Free cash flow remains highly unstable, ranging from $1.7 billion to $9.1 billion over the last ten quarters, while the OCF/NI ratio reached an extreme -7.24 in 2026Q4.
| Metric | Mar'26 | Mar'25 | Mar'24 | Mar'23 | Mar'22 | Mar'21 | Mar'20 | Mar'19 | Mar'18 | Mar'17 | Mar'16 | Mar'15 | Mar'14 | Mar'13 | Mar'12 | Mar'11 | Mar'10 | Mar'09 | Mar'08 | Mar'07 | Mar'06 | Mar'05 | Mar'04 | Mar'03 | Mar'02 | Mar'01 | Mar'00 | Mar'99 | Mar'98 | Mar'97 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 13.49B | 15.37B | 16.56B | 18.05B | 18.08B | 17.21B | 17.38B | 12.98B | 13.6B | 14.22B | 13.29B | 13.28B | 7.53B | 12.69B | 12.36B | 13.65B | 14.67B | 11.72B | 12.41B | 14.92B | 15.95B | 17.71B | 19.29B | 15.12B | 13.25B | 4.1B | 2.99B | 965.37M | 867.93M | 510.11M |
| Operating CF Growth % | -12.27% | -7.15% | -8.29% | -0.15% | 5.03% | -0.94% | 33.89% | -4.56% | -4.38% | 7.02% | 0.04% | 76.36% | -40.63% | 2.67% | -9.48% | -6.91% | 25.16% | -5.56% | -16.83% | -6.45% | -9.98% | -8.15% | 27.59% | 14.09% | 223.08% | 37.12% | 209.79% | 11.23% | 70.14% | 5.97% |
| Operating CF / Revenue % | 33.11% | 41.05% | 45.09% | 47.92% | 48.85% | 39.3% | 37.85% | 28.86% | 29.2% | 29.86% | 25.58% | 23.01% | 16.24% | 28.11% | 26.52% | 26.14% | 29.38% | 26.45% | 27.83% | 32.55% | 37.89% | 45.54% | 38.36% | 34.34% | 35.47% | 16.9% | 22.79% | 19.2% | 22.62% | 20.66% |
| Net Income | -290.94M | -3.72B | 1.14B | 11.84B | 2.24B | 59M | -920M | -8.02B | 2.44B | -6.3B | -4.84B | 8.09B | 71.68B | 798.49M | 8.4B | 8.96B | 9.67B | 6.32B | 12.62B | -3.03B | -20.2B | 13.09B | -7.15B | -7.67B | -16.97B | -10.42B | 1.64B | 1.27B | 973.37M | 699.31M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 12.54B | 10.8B | 10.41B | 11.19B | 11.54B | 14.1B | 14.17B | 9.79B | 10.41B | 11.09B | 12.04B | 13.08B | 9.15B | 9.14B | 9.43B | 8.96B | 8.88B | 7.36B | 7.42B | 7.53B | 8.36B | 8.04B | 26.15B | 22.97B | 22.69B | 2.62B | 1.26B | 444.23M | 369.75M | 217.85M |
| Deferred Taxes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 497M | 681M | -649M | -164M | 30M | 1.02B | -520M | 3.49B | -8.58B | -18B | 3.06B | 3.06B | 1.85B | 62.86M | 1.2B | -8.31B | -7.56B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 1.24B | 8.15B | 4.76B | -4.97B | 4.3B | 3.06B | 4.13B | 11.21B | 752M | 8.91B | 2.79B | 2.56B | -56.04B | -845.95M | -8.95B | -6.94B | -4.63B | -3.32B | 536.52M | 157.64M | 27.56B | -3.88B | 644.08M | -110.56M | 7.41B | -3.17B | -1.19B | -598.5M | -508.58M | -376.41M |
| Working Capital Changes | 0 | 70M | 114M | -638M | -800M | 514M | 30M | -162M | -1.14B | 425M | -346.17M | -1.98B | 641.13M | 377.29M | 247.23M | 644.2M | 507.41M | 17.28M | 4.43M | 17.68B | 226.88M | 460.67M | -356.55M | -75.35M | 115.88M | 15.07B | 1.29B | -147.23M | 33.39M | -30.64M |
| Capital Expenditures | -4.9B | -6.7B | -6.86B | -4.96B | -6.87B | -9.26B | -8.09B | -9.22B | -9.84B | -6.29B | -15.03B | -12.15B | 37.19B | -10.32B | -7.14B | -9.83B | -7.83B | -7.52B | -12.82B | -6.68B | -7.41B | -7.26B | -13.09B | -7.81B | -19.85B | -27.28B | -9.24B | -1.13B | -1.34B | -1.16B |
