Total debt of roughly $3.8B against equity of only $42.0M produces a debt-to-equity ratio near 90x in 2026Q3, while a current ratio of 0.67 and cash of $803.0M suggest liquidity is adequate but the capital structure is highly fragile.
Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V. (VLRS) balance sheet — 15-year assets, liabilities & shareholders' equity history
| 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 |
|---|
| Total Current Assets | 1.52B | 1.39B | 1.38B | 1.25B | 1.07B | 984.65M | 725.46M | 639.8M | 471.87M | 576.02M | 581.11M | 419.31M | 250.38M | 307.05M | 141.39M | 81.2M |
| Cash & Short-Term Investments | 823M | 774M | 945.18M | 776.48M | 711.85M | 745.41M | 507.82M | 428.4M | 301.5M | 379.24M | 367.54M | 298.63M | 153.74M | 188.99M | 64.22M | 31.75M |
| Cash Only | 803M | 754M | 899.45M | 761.22M | 711.85M | 745.41M | 507.81M | 421.35M | 298.32M | 353.91M | 341.3M | 298.63M | 153.74M | 188.14M | 64.04M | 31.68M |
| Short-Term Investments | 20M | 20M | 45.74M | 15.27M | 0 | 0 | 10.35K | 7.05M | 3.18M | 25.33M | 26.23M | 0 | 0 | 844.38K | 183.84K | 67.01K |
| Accounts Receivable | 336M | 262M | 138.81M | 250.6M | 243.65M | 112.75M | 101.63M | 122.52M | 74.63M | 73.79M | 46.47M | 25.19M | 30.45M | 46.21M | 30.17M | 17.16M |
| Days Sales Outstanding | 30.04 | 31.48 | 16.13 | 28.07 | 31.23 | 18.7 | 686.2 | 471.49 | 379.29 | 423.88 | 310.68 | 151.68 | 160.67 | 217.08 | 164.46 | 134.18 |
| Inventory | 21M | 17M | 16.63M | 16.12M | 22.2M | 23.07M | 14.02M | 15.94M | 15.13M | 15.01M | 11.77M | 9.44M | 9.48M | 8.75M | 7.57M | 5.75M |
| Days Inventory Outstanding | 2 | 2.17 | 2.31 | 2.14 | 3.12 | 5.1 | 92.43 | 75.7 | 84.53 | 102.2 | 97.55 | 73.31 | 55.88 | 45.86 | 46.86 | 48.56 |
| Other Current Assets | 114M | 278M | 14.78M | 17.3M | 74.19M | 88.73M | 10K | 11.86M | 3.18M | 25.33M | 147.07K | 176.44K | 206.83K | 233.89K | 738.94K | 489.57K |
| Total Non-Current Assets | 4.28B | 4.24B | 4.32B | 3.9B | 3.4B | 3.02B | 2.7B | 2.7B | 663.85M | 578.07M | 494.48M | 464.37M | 421.96M | 335.99M | 302.75M | 282.36M |
| Property, Plant & Equipment | 3.44B | 3.48B | 3.54B | 3.14B | 2.66B | 2.39B | 2.09B | 2.2B | 294.21M | 222.8M | 121.87M | 147.64M | 150.92M | 102.94M | 93.11M | 108.98M |
| Fixed Asset Turnover | 1.02x | 0.87x | 0.89x | 1.04x | 1.07x | 0.92x | 0.03x | 0.04x | 0.24x | 0.29x | 0.45x | 0.41x | 0.46x | 0.75x | 0.72x | 0.43x |
| Goodwill | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Intangible Assets | 43M | 38M | 25.96M | 16.22M | 12.72M | 12.71M | 9.63M | 8.84M | 9.11M | 9.7M | 5.5M | 5.48M | 4.93M | 6.06M | 4.69M | 4.18M |
| Long-Term Investments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.68M | 1.58M | 1.41M | 16.39K | 142.3K | 0 | 0 | 15.65M | 3.97M | 370.21K | 199.81M | 174.85M | 143.8M |
