Cash flow generation remains inconsistent, as evidenced by a negative 12.0% FCF margin in 2027Q1 and a $291.6 million working capital drain, despite management's decision to execute $300 million in share repurchases.
| Metric | TTM | Jan'26 | Jan'25 | Jan'24 | Jan'23 | Jan'22 | Jan'21 | Jan'20 | Jan'19 | Jan'18 | Jan'17 | Jan'16 | Jan'15 | Jan'14 | Jan'13 | Jan'12 | Jan'11 | Jan'10 | Jan'09 | Jan'08 | Jan'07 | Jan'06 | Jan'05 | Jan'04 | Jan'03 | Jan'02 | Jan'01 | Jan'00 | Jan'99 | Jan'98 | Jan'97 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 557.64M | 575.19M | 502.83M | 509.41M | 142.73M | 359.32M | 285.81M | 273.89M | 446.62M | 303.06M | 414.9M | 413.42M | 322.32M | 423.15M | 395.68M | 282.7M | 385.11M | 325.39M | 251.57M | 254.35M | 187.12M | 149.19M | 150M | 69.78M | 41.79M | 32.74M | 22.88M | 24.26M | 27.2M | 18.9M | 9M |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | 9.33% | 9.06% | 9.89% | 2.98% | 7.9% | 8.29% | 6.88% | 11.31% | 8.38% | 11.7% | 12% | 9.7% | 13.71% | 14.16% | 11.43% | 16.93% | 16.79% | 13.71% | 16.87% | 15.28% | 13.66% | 18.12% | 12.72% | 9.89% | 9.38% | 7.75% | 8.79% | 13.01% | 10.92% | 5.75% |
| Operating CF Growth % | 265.68% | 14.39% | -1.29% | 256.91% | -60.28% | 25.72% | 4.35% | -38.67% | 47.37% | -26.96% | 0.36% | 28.26% | -23.83% | 6.94% | 39.96% | -26.59% | 18.35% | 29.35% | -1.09% | 35.93% | 25.42% | -0.54% | 114.96% | 66.97% | 27.64% | 43.09% | -5.69% | -10.81% | 43.92% | 110% | -42.68% |
| Net Income | 472.28M | 464.92M | 402.46M | 287.67M | 159.7M | 310.62M | 1.24M | 168.1M | 298M | 108.26M | 218.12M | 224.49M | 232.43M | 282.36M | 237.31M | 185.25M | 272.96M | 219.89M | 199.36M | 160.23M | 116.21M | 130.8M | 90.49M | 48.38M | 27.41M | 15.01M | 10.49M | 18.68M | 15.8M | 13.9M | 13.3M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 135.04M | 128.53M | 123.2M | 106.83M | 97.83M | 99.06M | 102.2M | 111.55M | 116.29M | 125.82M | 133.13M | 138.88M | 131.41M | 131.41M | 113.39M | 108.11M | 101.11M | 92.35M | 81.95M | 70.02M | 55.71M | 39.34M | 31.86M | 22.41M | 18.21M | 15.46M | 12M | 8.67M | 5.6M | 4.6M | 3.5M |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 30.78M | 30.41M | 31.04M | 30.51M | 29.45M | 25.74M | 20.3M | 21.11M | 18.1M | 14.52M | 18.29M | 15.62M | 16.74M | 15.74M | 10.89M | 3.07M | 10.72M | 4.77M | -13.43M | 3.28M | 3.5M | 1.15M | 708K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | 95.31M | 5.58M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -12.15M | -8.73M | 2.16M | -9.35M | -2.78M | -4.96M | -6.87M | -2.88M | -1.13M | -3.08M | -1.27M | 0 | -3.7M | -600K | 500K | -700K |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 752.52M | 711.88M | 287.02M | 331.32M | 153.6M | 321.79M | 353.57M | 245.63M | 31.33M | 71.88M | 45.1M | 23.89M | 52.38M | 52.38M | 44.98M | -8.14M | -12.73M | -6.1M | 3.7M | -7.02M | -4M | 12.77M | 13.47M | 7.58M | -1K | 385K | 181K | 4.27M | 0 | 0 | -100K |
| Working Capital Changes | -928.29M | -766.13M | -340.89M | -246.91M | -297.85M | -397.89M | -191.49M | -272.5M | -17.1M | -17.42M | 612K | 16.73M | -110.64M | -110.64M | -35.15M | 6.56M | 21.78M | 12.32M | -10.66M | 30.63M | 20.66M | -28M | 16.36M | -7.46M | -3M | 3.16M | 207K | -3.65M | 6.4M | -100K | -7.1M |
| Change in Receivables | -24.83M | -19.51M | -7.32M | 3.71M | -7.1M | 26.03M | -1.22M | -7.83M | -4.01M | -21.74M | 20.93M | -13.82M | -18.39M | -18.39M | -2.92M | -251K | 0 | -1.82M | -10.73M | -294.13M | -230.61M | -271.88M | -197.46M | -3.44M | 886K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Inventory | -62.1M | -72.75M | -72.94M | 38.78M | -22.29M | -181.9M | 22.38M | -39.1M | -21.7M | -8.64M | -9.96M | 26.74M | -68.99M | -27.71M | -32.24M | -20.82M | -43.37M | -15.54M | -272K | -17.43M | -13.42M | -41.6M | -35.65M | -13.13M | -7.55M | -6.35M | -7.92M | -4.99M | -4.8M | -200K | -6.5M |
| Change in Payables | 13.86M | 91.89M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21.31M | 0 | 55.31M | -8.87M | 75.97M | 33.6M | 33.8M | 59.87M | 14.25M | 6.39M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Investing | -108.32M | -311.65M | -308.77M | -521.65M | -32.01M | -487.66M | -101.9M | -186.15M | -244.5M | -121.38M | -234.62M | -26.77M | 194.83M | -462.22M | -333.99M | 55.29M | -35.53M | -494.77M | -56.91M | -188.9M | -201.41M | -143.68M | -130.93M | -83.65M | -45.6M | -22M | -17.55M | -33.64M | -27.7M | -7.8M | -17.5M |
