Operational efficiency has improved markedly, with the free cash flow margin reaching 22.4% in 2026Q1 compared to the negative 3.4% recorded in 2025Q1.
| 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 | 539.7M | 333.3M | 285.9M | 208.5M | -136.8M | 174.6M | 126.3M | 148.6M | 110.6M | 46.9M | 6.5M | -38.5M | 76.4M | 105.3M | 69.8M | 322.6M | 253.6M | 471.1M | 405.9M | 439.6M | 60M | -131.6M | 179.7M | 626.1M | 439.1M | 492.2M | 171.2M | 211.8M | 44.9M | 109M | 93.3M |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | 14.71% | 14.41% | 11.97% | -9.36% | 14.32% | 11.2% | 13.23% | 7.31% | 3.29% | 0.44% | -2.47% | 4.51% | 5.35% | 1.43% | 7.55% | 6.19% | 9.72% | 6.95% | 9.12% | 1.44% | -3.53% | 4.94% | 17.63% | 12.07% | 12.77% | 6.39% | 7.81% | 2.46% | 5.58% | 4.52% |
| Operating CF Growth % | 1989.76% | 16.58% | 37.12% | 252.41% | -178.35% | 38.24% | -15.01% | 34.36% | 135.82% | 621.54% | 116.88% | -150.39% | -27.45% | 50.86% | -78.36% | 27.21% | -46.17% | 16.06% | -7.67% | 632.67% | 145.59% | -173.23% | -71.3% | 42.59% | -10.79% | 187.5% | -19.17% | 371.71% | -58.81% | 16.83% | 40.51% |
| Net Income | 253.7M | 245.5M | 201.8M | 144.7M | 19.8M | 59M | 73.8M | 76.3M | 81.9M | 84M | 30.3M | -151.6M | 114.6M | 9.5M | -165.2M | 132.7M | 178M | 49M | 258.9M | 294.2M | 170.7M | 1.09B | -17.1M | 135.2M | 164.3M | 173M | 198.3M | 107.5M | -41.7M | 133.3M | 133.4M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 126.3M | 122.6M | 91.6M | 63.2M | 46.4M | 42.3M | 31.9M | 24.4M | 27.9M | 25.2M | 26.5M | 37M | 40.6M | 45.7M | 107.8M | 82.7M | 81.9M | 105.9M | 104.5M | 79M | 75.2M | 71.4M | 75.6M | 85.7M | 89.6M | 174.9M | 110.9M | 105.4M | 69.4M | 65.3M | 69.2M |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 13M | 24.2M | 15M | 13.4M | 10.9M | 12.8M | 13.1M | 12.6M | 15.5M | 15.8M | 13.7M | 33.9M | 32.7M | 26.5M | 38.9M | 38.6M | 29.9M | 27.6M | 41.5M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | 37.9M | 26.1M | -15.1M | -25.2M | -21.4M | -1.4M | 300K | 13.8M | 900K | -21M | 0 | 4.9M | -79.1M | 107.8M | -36.5M | -39.8M | 61.6M | -21M | 49.4M | -9.5M | 5.4M | 43.1M | -108.9M | 79.2M | 75.6M | 103.4M | 107.6M | 68.1M | -19.5M | 22.2M | 43.7M |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 23.4M | -30.8M | -14.3M | -22.1M | -65.1M | 56.9M | 29.8M | 50.1M | 16M | 13.6M | -3.6M | 76.7M | 99.4M | 104.9M | 456.4M | 225.8M | 156.7M | 344.5M | 194.9M | 162.4M | 142.1M | -1.2B | 414.6M | 337.3M | 215.6M | 72.4M | -123.9M | -50.4M | 93M | -81.3M | -4.4M |
| Working Capital Changes | 67.1M | -54.3M | 6.9M | 34.5M | -127.4M | 5M | -22.6M | -28.6M | -31.6M | -70.7M | -68.1M | -39.4M | -131.8M | -189.1M | -331.6M | -117.4M | -254.5M | -34.9M | -243.3M | -86.5M | -333.4M | -134.5M | -191.6M | -19M | -103.4M | -31.5M | -121.7M | -18.8M | -40.5M | -30.5M | -50.2M |
| Change in Receivables | -68.6M | -81.8M | 2.1M | 30.6M | -300K | -19.8M | 33.5M | 36.3M | 42.6M | -103.5M | -36.4M | -6.9M | 50.7M | 24.5M | -213.9M | -14.7M | -167.1M | 319.4M | -252.8M | 15.9M | -207.7M | -86.1M | -59.7M | 61.9M | -12.4M | -66.6M | -46.8M | -54.2M | 1.9M | -17.5M | -30.8M |