| Other Non-Current Assets | 310M | 726M | 469.85M | 503.08M | 519.55M | 481.22M | 445.77M | 419.83M | 330.34M | 316.94M | 324.47M | 275.74M | 243.5M | 3.76M | 5.17M | 3.7M |
| Total Assets | 5.8B | 5.64B | 5.7B | 5.15B | 4.47B | 4.01B | 3.43B | 3.34B | 1.14B | 1.15B | 1.08B | 883.68M | 672.34M | 643.11M | 444.14M | 363.57M |
| Asset Turnover | 0.62x | 0.54x | 0.55x | 0.63x | 0.64x | 0.55x | 0.02x | 0.03x | 0.06x | 0.06x | 0.05x | 0.07x | 0.10x | 0.12x | 0.15x | 0.13x |
| Asset Growth % | 4.46% | -1.17% | 10.84% | 15.18% | 11.48% | 16.88% | 2.63% | 194.18% | -1.59% | 7.3% | 21.72% | 31.43% | 4.55% | 44.8% | 22.16% | - |
| Total Current Liabilities | 2.27B | 1.92B | 1.77B | 1.62B | 1.42B | 1.26B | 1.07B | 916.06M | 470.32M | 477.18M | 404.98M | 411.29M | 323.67M | 297.22M | 289.93M | 228.33M |
| Accounts Payable | 268M | 192M | 161.24M | 233.86M | 209.47M | 119.4M | 112.28M | 84.33M | 55.23M | 54.86M | 41.6M | 45.23M | 34.32M | 40.96M | 40.53M | 38.46M |
| Days Payables Outstanding | 23.24 | 24.47 | 22.41 | 31 | 29.39 | 26.39 | 740.16 | 400.45 | 308.67 | 373.45 | 344.71 | 351.15 | 202.27 | 214.63 | 250.96 | 324.96 |
| Short-Term Debt | 165M | 262M | 283.62M | 220.29M | 447.77M | 483.53M | 78.14M | 110.14M | 61.68M | 122.38M | 50.74M | 79.4M | 55.55M | 20.57M | 41.08M | 49.34M |
| Deferred Revenue (Current) | 1.43B | 0 | 363.63M | 347.11M | 351.49M | 309.43M | 294.08M | 196.18M | 124.08M | 113.95M | 105.53M | 113.33M | 96.45M | 106.93M | 98.05M | 59.29M |
| Other Current Liabilities | 177M | 785M | 62.8M | 2.3M | 386.19M | 321.08M | 26.42M | 22.85M | 263.84M | 11.82M | 35.07M | 18.3M | 17.36M | 4.43M | 3.57M | 3.73M |
| Current Ratio | 0.67x | 0.73x | 0.78x | 0.77x | 0.75x | 0.78x | 0.68x | 0.70x | 1.00x | 1.21x | 1.43x | 1.02x | 0.77x | 1.03x | 0.49x | 0.36x |
| Quick Ratio | 0.66x | 0.72x | 0.77x | 0.76x | 0.74x | 0.76x | 0.66x | 0.68x | 0.97x | 1.18x | 1.41x | 1.00x | 0.74x | 1.00x | 0.46x | 0.33x |
| Cash Conversion Cycle | 8.8 | 9.18 | -3.97 | -0.79 | 4.96 | -2.59 | 38.47 | 146.74 | 155.15 | 152.63 | 63.52 | -126.16 | 14.27 | 48.32 | -39.65 | -142.22 |
| Total Non-Current Liabilities | 3.49B | 3.46B | 3.57B | 3.28B | 2.81B | 2.43B | 2.22B | 2.14B | 198.19M | 159.43M | 149.62M | 77.2M | 45.27M | 41.76M | 70.5M | 73.48M |
| Long-Term Debt | 433M | 441M | 526.36M | 432.78M | 160.89M | 108.66M | 190.28M | 152.59M | 117.59M | 54.95M | 45.52M | 12.73M | 28.83M | 22.57M | 49.27M | 52.11M |
| Capital Lease Obligations | 10.87B | 2.74B | 2.67B | 2.52B | 2.37B | 2.14B | 1.89B | 1.89B | 0 | 1.5B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Tax Liabilities | 26M | 0 | 17.93M | 15.71M | 10.46M | 11.26M | 10.04M | 8.24M | 56.01M | 82.3M | 88.66M | 51.27M | 1.82M | 1.69M | 834.44K | 0 |