| Capital Expenditures | -191.45M | -237.6M | -182.58M | -199.63M | -199.51M | -262.43M | -159.24M | -217.43M | -114.92M | -83.81M | -143.71M | -134.95M | -229.8M | -229.8M | -168.88M | -190.01M | -143.64M | -109.26M | -112.55M | -115.37M | -212.03M | -127.73M | -75.14M | -33.08M | -22.25M | -22.31M | -36.88M | -38.15M | -21.5M | -6.3M | -12M |
| CapEx % of Revenue | 3.03% | 3.85% | 3.29% | 3.87% | 4.16% | 5.77% | 4.62% | 5.46% | 2.91% | 2.32% | 4.05% | 3.92% | 6.92% | 7.45% | 6.04% | 7.68% | 6.32% | 5.64% | 6.13% | 7.65% | 17.31% | 11.7% | 9.08% | 6.03% | 5.26% | 6.39% | 12.49% | 13.82% | 10.29% | 3.64% | 7.67% |
| Acquisitions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -15.32M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 359.48M | 0 | 915.81M | 921.59M | 409M | 212.03M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | -444.81M | -87.73M | -126.19M | -322.02M | 167.5M | -225.24M | 57.34M | 31.29M | -129.57M | -37.57M | -75.58M | 108.19M | 424.64M | 424.64M | -165.11M | -359.48M | 0 | -915.81M | -921.59M | -409M | -212.03M | 3.77M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -600K | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Financing | -340.39M | -191.37M | -77.11M | -12.13M | -118.4M | -60.27M | -10.42M | -222.05M | -118.02M | -159.23M | -193.74M | -272.83M | -600.91M | 33.67M | 37.38M | -532.35M | -167.74M | 9.69M | 22.32M | 12.34M | -9.06M | 15.23M | 6.92M | 8.54M | 47.04M | 1.28M | -1.41M | -3.15M | -700K | 1.1M | 3M |
| Debt Issued (Net) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -150M | 150M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equity Issued (Net) | -473.67M | -345.85M | -52.26M | -8.41M | -112.02M | -55.77M | -10.91M | -223.02M | -131.64M | -157.04M | -47.84M | -475.42M | -615.42M | -11.09M | 0 | -545.48M | -204.72M | 0 | 8.89M | 5M | -14.45M | 15.23M | 6.92M | 8.54M | 47.04M | 1.28M | -1.41M | -3.15M | -657K | 1.1M | 3M |
| 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 | -473.67M | -345.85M | -52.26M | -8.41M | -112.02M | -55.77M | -10.91M | -223.02M | -131.64M | -159.23M | -47.84M | -475.42M | -615.42M | -11.09M | 0 | -545.48M | -204.72M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -20.8M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.41M | -8.71M | -2.25M | 0 | 0 |
| Other Financing | 133.28M | 154.48M | -24.85M | -3.73M | -6.38M | -4.5M | 495K | 974K | 13.62M | -2.18M | 4.1M | 52.59M | 14.52M | 44.76M | 37.38M | 13.13M | 36.98M | 9.69M | 13.43M | 7.34M | 5.39M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Net Change in Cash | 111.93M | 78.72M | 112.16M | -22.94M | -5.32M | -189.06M | 173.8M | -136.42M | 76.04M | 34.08M | -17.14M | 110.72M | -87.5M | -3.27M | 100.05M | -194.98M | 181.23M | -157.01M | 210.76M | 78M | -22.64M | 20.18M | 26.41M | -4.93M | 43.88M | 11.96M | 3.56M | -12.44M | -1.7M | 1.1M | 3M |
| Free Cash Flow | 280.5M | 445.13M | 320.25M | 309.79M | -56.78M | 96.89M | 126.57M | 56.46M | 331.7M | 219.25M | 271.19M | 278.47M | 92.52M | 237.05M | 226.81M | 92.69M | 241.47M | 216.13M | 139.02M | 138.98M | -24.91M | 21.46M | 74.85M | 36.7M | 19.54M | 10.43M | -14M | -13.89M | 5.7M | 12.6M | -3M |
| FCF Margin % | 4.44% | 7.22% | 5.77% | 6.01% | -1.18% | 2.13% | 3.67% | 1.42% | 8.4% | 6.06% | 7.65% | 8.08% | 2.78% | 7.68% | 8.11% | 3.75% | 10.62% | 11.15% | 7.58% | 9.22% | -2.03% | 1.97% | 9.04% | 6.69% | 4.62% | 2.99% | -4.74% | -5.03% | 2.73% | 7.28% | -1.92% |
| FCF Growth % | -3.16% | 38.99% | 3.38% | 645.55% | -158.61% | -23.45% | 124.18% | -82.98% | 51.29% | -19.15% | -2.61% | 200.99% | -60.97% | 4.52% | 144.69% | -61.61% | 11.72% | 55.47% | 0.02% | 657.9% | -216.08% | -71.33% | 103.97% | 87.78% | 87.36% | 174.52% | -0.78% | -343.65% | -54.76% | 520% | -131.58% |
| FCF per Share | 3.16 | 4.85 | 3.39 | 3.28 | -0.60 | 0.98 | 1.28 | 0.56 | 3.02 | 1.95 | 2.31 | 2.21 | 0.67 | 1.59 | 1.55 | 0.59 | 1.42 | 1.26 | 0.81 | 0.82 | -0.15 | 0.13 | 0.45 | 0.23 | 0.13 | 0.07 | -0.10 | -0.10 | 0.04 | 0.09 | -0.02 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | 0.59x | 1.24x | 1.25x | 1.77x | 0.89x | 1.16x | 231.24x | 1.63x | 1.50x | 2.80x | 1.90x | 1.84x | 1.39x | 1.50x | 1.67x | 1.53x | 1.41x | 1.48x | 1.26x | 1.59x | 1.61x | 1.14x | 1.66x | 1.44x | 1.52x | 2.18x | 2.18x | 1.30x | 1.72x | 1.36x | 0.68x |