| Change in Inventory | -12.3M | 2.8M | 9.1M | -3.1M | -53.4M | -21M | 0 | -8.8M | 2.9M | 4.5M | 8.5M | -21.2M | -10.9M | -3.5M | 58.3M | -59M | 19.1M | 160.1M | -48M | -42.5M | -44.5M | 3.3M | -16.3M | 34M | 2.5M | 47M | -2.8M | -28.6M | 14.6M | 8.4M | -10.4M |
| Change in Payables | 63.4M | 24.7M | -4.3M | 7M | -73.7M | 45.8M | -56.1M | -56.1M | -77.1M | 28.3M | -40.2M | -11.3M | -171.6M | -210.1M | -176M | -43.7M | -106.5M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Investing | -316.8M | -561M | -284.5M | -570.2M | -66.1M | 314.1M | -126.1M | -153.7M | -180.6M | -10.6M | 5.5M | -54.2M | 627.4M | -46.7M | 1.03B | -944.3M | -183.1M | -188.2M | -13.6M | -528.7M | -104.3M | 2.67B | -143.7M | -60.1M | -239.1M | -517.7M | -354.3M | 148.5M | -67.9M | 154.9M | 1.7M |
| Capital Expenditures | -155.1M | -92.1M | -38M | -23.9M | -15.9M | -9.6M | -15.3M | -17.8M | -12.4M | -11M | -11.7M | -16M | -61.1M | -54.9M | -84.3M | -154.1M | -75.7M | -92.8M | -116.4M | -90.9M | -58.1M | -42.1M | -40.2M | -70M | -94.1M | -150M | -123.3M | -198.4M | -80.1M | -27.7M | -20.2M |
| CapEx % of Revenue | 6.6% | 4.07% | 1.92% | 1.37% | 1.09% | 0.79% | 1.36% | 1.58% | 0.82% | 0.77% | 0.79% | 1.03% | 3.61% | 2.79% | 1.72% | 3.61% | 1.85% | 1.92% | 1.99% | 1.88% | 1.39% | 1.13% | 1.1% | 1.97% | 2.59% | 3.89% | 4.6% | 7.31% | 4.39% | 1.42% | 0.98% |
| Acquisitions | -141.2M | -445M | -292M | -547M | -40M | -265.2M | -104.4M | -147.1M | -180.8M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2.9M | -34.3M | -792.5M | -130.6M | -131.4M | -15M | -567.2M | -169.4M | -50.4M | -125.8M | -252.3M | -238.4M | -528.1M | -220.8M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | -20.5M | -23.9M | 45.5M | 700K | -10.2M | 588.9M | -6.4M | 11.2M | 12.6M | 400K | 17.2M | -38.2M | 688.5M | 11.1M | 1.15B | 2.3M | 23.2M | 36M | 131.8M | 129.4M | 123.2M | 2.76B | 22.3M | 192.2M | 93.4M | 160.4M | -10.2M | 346.9M | 12.2M | 182.6M | 21.9M |
| Cash from Financing | 90.7M | 425.5M | 53.1M | 309.6M | -38.9M | -167.6M | 15.9M | -11.1M | 16.8M | -6.2M | -20.5M | -175.6M | -902.8M | -335.4M | -669.6M | 713.9M | -147M | -239.2M | -312.1M | -46.8M | -63.5M | -2.52B | -170M | -397.6M | -104.1M | 411.8M | 178M | -351.8M | 27.5M | -228.3M | -207.3M |
| Debt Issued (Net) | -463.7M | -118.2M | 52.2M | 310.9M | -2.7M | -164.5M | 15.6M | 8.4M | 24.6M | -4.9M | -18.9M | 87M | -339.6M | -20.8M | -365.5M | 767.2M | -83.5M | -74.1M | -224.5M | 577.9M | 242.2M | -1.82B | -143.7M | -109.9M | 15M | 366.9M | 180.9M | -400.9M | 1.04B | 52.4M | -173.2M |
| Equity Issued (Net) | 552M | 551.1M | 0 | 0 | -33.7M | 0 | 0 | -15.6M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -488.8M | -260.2M | -245.6M | 100K | 3.5M | -112M | -33.7M | -582.9M | -239.9M | -591.5M | -400K | -300.6M | -99.6M | 44.9M | 4.6M | 49.1M | -157.1M | -229M | 13.5M |
