Liquidity is rapidly depleting, with cash reserves falling from $10.7 million in 2024Q4 to just $447.5K in 2026Q1, while free cash flow remains consistently negative.
| 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'97 | Dec'96 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | -13.34M | -14.33M | -10.59M | -9.03M | -4.95M | -1.84M | 64.76K | -287.45K | 157.15K | 271.55K | 146.75K | -38.87K | -337.48K | -314.26K | -1.04M | -1.47M | -298.27K | -706.63K | -474.95K | 17.4K | -33.84K | 6.58K | -15.46K | -26.89K | -71.98K | -173.81K | -213.25K | -329.65K | -3.1M | -1.4M |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | -6662.2% | -2377.34% | -1214.46% | -164.11% | -3827.34% | 74.81% | -1197.7% | 82.67% | 31.86% | 24.97% | -7.34% | -78.71% | -87.45% | -539.05% | -759.69% | -881.37% | -2086.91% | -2007.16% | 68.34% | -77.86% | 6.74% | -17.18% | -29.88% | -58.76% | -1428.22% | -412.17% | -424.32% | -3100% | -1400% |
| Operating CF Growth % | -76% | -35.28% | -17.21% | -82.57% | -168.81% | -2942.77% | 122.53% | -282.92% | -42.13% | 85.04% | 477.54% | 88.48% | -7.39% | 69.9% | 28.93% | -392.56% | 57.79% | -48.78% | -2828.99% | 151.43% | -614.6% | 142.53% | 42.49% | 62.64% | 58.59% | 18.49% | 35.31% | 89.37% | -121.43% | - |
| Net Income | -21.85M | -20.98M | -12.43M | -8.1M | -4.69M | -3.16M | 40.34K | -514.92K | -679.08K | 404.35K | -123.76K | -426.63K | -565.91K | -1.05M | -4.76M | -2.55M | -308.35K | -890.98K | -829.56K | -92.94K | -92.89K | -69.12K | -37.8K | -90.54K | -3.76K | -202.19K | -335.49K | -788.55K | -3.3M | -1.8M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 797.34K | 752.03K | 226.04K | 85.82K | 67.57K | 46.05K | 911 | 5.63K | 19.96K | 36.45K | 32.37K | 76.58K | 236.46K | 231.66K | 171.11K | 7.42K | 5.69K | 3.68K | 2.82K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12.97K | 21.18K | 35.45K | 0 | 0 |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 2.84M | 3.55M | 1.22M | 925.18K | 610.74K | 204.22K | 328 | 80K | 480.65K | 0 | 207.81K | 390K | 255.44K | 121.24K | 658.38K | 466.91K | 0 | 56.25K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -255.44K | 51.02K | 3.82M | 1.94M | 0 | -56.25K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 1.72M | 440.14K | 447.03K | 71.2K | 0 | 1.4M | 6.33K | 76.43K | 184.96K | 242.14K | 12.88K | 12.88K | 85.86K | 334.75K | -907.16K | -1.31M | 0 | 248.77K | 136.94K | 14.99K | -13.88K | 2K | -2.43K | 2K | 4.3K | 69.56K | 154.38K | 35.94K | 100K | 0 |
| Working Capital Changes | 3.15M | 1.91M | -44.31K | -2.01M | -937.01K | -326.44K | 16.85K | 65.4K | 335.61K | -169.25K | 17.45K | -91.7K | -93.88K | 2.03K | -29.28K | -12.41K | 4.39K | -68.1K | 214.84K | 95.36K | 72.92K | 73.7K | 24.77K | 61.65K | -72.51K | -54.16K | -53.33K | 387.5K | 100K | 400K |
| Change in Receivables | -2.06K | 1.32M | -504.18K | -680.93K | -918.16K | 32.33K | -31.33K | 3.41K | 357.03K | -184.73K | 6.32K | -30.03K | -135.25K | 94.12K | -119.15K | -37.83K | 2.28K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -79.47K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Inventory | 103.98K | 229.58K | -1.29M | -615.97K | -1.66M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -37.12K | -15.9K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Payables | 670.17K | 448.89K | 215.72K | -877.28K | 1.39M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -56.17K | 16.24K | 37.12K | -58.06K | 56.43K | -65.99K | -69.74K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.96K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100K | 400K |
| Cash from Investing | -1.95M | -1.9M | -653.54K | 1.85M | -2.16M | 28.34K | -275 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -16.12K | -13.59K | -57.72K | 0 | -11.19K | -3.54K | -7.9K | -425 | 0 | 18.31K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36.12K | 1.1M | -2.3M |