| Interest 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 |
| Taxes Paid | 65.19M | 71.79M | 104.32M | 55.16M | 50.76M | 111.63M | 25.57M | 74.43M | 102.21M | 83.99M | 111.96M | 99.36M | 144.89M | 159.63M | 103.01M | 120.85M | 121.34M | 137.49M | 115.04M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Working capital volatility
As evidenced by the quarterly data, URBN's operating cash flow frequently decouples from net income, with the OCF/NI ratio fluctuating wildly from a low of 0.13 in 2027Q1 to a high of 4.80 in 2024Q4, indicating significant volatility in the underlying quality of reported earnings.
The persistent gap between net income and operating cash flow suggests that accounting profits are heavily influenced by non-cash accruals and timing differences. Investors should monitor whether this divergence stems from aggressive revenue recognition or simply the inherent seasonality of the retail cycle.
Based on reported financial statements, URBN's free cash flow trajectory remains highly inconsistent, swinging from a negative 12.0% margin in 2027Q1 to a positive 17.6% margin in 2026Q2, reflecting the company's struggle to maintain stable cash generation amidst varying seasonal demand and capital requirements.
The erratic nature of FCF margins implies that the company's cash-generating ability is highly sensitive to inventory management and the timing of capital expenditures. This lack of predictability may complicate long-term valuation models that rely on steady-state cash flow assumptions.
According to recent SEC filings, URBN's capital expenditure spiked to $193.2 million in 2027Q1, representing 13.0% of revenue, which suggests a significant shift toward aggressive reinvestment that far exceeds the historical maintenance levels observed in previous quarters like 2025Q4.
This surge in capital intensity warrants further investigation into whether these funds are being directed toward high-return growth initiatives or necessary infrastructure upgrades. If this elevated spending persists, it may continue to suppress free cash flow and pressure the company's overall liquidity profile.
As reported in financial statements, URBN has faced substantial working capital outflows, including a $291.6 million drain in 2027Q1, which highlights the company's difficulty in managing inventory and payables cycles effectively during periods of rapid operational scaling or inventory accumulation.
The recurring negative working capital changes suggest that the company is frequently tying up cash in inventory, which may indicate potential overstocking or inefficiencies in the supply chain. Investors should monitor whether these outflows are temporary timing issues or structural impediments to cash flow.
Based on the provided figures, URBN has prioritized share repurchases, notably spending $300 million in 2027Q1, even as free cash flow turned negative, suggesting a management preference for aggressive capital return over the preservation of cash reserves during periods of high investment.
This deployment strategy appears to signal confidence in the company's long-term value, yet it simultaneously increases the risk profile by depleting cash buffers. The absence of dividends combined with heavy buybacks suggests that management views the stock as undervalued, though this remains an analytical inference.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying URBN stock.
Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN) generated $575.2M in net cash from operating activities in 2026. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN) generated $445.1M in free cash flow in 2026. Free cash flow is the cash left over after capital expenditures, which can be used to pay dividends, repurchase shares, or pay down debt.
Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN) spent $237.6M on capital expenditures in 2026. CapEx represents the cash invested in physical assets like property, plant, and equipment to maintain or grow the business.
In 2026, Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN) spent $345.8M on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.