Free cash flow remains persistently negative, with a -2.1% margin in 2026Q1, highlighting a heavy reliance on external financing to fund ongoing infrastructure capital expenditures.
| 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 | 9.02M | -5.76M | -19.75M | -4.77M | 19.88M | 29.64M | 36.08M | 40.38M | 37.21M | 31.9M | 21.65M | 13.35M | 8.88M | 8.7M | 6.34M | 5.89M | 6.77M | 6.47M | 2.36M | 8.62M | 8.82M | 4.06M | 4.67M | 3.22M | 3.44M | -6.06M | -8.2M | -6.6M | -11.7M | -12.7M | -14M |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | -1.48% | -5.45% | -1.41% | 6.19% | 9.74% | 11.59% | 11.98% | 10.75% | 9.68% | 11.41% | 7.72% | 6.01% | 6.7% | 5.53% | 6.06% | 8% | 7.99% | 3.01% | 11.55% | 13.56% | 8.38% | 10.44% | 8.66% | 9.28% | -19.2% | -73.46% | -28.45% | -78.52% | -186.76% | -1000% |
| Operating CF Growth % | 550.03% | 70.84% | -313.85% | -124% | -32.94% | -17.86% | -10.65% | 8.52% | 16.65% | 47.33% | 62.22% | 50.34% | 1.99% | 37.21% | 7.78% | -13.05% | 4.69% | 173.9% | -72.62% | -2.21% | 117% | -12.94% | 44.98% | -6.36% | 156.7% | 26.04% | -24.22% | 43.59% | 7.87% | 9.29% | - |
| Net Income | -78.79M | -75.82M | -109.86M | -96.2M | -27.57M | 3.36M | 5.78M | 15.4M | 17.14M | 22.33M | 16.07M | 11.37M | 6.37M | 4.18M | 4.42M | 6.17M | 2.12M | 12.24M | 2.07M | 2.68M | 2.16M | 2.77M | 5.5M | 2.06M | 1.87M | -13.41M | -14.32M | 24.7M | -17.4M | -17.4M | -13.8M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 47.88M | 50.91M | 45.62M | 47.26M | 39.58M | 27.99M | 24.05M | 19.29M | 14.96M | 12.13M | 2.78M | 1.67M | 1.52M | 1.8M | 1.82M | 2.03M | 2.94M | 3.5M | 4.87M | 5.51M | 3.86M | 1.19M | 1.3M | 1.49M | 2.9M | 6.86M | 1.19M | 2.3M | 1.6M | 1.2M | 600K |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 6.73M | 7.14M | 7.02M | 8.13M | 7.6M | 4.59M | 3.72M | 2.88M | 2.57M | 1.46M | 799.43K | 526.02K | 542.74K | 430.9K | 360.7K | 310.96K | 400K | 295.26K | 287.8M | 321.6M | 298.04M | 0 | 0 | 162.7M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | -188K | 0 | 854K | -13.04M | -6.98M | -1.33M | -3.94M | 1.28M | 1.04M | -3.34M | 1.19M | 134.86K | -1.08M | -247.37K | 832.74K | -3.05M | 56.98K | -556K | -287.8M | -321.6M | -298.04M | 0 | -3M | -162.7M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 29.86M | 11.28M | 32.63M | 36.6M | 2.21M | -2.98M | 6.38M | -436K | -297K | -2.6M | -709.75K | 308.04K | 671.55K | -519.62K | -1.41M | 1.65M | 1.37M | -7.99M | -2.42M | -175.65K | 872.8K | 30.12K | -19.01K | -1.12M | -2.32M | 1.62M | 4.06M | -33.9M | 400K | 200K | 100K |
| Working Capital Changes | 3.53M | 732K | 4M | 12.47M | 5.04M | -2M | 90K | 1.96M | 1.79M | 1.92M | 1.52M | -663.66K | 850.71K | 3.06M | 316.91K | -1.23M | -120.31K | -1.03M | -2.17M | 617.38K | 1.93M | 73.06K | 889.48K | 783.09K | 995.06K | -1.13M | 872.33K | 300K | 3.7M | 3.3M | -900K |
| Change in Receivables | -3.67M | -3.62M | 2.27M | 3M | -7.18M | -586K | 627K | -3.1M | 1.54M | 1.01M | -3.75M | -220.19K | -1.48M | -892.14K | -533.08K | -270.59K | -199.95K | 378.32K | 221.82M | -425.96M | -1.48B | -328.25M | 0 | -147.59M | 0 | 0 | -64.42M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Inventory | 0 | 0 | 2.81M | 361K | -4.01M | -787K | 945K | 318K | -831K | -1.73M | -307.01K | -442.81K | -84.09K | 277.42K | -381.51K | -5.52M | -6.15M | -2.68M | 561.83M | 492.93M | 724.7M | 156.59M | 0 | 120.93M | 0 | 0 | 198.39M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Payables | 4.35M | 0 | -3.39M | -5.32M | 6.75M | 4.07M | -902K | -1.22M | 171K | -3.83M | 390.89K | 249.93K | 1.15M | 529.54K | 931.47K | -611.53K | -35.21K | -172.58K | -789.42M | -67.27M | 745.58M | 171.65M | 0 | 26.66M | 0 | 0 | -133.96M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Investing | 797K | 2.16M | -56.49M | -92.58M | -137.49M | -101.98M | -53.28M | -76.09M | -29.68M | -94.11M | -14.45M | 3.29M | -8.91M | -1.35M | -488.24K | -3.24M | -589.05K | 3.27M | 4.15M | -13.22M | -17.99M | -2.51M | -4.39M | 848.35K | 703.38K | 5.71M | 9.51M | 4.3M | 9.8M | -1.7M | -12.7M |