| Capital Expenditures | -1.42M | -1.9M | -554.94K | -105.99K | -144.57K | -1.19K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -16.12K | -13.59K | -57.72K | 0 | -11.19K | -3.54K | -7.9K | -1.3K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -100K | -100K |
| CapEx % of Revenue | 636.46% | 882.74% | 124.58% | 14.25% | 4.79% | 2.47% | - | - | - | - | - | 3.04% | 3.17% | 16.06% | - | 5.79% | 10.45% | 23.33% | 5.48% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 100% | 100% |
| Acquisitions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 113.76K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 872 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | -526.95K | 0 | -98.6K | -5.72K | -52.29K | -84.22K | -275 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36.12K | 300K | -300K |
| Cash from Financing | 8.85M | 8.77M | 11.45M | 13.58M | 25.05K | 12.87M | 2.05K | 299K | -150K | -275K | -147.57K | 55.85K | 307.5K | 375K | 1.08M | 1.47M | 297K | 724.78K | 325K | -17K | 17K | -7.5K | 7.5K | 35K | 15K | -5K | 448.89K | 216.71K | 900K | 6.7M |
| Debt Issued (Net) | 661.66K | 488.8K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 886K | 325K | -150K | -275K | -147.57K | 14.13K | -100K | 75K | 144.01K | 0 | 0 | -140.22K | 300K | -17K | 17K | -7.5K | 7.5K | 35K | 0 | -5K | -6.11K | 176.11K | 0 | 0 |
| Equity Issued (Net) | 8.66M | 8.28M | 11.39M | 13.44M | 0 | 11.6M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 415K | 300K | 937.85K | 1.62M | 330K | 950K | 25K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15K | 0 | 455K | 40.6K | 0 | 0 |
| 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 | 0 | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | -649.98K | -649.98K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -320.38K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Financing | -474K | 0 | 60K | 137.5K | 25.05K | 1.27M | -883.95K | -26K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41.72K | -7.5K | 0 | 0 | -150K | -33K | -85K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 900K | 6.7M |
| Net Change in Cash | -4.17M | -7.45M | 206.24K | 6.4M | -7.08M | 11.06M | 66.54K | 11.55K | 7.15K | -3.45K | -815 | 865 | -43.57K | 3.02K | 37.75K | -8.12K | -4.81K | 10.25K | -150.38K | 404 | 1.47K | -924 | -7.96K | 8.11K | -56.98K | -178.81K | 235.63K | -76.82K | -1.1M | 3M |
| Free Cash Flow | -15.29M | -16.22M | -11.24M | -9.15M | -5.15M | -1.84M | 64.76K | -287.45K | 157.15K | 271.55K | 146.75K | -54.99K | -351.07K | -371.98K | -1.04M | -1.48M | -301.81K | -714.53K | -476.25K | 17.4K | -33.84K | 6.58K | -15.46K | -26.89K | -71.98K | -173.81K | -213.25K | -329.65K | -3.2M | -1.5M |
| FCF Margin % | -6852.29% | -7544.94% | -2524.06% | -1229.47% | -170.63% | -3829.81% | 74.81% | -1197.7% | 82.67% | 31.86% | 24.97% | -10.38% | -81.88% | -103.51% | -539.05% | -765.48% | -891.82% | -2110.25% | -2012.64% | 68.34% | -77.86% | 6.74% | -17.18% | -29.88% | -58.76% | -1428.22% | -412.17% | -424.32% | -3200% | -1500% |
| FCF Growth % | -19.58% | -44.3% | -22.92% | -77.76% | -179.32% | -2944.61% | 122.53% | -282.92% | -42.13% | 85.04% | 366.89% | 84.34% | 5.62% | 64.37% | 29.47% | -390.49% | 57.76% | -50.03% | -2836.45% | 151.43% | -614.6% | 142.53% | 42.49% | 62.64% | 58.59% | 18.49% | 35.31% | 89.7% | -113.33% | - |
| FCF per Share | -0.88 | -1.07 | -0.84 | -0.70 | -0.41 | -0.20 | 0.02 | -0.09 | 0.05 | 0.09 | 0.05 | -0.02 | -0.11 | -0.14 | -0.38 | -0.56 | -0.11 | -0.26 | -0.33 | 0.01 | -0.33 | 0.06 | -0.15 | -0.26 | -0.71 | -1.74 | -2.21 | -3.68 | -35.68 | -16.72 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | 0.70x | 0.68x | 0.85x | 1.11x | 1.06x | 0.58x | 1.61x | 0.56x | -0.23x | 0.67x | -1.19x | 0.09x | 0.60x | 0.30x | 0.22x | 0.58x | 0.97x | 0.79x | 0.57x | -0.19x | 0.36x | -0.10x | 0.41x | 0.30x | 19.13x | 0.86x | 0.64x | 0.42x | 0.94x | 0.78x |
| Interest Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25.87K | 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 | 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 |
Liquidity and commercialization failure
