Free cash flow generation remains erratic, with margins fluctuating from a negative 26.0% in 2023Q4 to a positive 13.5% in 2024Q4, underscoring the challenges of capital allocation in a hyperinflationary environment.
| 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 | Sep'00 | Dec'99 | Dec'98 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 1.75T | 2.18T | 811.5B | 1.35T | 1.45T | 788.8B | 293.88B | 168.36B | 70.38B | 35.1B | 25.98B | 6.81B | 5.72B | 6.98B | 5.03B | 5.32B | 4.24B | 3.69B | 3.32B | 2.95B | 2.4B | 1.97B | 2.18B | 2.02B | 1.67B | 2.43B | 1.24B | 1.43B | 1.25B |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | 26.18% | 19.61% | 65.33% | 29.35% | 30.56% | 33.14% | 34.57% | 20% | 34.23% | 43.02% | 16.82% | 17.16% | 25.58% | 22.74% | 28.74% | 29.01% | 30.21% | 31.29% | 32.47% | 32.26% | 34.39% | 48.19% | 53.7% | 41.54% | 34.47% | 38.28% | 44.83% | 39.43% |
| Operating CF Growth % | 412340.6% | 168.69% | -39.67% | -7.32% | 84% | 168.41% | 74.55% | 139.21% | 100.54% | 35.07% | 281.44% | 19.07% | -18.05% | 38.81% | -5.42% | 25.28% | 15.11% | 11.09% | 12.66% | 22.98% | 21.86% | -9.9% | 7.83% | 21.22% | -31.37% | 96.94% | -13.45% | 14.07% | - |
| Net Income | 377.26B | -198.07B | 1.03T | -257.73B | -640.38B | 60.29B | -15.01B | -4.4B | 11.59B | 15.17B | 10.55B | 3.44B | 3.73B | 3.25B | 2.73B | 2.54B | 1.95B | 1.41B | 961M | 782M | 244M | 1.33B | -671.82M | 351.91M | -4.39B | 100.09M | 271M | 357.96M | 373.93M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 1.25T | 2.4T | 1.31T | 704.15B | 775.98B | 814.48B | 241.74B | 120.67B | 69.16B | 15.08B | 7.88B | 4.45B | 3.24B | 2.87B | 2.61B | 2.16B | 1.71B | 1.54B | 1.29B | 1.42B | 1.39B | 1.5B | 1.66B | 1.89B | 2.1B | 1.84B | 833M | 762.92M | 777.94M |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 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 |
| Deferred Taxes | 295.06B | -282.53B | 409.15B | -341.16B | -8.98B | 202.1B | 24.26B | 29.12B | -5.94B | 8.49B | 6.01B | 1.69B | 1.97B | 1.79B | 1.46B | 1.4B | 1.08B | 167M | 353M | 284M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | -569.22B | 732.71B | -1.76T | 1.06T | 1.3T | -289.72B | 62.25B | 38.03B | 30.97B | 280M | 2.7B | -15M | -1.4B | -840M | -1.05B | -700M | -485M | 706M | 882M | 844M | 874.14M | -929.9M | 1.41B | -184.75M | 3.65B | 1.13B | 421M | 411.96M | 477.9M |
| Working Capital Changes | 6.97B | -474.76B | -186.75B | 184.05B | 27.39B | 1.63B | -19.36B | -15.06B | -35.4B | -3.92B | -1.16B | -2.75B | -1.82B | -98M | -730M | -78M | -8M | -136M | -166M | -380M | -110.28M | 63.61M | -211.06M | -29.33M | 302.88M | -635.57M | -290M | -105.99M | -378.92M |
| Change in Receivables | -101.79B | -280.05B | -342.13B | -177.96B | -102.95B | -80.73B | -39.1B | 3.38B | -10.44B | -1.76B | 182M | -3.12B | -1.8B | -1.39B | -817M | -642M | -530M | -353M | -363M | -311.95M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -208M | 4M | -274.94M |
| Change in Inventory | 14.94B | 83.15B | -6.39B | -20.87B | -7.32B | 8.69B | -3.79B | 0 | -23M | 46M | 15M | -1.52B | -50M | -251M | -108M | -93M | -236M | -37M | -107M | -50.42M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -33M | 30M | 12M |
| Change in Payables | 67.66B | -20.93B | 20.9B | 338.26B | 172.34B | 69.83B | 17.31B | -16.96B | -16.39B | 559M | 598M | 1.37B | -408M | 1.41B | 169M | 293M | 441M | 242M | 164M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Investing | -1.57T | -3.51T | -383.42B | -1.24T | -1.12T | -698.31B | -240.42B | -91.91B | -47.28B | -26.05B | -23.92B | -9.65B | -9.43B | -3.82B | -3.94B | -2.94B | -2.33B | -1.7B | -1.32B | -1.57B | -802.61M | 87.84M | -856.12M | -346.04M | -312.97M | -1.42B | -1.09B | -1.2B | -938.91M |
