49.65% | -5.04% | 20.9% | 119.37% | -16.73% | 126.01% | 92.84% | -14279.85% | -123.76% | 10.59% |
| FCF per Share | 2.17 | 1.66 | 0.21 | 2.20 | 9.82 | 3.29 | 17.40 | 8.16 | 5.33 | 3.45 | 5.27 | 3.05 | -11.61 | -9.47 | -11.58 | 1.25 | 1.59 | 1.32 | 1.97 | 1.41 | 1.62 | 0.44 | 0.87 | 0.90 | 0.77 | 0.32 | 0.39 | -1.34 | -20.17 | -0.23 | 1.03 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | 2.41x | -1.69x | 0.32x | -0.81x | 0.30x | -0.79x | -0.64x | 19.49x | 1.90x | 0.75x | 2.41x | 2.34x | 2.03x | 2.19x | 1.64x | 1.96x | 2.03x | -0.78x | 3.42x | 3.39x | 1.51x | 0.29x | 5.00x | 6.10x | -0.27x | -0.46x | 0.89x | 0.78x | -8.91x | -9.11x | 62.73x |
| Interest Paid | 0 | 0 | 296M | 294M | 387M | 583M | 634M | 283M | 285M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Taxes Paid | 0 | 0 | 3M | 5M | 18M | 16M | 11M | 32M | 17M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
High leverage and cord-cutting
As reported in recent financial statements, Sinclair's operating cash flow frequently decouples from net income, evidenced by a volatile OCF/NI ratio that swung from -18.00 in 2024Q2 to 36.00 in 2025Q3, suggesting that accounting earnings are poor proxies for the company's actual cash-generating capacity.
The extreme variance between net income and operating cash flow indicates that non-cash charges and working capital swings dominate the bottom line. Investors should monitor this divergence, as it implies that reported profitability may be significantly influenced by accounting adjustments rather than core operational efficiency.
Based on the company's reported figures, free cash flow trajectory remains highly erratic, with margins oscillating between a peak of 21.0% in 2024Q3 and a trough of -39.7% in 2024Q2, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining consistent cash generation amidst a secular decline in linear television viewership.
The inconsistency in FCF generation suggests that Sinclair's business model is highly sensitive to cyclical advertising fluctuations and the timing of retransmission fee collections. This lack of predictability complicates long-term capital planning and may necessitate a more conservative approach to dividend sustainability.
According to recent SEC filings, Sinclair's working capital dynamics are characterized by massive quarterly swings, such as the $394 million outflow in 2024Q2 followed by a $455 million inflow in 2023Q4, indicating significant instability in the timing of cash collections and payments across the broadcast cycle.
These dramatic fluctuations in working capital suggest that the company's cash flow is heavily impacted by the timing of political ad payments and network fee settlements. Such volatility warrants further investigation into whether these shifts represent structural timing issues or underlying weaknesses in the collection process.
As indicated by financial data, Sinclair maintains a relatively stable capital intensity, with CapEx/Revenue ratios hovering around 2% to 3%, suggesting that the company is prioritizing essential maintenance over aggressive expansion despite the ongoing transition to ATSC 3.0 technology and the need for infrastructure modernization.
While the capital expenditure levels appear manageable relative to revenue, the persistent need for investment in broadcast technology may limit the company's ability to deleverage. Investors should monitor whether these expenditures are sufficient to maintain competitive parity or if they represent a growing burden on cash flow.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying SBGI stock.
Sinclair, Inc. (SBGI) generated $189.0M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Sinclair, Inc. (SBGI) generated $115.0M 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.
Sinclair, Inc. (SBGI) spent $74.0M 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, Sinclair, Inc. (SBGI) returned $69.0M to shareholders via cash dividends. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.