| Other Non-Current Liabilities | 311M | 272M | 353.97M | 314.56M | 268.72M | 173.37M | 139.61M | 84.41M | 6.98M | 1.51B | 6.59M | 9.77M | 12.66M | 6.52M | 20.07M | 21.37M |
| Total Liabilities | 5.76B | 5.37B | 5.34B | 4.9B | 4.23B | 3.69B | 3.29B | 3.05B | 668.51M | 636.61M | 554.6M | 488.49M | 368.94M | 338.98M | 360.43M | 301.81M |
| Total Debt | 3.79B | 3.86B | 3.87B | 3.54B | 2.98B | 2.73B | 2.49B | 2.25B | 185.52M | 177.33M | 96.94M | 91.7M | 84.39M | 43.14M | 90.36M | 101.45M |
| Net Debt | 2.99B | 3.1B | 2.97B | 2.78B | 2.27B | 1.99B | 1.98B | 1.83B | -112.79M | -176.59M | -244.36M | -206.93M | -69.35M | -145M | 26.32M | 69.77M |
| Debt / Equity | 90.33x | 14.66x | 10.61x | 14.61x | 12.70x | 8.68x | 17.71x | 7.82x | 0.40x | 0.34x | 0.19x | 0.23x | 0.28x | 0.14x | 1.08x | 1.64x |
| Debt / EBITDA | 5.65x | 5.10x | 3.98x | 5.01x | 6.74x | 3.78x | 9.22x | 7.72x | 13.86x | 5.51x | 12.63x | 9.27x | 31.33x | 11.66x | 26.76x | - |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 4.45x | 4.11x | 3.06x | 3.94x | 5.13x | 2.75x | 7.34x | 6.28x | -8.42x | -5.48x | -31.84x | -20.92x | -25.75x | -39.21x | 7.80x | - |
| Interest Coverage | 0.12x | 0.62x | 1.61x | 1.03x | 0.31x | 1.97x | -0.06x | 0.14x | 0.02x | 1.14x | 6.81x | 9.34x | 1.50x | 0.21x | 0.23x | -0.33x |
| Total Equity | 42M | 263M | 364.81M | 242.59M | 234.74M | 314.95M | 140.54M | 287.74M | 467.22M | 517.47M | 520.99M | 395.19M | 303.4M | 304.13M | 83.71M | 61.75M |
| Equity Growth % | -219.39% | -27.91% | 50.38% | 3.35% | -25.47% | 124.1% | -51.16% | -38.41% | -9.71% | -0.68% | 31.83% | 30.25% | -0.24% | 263.3% | 35.56% | - |
| Book Value per Share | 0.37 | 2.28 | 3.17 | 2.08 | 2.01 | 2.70 | 1.38 | 2.84 | 4.62 | 5.11 | 5.15 | 3.91 | 3.00 | 3.51 | 1.04 | 0.77 |
| Total Shareholders' Equity | 42M | 263M | 364.81M | 242.59M | 234.74M | 314.95M | 140.54M | 287.74M | 467.22M | 517.47M | 520.99M | 395.19M | 303.4M | 304.13M | 81.97M | 53.91M |
| Common Stock | 248M | 248M | 248.28M | 248.28M | 248.28M | 167.43M | 248.28M | 157.01M | 151.3M | 151.4M | 143.52M | 172.18M | 201.84M | 228.29M | 185.09M | 141.23M |
| Retained Earnings | -334M | -109M | -21.71M | -148.08M | -155.9M | -84.77M | -164.77M | 18.92M | 216.8M | 258.66M | 286.1M | 139.44M | -1.19M | -50.74M | -72.42M | -82.23M |
| Treasury Stock | -13M | -13M | -12.79M | -11.55M | -12.87M | -10.23M | -9.41M | -8.96M | -6.24M | -4.33M | -4.02M | -5.29M | -7.79M | -8.27M | -10.42M | 0 |
| Accumulated OCI | -145M | -146M | -132.33M | -128.09M | -127.95M | 15.09M | -218.19M | 21.51M | 11.08M | 19.86M | 8.48M | -14.85M | -10.74M | -2.15M | -5.43M | -5.09M |
| Minority Interest | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.75M | 7.84M |
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying VLRS stock.