| Capital Expenditures | -1.24T | -3.51T | -348.12B | -1.24T | -1.12T | -698.31B | -240.42B | -101.04B | -64.64B | -29.41B | -19.4B | -5.15B | -4.89B | -3.35B | -2.46B | -2.19B | -1.76B | -1.44B | -1.55B | -1.21B | -863.88M | -581.57M | 0 | -346.04M | -390.37M | -1.16B | -802M | -875.91M | -769.95M |
| CapEx % of Revenue | 13.66% | 42.13% | 8.41% | 60.24% | 22.75% | 27.06% | 27.11% | 20.74% | 18.36% | 28.68% | 32.12% | 12.71% | 14.68% | 12.28% | 11.15% | 11.86% | 12.02% | 11.83% | 14.57% | 13.31% | 11.63% | 10.17% | - | 9.18% | 9.72% | 16.38% | 24.86% | 27.52% | 24.27% |
| Acquisitions | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | -11.12B | 39.44B | -361.53B | -644.13B | -603.75B | 2.37B | 392M | -2.63B | -5.71B | 1.64B | 33M | -3.57B | -4.21B | -846M | -861M | -768M | -584M | -512M | -3M | -14M | 15.32M | 669.41M | -380.5M | -178.89M | 100.96M | -7.01M | -270M | -320.97M | -146.97M |
| Cash from Financing | 93.28B | 1.31T | -405.62B | -209.4B | -310.58B | -123.12B | -105.3B | -51.58B | -30.34B | -6.55B | -2.21B | 2.95B | -1.34B | -1.41B | -859M | -965M | -1.83B | -1.68B | -1.56B | -1.58B | -1.53B | -4.39B | -594.53M | -771.26M | -471.14M | -1.28B | -139M | 107.99M | -354.93M |
| Debt Issued (Net) | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Equity Issued (Net) | -471.79M | -17.49B | 0 | -4.75B | 0 | -59M | 0 | -125M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -461M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2M | 7M | 0 |
| Dividends Paid | -23.9B | -23.63B | 0 | 0 | -1.23B | -744M | -1.08B | -35.53B | -71.25B | -4.01B | -3B | -849M | -1.3B | -981M | -830M | -915M | -1.05B | -19M | -20M | -38M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -467.42M | -269M | -280.97M | -255.95M |
| Share Repurchases | -471.79M | -17.49B | 0 | -2.26B | 0 | -59M | 0 | -125M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -461M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Financing | -194.17B | 189.26B | -362.46B | -320.07B | -320.48B | -166.74B | -61.31B | -53.7B | -7.8B | -1.99B | -1.83B | -471M | -29M | -16M | -13M | -14M | -76M | -167M | 0 | 0 | -462.57M | -942.02M | -123.53M | -337.24M | -447.58M | -963.87M | -318M | -221.98M | -216.96M |
| Net Change in Cash | 210.27B | 20.88B | -29.61B | 76.32B | 9.4B | -49.23B | -47.92B | 30.78B | 783M | 2.58B | 775M | 186M | -4.54B | 2.06B | 342M | 1.44B | 103M | 371M | 444M | -203M | 61.27M | -2.34B | 731.27M | 906.16M | 885.07M | -264.24M | 8M | 337.97M | -42.99M |
| Free Cash Flow | 535.76B | -1.33T | 417.29B | 104.76B | 326.57B | 90.49B | 53.47B | 63.98B | -339M | 4.45B | 6.56B | -1.9B | -3.38B | 2.78B | 1.7B | 2.32B | 1.89B | 1.73B | 1.76B | 1.7B | 1.53B | 1.38B | 2.18B | 1.68B | 1.28B | 1.28B | 433M | 550.94M | 480.9M |
| FCF Margin % | 5.93% | -15.95% | 10.09% | 5.09% | 6.6% | 3.51% | 6.03% | 13.13% | -0.1% | 4.34% | 10.85% | -4.7% | -10.15% | 10.2% | 7.7% | 12.53% | 12.93% | 14.18% | 16.57% | 18.77% | 20.63% | 24.22% | 48.19% | 44.51% | 31.83% | 18.09% | 13.42% | 17.31% | 15.16% |
| FCF Growth % | 21.16% | -418.32% | 298.32% | -67.92% | 260.9% | 69.25% | -16.43% | 18971.98% | -107.62% | -32.17% | 444.69% | 43.78% | -221.56% | 63.42% | -26.5% | 22.46% | 9.3% | -1.54% | 3.23% | 11.18% | 10.65% | -36.56% | 30.08% | 31.17% | 0.21% | 194.72% | -21.41% | 14.56% | - |
| FCF per Share | 1243.80 | -3083.79 | 968.78 | 243.22 | 758.18 | 210.08 | 124.12 | 148.53 | -0.79 | 12.28 | 33.82 | -9.81 | -17.45 | 14.21 | 8.65 | 11.77 | 9.61 | 8.79 | 8.93 | 8.65 | 7.78 | 7.03 | 11.04 | 8.51 | 6.49 | 6.38 | 2.20 | 2.77 | 2.44 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | 1.42x | -12.83x | 0.80x | -5.22x | -1.03x | 91.03x | -17.49x | -18.64x | 6.35x | 2.34x | 2.48x | 2.00x | 1.56x | 2.18x | 1.87x | 2.12x | 2.19x | 2.62x | 3.45x | 3.33x | 9.78x | 1.48x | -3.25x | 5.70x | -0.38x | 24.30x | 4.56x | 3.99x | 3.35x |