| Capital Expenditures | -17.2M | -17.11M | -56.46M | -92.06M | -136.71M | -73.17M | -44.44M | -44.07M | -28.48M | -15.88M | -14.45M | -2.97M | -711.66K | -1.35M | -997.04K | -851.01K | -589.05K | -821.3K | -2.11M | -3.41M | -4.61M | -1.48M | -1.03M | -956.65K | -875.14K | -2.87M | -2.27M | -500K | -900K | -2.3M | -1.4M |
| CapEx % of Revenue | 4.39% | 4.38% | 15.58% | 27.13% | 42.57% | 24.04% | 14.28% | 13.07% | 8.23% | 4.82% | 7.61% | 1.72% | 0.48% | 1.04% | 0.87% | 0.88% | 0.7% | 1.01% | 2.69% | 4.57% | 7.09% | 3.04% | 2.31% | 2.57% | 2.36% | 9.09% | 20.37% | 2.16% | 6.04% | 33.82% | 100% |
| Acquisitions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -26.53M | -8.77M | -28.45M | -1.2M | -78.24M | 0 | -357.49K | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2.39M | 0 | 0 | -500K | -10.45M | -14.12M | 0 | -2.02M | 0 | 0 | 8.83M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | 18M | 19.27M | -33K | -528K | -782K | -264K | -72K | -3.57M | -565K | -2.94M | -6.53M | 6.62M | -8.2M | 0 | 508.8K | 0 | 0 | 4.08M | 6.76M | -376.05K | -1.03M | 742.6K | -1.34M | 1.8M | 1.58M | -253.74K | 11.78M | 4.8M | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Financing | -2.89M | -5.39M | 44.5M | 178.84M | 132.01M | 73.14M | 5.12M | 43.46M | -12.94M | 65.16M | 179.6K | -17.19M | -4.11M | -1.36M | -5.85M | -439.32K | -11.61M | -5.53M | -9.18M | 6.43M | -1.92M | 1.88M | 726.05K | 0 | -111.16K | 3M | -589.9K | 2.8M | 2.8M | 700K | 41.7M |
| Debt Issued (Net) | -2.5M | -5M | 46.47M | 197.75M | 47.55M | 68.7M | 8M | 49.24M | -12.6M | 67.02M | 7.23M | 3.5M | -6.3M | 2.6M | 2.85M | -455.88K | -1.91M | -2.64M | -8.91M | 8.62M | -2.12M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -111.16K | -24.77K | -1.57M | 2.6M | -300K | 700K | -200K |
| Equity Issued (Net) | 31K | 0 | 43K | -10.72M | 87.5M | 0 | -3.28M | -4.99M | -445K | -1.46M | -7.4M | -24.92M | -1.18M | -6.54M | -9.12M | -18.44K | -9.71M | -2.92M | -272.44K | -2.19M | 206.61K | 1.88M | 726.05K | 0 | 0 | 24.4K | 5.31M | 300K | 3.2M | 0 | 42M |
| 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 | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3.28M | -4.99M | -445K | -1.46M | -7.18M | -23.62M | -1.18M | -6.54M | -9.12M | -18.44K | -9.71M | -2.92M | -272.44K | -2.45M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -300K | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Financing | -423K | -392K | -2.01M | -8.19M | -3.04M | 4.43M | 397K | -794K | 104K | -398K | -513.85K | 803.14K | 3.37M | 2.58M | 418.11K | 35.01K | 14.81K | 25.42K | 9.45K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3M | -4.33M | -100K | -100K | 0 | -100K |
| Net Change in Cash | 6.92M | -8.99M | -31.74M | 81.48M | 14.39M | 794K | -12.08M | 7.76M | -5.41M | 2.94M | 7.38M | -548.12K | -4.15M | 6M | 7.47K | 2.2M | -5.43M | 4.2M | -2.67M | 1.84M | -11.09M | 3.43M | 1M | 4.07M | 4.03M | 2.64M | 722.08K | 400K | 2.8M | 700K | 41.7M |
| Free Cash Flow | -8.4M | -22.87M | -76.2M | -97.35M | -117.62M | -44.31M | -8.43M | -7.25M | 8.72M | 16.02M | 7.2M | 10.38M | 8.17M | 7.36M | 5.35M | 5.03M | 6.18M | 5.64M | 246.7K | 5.21M | 4.21M | 2.59M | 3.63M | 2.26M | 2.56M | -8.94M | -10.47M | -7.1M | -12.6M | -15M | -15.4M |
| FCF Margin % | -2.14% | -5.86% | -21.04% | -28.69% | -36.62% | -14.56% | -2.71% | -2.15% | 2.52% | 4.86% | 3.79% | 6% | 5.53% | 5.66% | 4.66% | 5.19% | 7.31% | 6.97% | 0.31% | 6.99% | 6.47% | 5.33% | 8.12% | 6.08% | 6.92% | -28.29% | -93.83% | -30.6% | -84.56% | -220.59% | -1100% |
| FCF Growth % | 88.48% | 69.99% | 21.72% | 17.23% | -165.43% | -425.77% | -16.17% | -183.15% | -45.53% | 122.42% | -30.61% | 27.1% | 10.97% | 37.63% | 6.2% | -18.54% | 9.49% | 2187.95% | -95.27% | 23.85% | 62.78% | -28.81% | 60.55% | -11.72% | 128.69% | 14.67% | -47.49% | 43.65% | 16% | 2.6% | - |