As reported in quarterly financial statements, the company consistently exhibits a significant gap between net losses and operating cash flow, with OCF/NI ratios frequently fluctuating, suggesting that accrual-based accounting does not fully capture the underlying cash burn inherent in the firm's current operational model.
The persistent negative operating cash flow, often mirroring the magnitude of net losses, indicates that the company lacks the non-cash adjustments necessary to bridge the gap between accounting profitability and cash preservation. Investors should monitor whether this trend persists, as it suggests that the business model is currently incapable of generating self-sustaining cash flows from its core operations.
Based on the provided cash flow data, the company's free cash flow remains deeply negative across all observed periods, with quarterly outflows frequently exceeding $2.5 million, which highlights the substantial capital requirements needed to support the ongoing development and deployment of its AirSCWO technology.
The consistent negative FCF trajectory underscores the firm's reliance on external capital to fund its operations, as it has yet to achieve the scale required for positive cash generation. This trend appears to be a structural feature of the business's current stage, implying that significant commercial milestones must be met to alter this cash-burning profile.
According to recent SEC filings, the company's capital expenditure relative to revenue has reached extreme levels, including a peak of 101.6% in 2025Q2, which demonstrates the heavy investment required to maintain and manufacture its specialized supercritical water oxidation hardware in a pre-revenue or low-revenue environment.
The high capital intensity suggests that the company is currently in a heavy asset-build phase, where the cost of maintaining technical infrastructure significantly outweighs the revenue generated from its units. This capital-heavy approach warrants further investigation into whether these expenditures are truly growth-oriented or merely necessary maintenance to keep existing systems operational.
As evidenced by the quarterly cash flow data, working capital changes have been highly erratic, swinging from a $2.5 million inflow in 2025Q4 to a $765.1K outflow in 2025Q1, which suggests significant instability in the company's ability to manage its receivables, payables, and inventory cycles.
This volatility in working capital appears to reflect the lumpy, project-based nature of the company's revenue recognition and procurement processes. Such fluctuations may indicate potential challenges in timing cash collections with the high costs of bespoke component acquisition, further complicating the firm's liquidity management.
Based on reported figures, the company utilizes significant stock-based compensation, such as the $1.5 million recorded in 2025Q4, which effectively obscures the true extent of the cash burn by shifting compensation costs away from the cash flow statement and into equity dilution for shareholders.
While SBC is a non-cash expense, its reliance suggests that the company is conserving cash by compensating talent with equity, a strategy that may not be sustainable if the share price remains under pressure. Investors should consider the impact of this dilution on future earnings per share, as the underlying cash-burning nature of the business remains unmitigated by these accounting adjustments.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying SCWO stock.
374Water, Inc. (SCWO) generated $-14.3M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
374Water, Inc. (SCWO) reported negative free cash flow of $16.2M in 2025, indicating capital requirements exceeded cash from operations.
374Water, Inc. (SCWO) spent $1.9M 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, 374Water, Inc. (SCWO) spent $0.6M on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.