| Interest Paid | 244.27B | 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 |
| 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 |
Hyperinflationary currency devaluation risk
As reported in recent financial filings, TEO's operating cash flow to net income ratio has fluctuated significantly, reaching 1.20 in 2026Q1, which highlights a persistent disconnect between accounting profits and actual cash generation in an environment defined by hyperinflationary adjustments and non-cash monetary position gains.
The wide variance in the OCF/NI ratio suggests that net income is an unreliable proxy for operational performance due to the heavy influence of non-cash accounting entries. Investors should monitor this divergence closely, as the company's ability to convert earnings into cash remains highly sensitive to the timing of inflationary impacts on working capital.
Based on TEO's quarterly data, free cash flow margins have exhibited extreme volatility, ranging from a negative 26.0% in 2023Q4 to a positive 13.5% in 2024Q4, reflecting the company's struggle to maintain consistent cash generation amidst a challenging and unpredictable macroeconomic landscape in Argentina.
This erratic FCF trajectory suggests that capital allocation is frequently interrupted by the need to manage liquidity in a high-inflation environment. The inability to sustain positive FCF margins consistently may indicate that the business model is structurally vulnerable to sudden shifts in input costs and regulatory pricing constraints.
According to recent SEC filings, TEO's capital expenditure as a percentage of revenue reached as high as 56.3% in 2023Q4, underscoring the heavy burden of maintaining an integrated telecommunications network while operating under severe constraints on access to foreign exchange for critical infrastructure upgrades.
The high capital intensity suggests that a significant portion of cash flow is perpetually committed to maintenance and network modernization, leaving little room for discretionary spending. This reliance on heavy investment to sustain service quality may limit the company's flexibility during periods of acute currency devaluation.
As indicated by the provided financial statements, TEO's working capital changes have swung between positive and negative values, such as the $142.5B inflow in 2025Q4 versus the $135.3B outflow in 2026Q1, illustrating the difficulty of managing payables and receivables in a hyperinflationary economy.
These fluctuations suggest that the company is forced to aggressively manage its cash conversion cycle to offset the erosion of purchasing power. The inconsistency in these movements warrants further investigation into whether the company is effectively leveraging its scale to dictate payment terms with suppliers.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying TEO stock.
Telecom Argentina S.A. (TEO) generated $2.18T in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Telecom Argentina S.A. (TEO) reported negative free cash flow of $1.33T in 2025, indicating capital requirements exceeded cash from operations.
Telecom Argentina S.A. (TEO) spent $3.51T 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, Telecom Argentina S.A. (TEO) returned $23.63B to shareholders via cash dividends and spent $17.49B on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.