| Dividends Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -45.9M | -60.3M | -34.7M | -63.6M | -53.4M | -52.3M | -50.3M | -53.5M | -56.5M | -59.9M | -73.3M | -56.8M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -820.7M | -1.4M | -5.5M |
| Share Repurchases | 900K | 0 | 0 | 0 | -33.7M | 0 | 0 | -15.6M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -488.8M | -260.2M | -245.6M | 0 | 0 | -113.2M | -115.2M | -715.9M | -436.3M | -624.7M | -42.3M | -315.4M | -172.9M | 0 | -138.8M | 0 | -160.2M | -240.4M | -1.2M |
| Other Financing | 2.4M | -7.4M | 900K | -1.3M | -2.5M | -3.1M | 300K | -3.9M | -7.8M | -1.3M | -1.6M | -216.7M | -14.1M | -19.7M | 4.4M | 0 | -14.7M | -2.8M | -400K | -6M | -5.9M | -34.9M | 30.9M | 12.9M | -19.5M | 0 | -7.5M | 0 | -38.2M | -50.3M | -42.1M |
| Net Change in Cash | 319.9M | 207.1M | 56.5M | -52.2M | -238.9M | 327.7M | 13.6M | -14.1M | -55.5M | 24.7M | -1.8M | -326.2M | -264.2M | -292.3M | 433.1M | 95.6M | -67.5M | 47M | 121.8M | -123.1M | -103M | -6.2M | -134M | 165.7M | 95.9M | 386.3M | -5.1M | 8.5M | 20.3M | 32.3M | -4.8M |
| Free Cash Flow | 385.2M | 241.2M | 247.9M | 184.6M | -152.7M | 165M | 111M | 135.1M | 98.2M | 35.9M | -5.2M | -54.5M | 15.3M | 50.4M | -14.5M | 168.5M | 177.9M | 378.3M | 289.5M | 348.7M | 1.9M | -175.6M | 133.4M | 556.1M | 345M | 342.2M | 47.9M | 109.8M | -35.2M | -43.6M | 132.4M |
| FCF Margin % | 16.4% | 10.65% | 12.5% | 10.6% | -10.45% | 13.53% | 9.84% | 12.02% | 6.49% | 2.52% | -0.35% | -3.5% | 0.9% | 2.56% | -0.3% | 3.94% | 4.34% | 7.81% | 4.96% | 7.23% | 0.05% | -4.71% | 3.67% | 15.66% | 9.48% | 8.88% | 1.79% | 4.05% | -1.93% | -2.23% | 6.41% |
| FCF Growth % | 66.83% | -2.7% | 34.29% | 220.89% | -192.55% | 48.65% | -17.84% | 37.58% | 173.54% | 790.38% | 90.46% | -456.21% | -69.64% | 447.59% | -108.61% | -5.28% | -52.97% | 30.67% | -16.98% | 18252.63% | 101.08% | -231.63% | -76.01% | 61.19% | 0.82% | 614.4% | -56.38% | 411.93% | 19.27% | -132.93% | 274.01% |
| FCF per Share | 7.62 | 4.97 | 5.27 | 3.96 | -3.30 | 3.55 | 2.43 | 3.01 | 2.20 | 0.82 | -0.12 | -1.34 | 0.36 | 1.10 | -0.29 | 3.31 | 3.53 | 7.60 | 5.35 | 6.19 | 0.03 | -2.43 | 1.79 | 6.69 | 4.14 | 4.75 | 0.75 | 1.76 | -0.57 | -1.74 | 4.45 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | 1.52x | 1.36x | 1.43x | 2.32x | -684.00x | 0.41x | 1.28x | 2.10x | 1.36x | 0.53x | -0.08x | 0.47x | 0.19x | 0.50x | 0.39x | 1.88x | 1.23x | 14.86x | 1.64x | 1.49x | 0.35x | -0.12x | -10.51x | 2.65x | 3.45x | 2.85x | 0.90x | 2.09x | -1.08x | 0.84x | 0.70x |
| Interest Paid | 0 | 0 | 43.4M | 0 | 6.5M | 11.4M | 17.5M | 0 | 19.7M | 15.1M | 12.5M | 60.8M | 65.9M | 102.6M | 102M | 0 | 73.9M | 94.2M | 113.3M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Taxes Paid | 0 | 57.3M | 43.5M | 58.4M | 59.6M | 5.5M | 7.6M | 0 | 44.3M | 22.9M | 4.8M | 51M | 314.8M | 50.3M | 59.3M | 0 | 30M | 35.7M | 95.7M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Acquisition-driven cash flow volatility