| FCF per Share | -0.76 | -2.07 | -6.95 | -8.96 | -10.92 | -4.10 | -0.79 | -0.67 | 0.81 | 1.48 | 0.67 | 0.91 | 0.70 | 0.65 | 0.44 | 0.36 | 0.41 | 0.32 | 0.01 | 0.27 | 0.22 | 0.14 | 0.21 | 0.14 | 0.16 | -0.64 | -3.37 | -6.62 | -5.13 | -6.31 | -7.37 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | 0.11x | 0.08x | 0.18x | 0.05x | -0.72x | 8.81x | 6.25x | 2.62x | 2.17x | 1.43x | 1.35x | 1.17x | 1.39x | 2.08x | 1.43x | 0.95x | 3.20x | 0.53x | 1.14x | 3.22x | 4.08x | 1.47x | 0.85x | 1.56x | 1.84x | 0.45x | 0.57x | -0.27x | 0.67x | 0.73x | 1.01x |
| Interest Paid | 25.45M | 43.78M | 37.96M | 24.74M | 10.29M | 4.49M | 3.57M | 4.79M | 3.71M | 3.59M | 420K | 173.2K | 207.78K | 372.85K | 195.51K | 53.17K | 116.24K | 227.62K | 630.73K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Taxes Paid | 3.23M | 0 | 7.65M | 4.93M | 3.88M | 8.83M | 8.93M | 7.94M | 6.8M | 7.82M | 3.77M | 3.13M | 2.17M | 793K | 1.02M | 550K | 200.69K | 1.17M | 182.88K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fiber infrastructure capital intensity
As reported in recent financial statements, Tucows consistently records net losses while operating cash flow remains volatile, with the OCF/NI ratio fluctuating significantly, such as the -0.19 figure in 2026Q1, indicating that accounting earnings do not capture the underlying cash burn of the infrastructure expansion.
The persistent gap between net income and operating cash flow suggests that non-cash charges, primarily depreciation from the fiber build-out, are masking the true cash-generative capacity of the business. Investors should monitor whether the company can achieve positive operating cash flow on a sustained basis as the fiber footprint matures.
Based on the provided quarterly data, Tucows has struggled to generate positive free cash flow, with FCF margins remaining negative in nine of the last ten quarters, including a -2.1% margin in 2026Q1, highlighting the heavy reliance on external financing to sustain current operations.
The trajectory of free cash flow appears tethered to the aggressive capital expenditure requirements of the Ting fiber segment. This trend suggests that until subscriber density reaches a critical threshold, the company will likely remain in a cash-consuming phase that necessitates careful management of liquidity.
According to historical filings, Tucows has maintained high capital intensity, with CapEx/Revenue ratios peaking at 17.8% in 2024Q2, though recent figures show a moderation to 5.7% in 2026Q1, suggesting a potential shift in the pace of infrastructure deployment or a move toward more efficient capital allocation.
The high level of capital expenditure relative to revenue underscores the utility-like nature of the fiber business, where upfront investment precedes long-term recurring revenue. Analysts should investigate whether the recent decline in CapEx intensity reflects a strategic pivot to a capital-light model or merely a temporary pause in network expansion.
As indicated by the quarterly cash flow statements, working capital changes have been highly erratic, swinging from a $16.2 million inflow in 2023Q4 to a $10.3 million outflow in 2025Q1, which complicates the predictability of the company's short-term liquidity position and operational cash management.
This volatility in working capital suggests that the company's cash conversion cycle is sensitive to the timing of domain renewals and the management of payables related to fiber construction. Investors should monitor these fluctuations as they may indicate underlying challenges in balancing cash inflows from the domain business with the cash outflows required for fiber development.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying TCX stock.
Tucows Inc. (TCX) generated $-5.8M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Tucows Inc. (TCX) reported negative free cash flow of $22.9M in 2025, indicating capital requirements exceeded cash from operations.
Tucows Inc. (TCX) spent $17.1M on capital expenditures in 2025. CapEx represents the cash invested in physical assets like property, plant, and equipment to maintain or grow the business.