As of 2025, Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V. (VLRS) had total assets of $5.64B including $1.39B in current assets.
Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V. (VLRS) carries total debt of $3.86B, offset by $774.0M in cash and short-term investments. Comparing total debt to cash helps evaluate the company's debt burden and net leverage.
Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V. (VLRS) has total shareholders' equity (book value) of $263.0M ($2.28 book value per share). Book value represents the net worth of the company belonging to common stock holders.
Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V. (VLRS) reported a current ratio of 0.73x. A current ratio above 1.0x indicates that the company has more current assets than current liabilities, suggesting sufficient short-term liquidity.
Key Metrics
Top Statement Risk
Leverage amplified by fleet grounding
Equity Erosion Amid Accumulating Deficits
According to reported quarterly balance sheets, VLRS equity fell from roughly $364.8M in 2024Q4 to $42.0M in 2026Q3 while retained earnings deteriorated to -$334.0M, signaling that accumulated losses are steadily consuming the shareholder cushion.
The trajectory points to a balance sheet that is weakening rather than stabilizing, as retained earnings have moved from -$21.7M to -$334.0M over roughly seven quarters. Total assets have remained near $5.6B to $5.9B, so the erosion is coming from the liability side and from losses rather than from asset shrinkage. This pattern suggests the recent operating recovery has not yet been sufficient to reverse the cumulative deficit, and investors should monitor whether future quarters restore positive earnings momentum.
Leverage Concentrated Against a Thin Equity Base
Based on reported figures, VLRS total debt of roughly $3.8B against equity of $42.0M produces a debt-to-equity ratio near 90x in 2026Q3, up from about 10.6x in 2024Q4, indicating leverage is now dominated by a sharply shrinking equity denominator.
Total debt has stayed broadly flat near $3.8B to $3.9B across the period, so the rising D/E ratio is primarily a function of equity erosion rather than new borrowing. Reported figures do not separate lease liabilities from financial debt, which likely understates the true obligations of an operator with a heavy leased fleet. The ratio suggests limited equity buffer against further losses, and warrants further investigation into the maturity and currency composition of the debt stack.
Cash Buffer Holds Near Eight Hundred Million
As reported in quarterly statements, VLRS cash position of about $803.0M in 2026Q3 against a current ratio of 0.67 indicates short-term obligations exceed current assets, though the cash cushion remains substantial relative to the reported balance sheet.
A current ratio below 1.0 is typical for airlines carrying unearned ticket revenue, yet the ratio has hovered between 0.64 and 0.78 over the period, suggesting a persistent structural gap rather than a temporary timing issue. Cash has ranged roughly between $738.5M and $899.4M, which provides a meaningful buffer against near-term shocks. Whether this buffer is sufficient depends on the timing of engine-related maintenance outflows, which are not fully visible in the reported balance sheet.
Deferred Revenue Signals Demand Timing
Per reported figures, deferred revenue of $501.0M in 2026Q3 rose from $428.0M in 2026Q1, while the zero value reported in 2025Q4 appears to be a data gap rather than a true absence of advance bookings.
Deferred revenue has generally risen across recent quarters, which may indicate forward bookings are holding up despite the reported margin compression. The zero entry in 2025Q4 is inconsistent with the surrounding trend and should be treated as unavailable data rather than evidence of a collapse in advance sales. Investors should monitor whether the 2026Q3 level persists, as it provides the clearest near-term indicator of demand visibility in the supplied data.
Cash Strength Masks Equity Fragility
Based on reported figures, the relatively stable cash balance and asset base of roughly $5.8B could lead to an overly comfortable reading, while equity of only $42.0M implies limited capacity to absorb further losses.
Headline cash and total asset figures may suggest resilience, but the balance sheet's loss-absorbing capacity has declined sharply, as shown by equity compression. Given that the prior statement analysis identified sustained negative net margins in most recent quarters, the cash position may be partly supported by working capital timing rather than durable earnings. This warrants scrutiny of whether the liquidity profile can be maintained if operating cash generation weakens.