According to quarterly financial data, SPXC's operating cash flow to net income ratio has fluctuated significantly, reaching a high of 3.26 in 2026Q1, which suggests that reported earnings often understate the underlying cash-generating capacity of the firm's core industrial and detection business segments.
The wide variance in the OCF/NI ratio indicates that accruals and working capital swings play a dominant role in periodic cash reporting. Investors should monitor whether this conversion volatility is a structural feature of the company's project-based revenue recognition or merely a timing mismatch in receivables collection.
As reported in recent filings, SPXC achieved a free cash flow margin of 22.4% in 2026Q1, demonstrating a strong recovery from the negative cash flow territory observed in early 2025, which appears to be driven by improved operational efficiency and normalized working capital requirements.
The trajectory of FCF margins suggests that the business is successfully scaling its high-margin detection and measurement products. However, the historical inconsistency in FCF generation warrants caution, as the company's reliance on large-scale cooling projects can lead to lumpy cash inflows that may not persist in every quarter.
Based on the provided cash flow statements, working capital changes have been a primary driver of cash flow volatility, with a significant $70.7 million inflow in 2026Q1 contrasting sharply with the $50.9 million outflow recorded during the acquisition-heavy period of 2025Q1.
These swings suggest that the company's cash position is highly sensitive to the timing of large project milestones and inventory management. The ability to swing from cash-burning to cash-generating status within a year implies that management is actively managing its cash conversion cycle to offset acquisition-related outflows.
As indicated by the company's cash flow statements, SPXC has prioritized aggressive inorganic growth, with net acquisition spending reaching $304.1 million in 2025Q1, while maintaining a conservative stance on shareholder returns such as dividends or share repurchases throughout the observed ten-quarter period.
The consistent use of cash for bolt-on acquisitions suggests that management views internal reinvestment and market consolidation as the primary drivers of long-term value. Investors should evaluate whether the returns on these acquired assets are sufficient to justify the lack of direct capital return to shareholders.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying SPXC stock.
SPX Technologies, Inc. (SPXC) generated $333.3M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
SPX Technologies, Inc. (SPXC) generated $241.2M 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.
SPX Technologies, Inc. (SPXC) spent $92.1M on capital expenditures in 2025. CapEx represents the cash invested in physical assets like property, plant, and equipment to maintain or grow the business.