| CapEx / Revenue % | 18.09% | 11.55% | 11.49% | 16.59% | 18.56% | 21.14% | 17.61% | 20.49% | 21.13% | 13.2% | 28.93% | 21.04% | 80.17% | 22.88% | 15.32% | 18.83% | 15.68% | 16.99% | 28.76% | 14.57% | 17.62% | 18.66% | 26.03% | 17.74% | 53.13% | 112.38% | 70.43% | 22.45% | 34.96% | 47.17% |
| CapEx / D&A | 0.59x | 0.40x | 0.41x | 0.56x | 0.60x | 0.66x | 0.57x | 0.94x | 0.95x | 0.57x | 1.25x | 0.93x | 4.07x | 1.13x | 0.76x | 1.10x | 0.88x | 1.02x | 1.73x | 0.89x | 0.89x | 0.90x | 0.50x | 0.34x | 0.87x | 10.43x | 7.32x | 2.54x | 3.63x | 5.35x |
| CapEx Coverage (OCF/CapEx) | 1.83x | 3.56x | 3.92x | 2.89x | 2.63x | 1.86x | 2.15x | 1.41x | 1.38x | 2.26x | 0.88x | 1.09x | 0.20x | 1.23x | 1.73x | 1.39x | 1.87x | 1.56x | 0.97x | 2.23x | 2.15x | 2.44x | 1.47x | 1.94x | 0.67x | 0.15x | 0.32x | 0.86x | 0.65x | 0.44x |
| Cash from Investing | -5.54B | 4.76B | -6.12B | -379M | -6.87B | -9.26B | -8.09B | -9.22B | -9.84B | -8.42B | -12.87B | -14.12B | 37.19B | -8.78B | 7.9B | -2.14B | -8.35B | -7.52B | -12.82B | 5.85B | -10.89B | -9.44B | -13.09B | -5.78B | -19.85B | 6.63B | -9.24B | -1.5B | -1.34B | -1.16B |
| Acquisitions | -15.1M | 13.91B | 358M | 6.9B | 1M | 428M | -7.29B | -499M | 312M | 477M | -57.06M | -4.31B | 37.07B | -1.67B | 9.29B | 1.16B | -382.8M | -1.47B | -7.48B | 10.43B | -5.14B | -2.94B | -1.6B | -7.07B | -11.69B | 49.59B | -7.93B | -474.01M | -565.89M | -271.08M |
| Purchase of Investments | -1.8B | -3.5B | 0 | -767M | -2.01B | -3.73B | -1.83B | -3.63B | -3.9B | -2.22B | -97.64M | -283.06M | -259M | -5.04B | -500.47M | -361.94M | -585.99M | -143.62M | -120.62M | -253.41M | -81.74M | -27.7M | -64.42M | -811.51M | -72.28M | -5.26B | -28.34M | -6.28M | 0 | -339.42M |
| Sale of Investments | 3.65B | 737M | 0 | 1.65B | 3.28B | 1.7B | 7.79B | 2.27B | 1.25B | 3.6B | 1.72B | 1.23B | 1.79B | 1.81B | 79.21M | 5.08B | 19.08M | 273.2M | 986.34M | 117.86M | 1.43M | 32.07M | 184.27M | 833.24M | 522.02M | 829.87M | 1.65B | 80.2M | 0 | 6.64M |
| Other Investing | 0 | -2.07B | -2.26B | -1.91B | -2.34B | -2.25B | -1.57B | -2.31B | -2.58B | -3.99B | 593.44M | 1.39B | 3.9B | 6.46B | 6.17B | 1.81B | 431.07M | 1.34B | -300.3M | 2.23B | 1.75B | 753.69M | -4.82B | 9.08B | -1.83B | -11.24B | 450.09M | 25.44M | 26.4M | -65.09M |
| Cash from Financing | -9.71B | -15.28B | -15.86B | -13.43B | -9.71B | -15.2B | -9.35B | 4.44B | -7.23B | -9.1B | 3.75B | -3.31B | -41.43B | -3.51B | -18.81B | -9.4B | -6.57B | -1.15B | -7.04B | -13.63B | -6.24B | -11.35B | 522.84M | -197.08M | 6.62B | -10.82B | 6.45B | 527.13M | 454.85M | 688.15M |
| Dividends Paid | -1.1B | -1.79B | -2.43B | -2.48B | -2.47B | -2.43B | -2.3B | -4.06B | -3.92B | -3.71B | -3.8B | -4B | -6.14B | -5.7B | -7.97B | -5.45B | -4.65B | -4.33B | -4.6B | -5.24B | -3.94B | -2.9B | -1.88B | -1.52B | -2.41B | -1.25B | -523.15M | -177.43M | 0 | -183.71M |
| Dividend Payout Ratio % | - | - | 213.16% | 20.98% | 110.59% | 4113.56% | - | - | 88.93% | - | - | 47.7% | 45.54% | 1163.68% | 95.61% | 56.07% | 47.88% | 130.38% | 54.92% | - | - | 31.06% | - | - | - | - | 64.44% | 18.62% | 29.7% | 35.77% |
| Debt Issuance (Net) | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K |
| Stock Issued | 2.01M | 3M | 3M | 10M | 0 | 5M | 7M | 7M | 20M | 25M | 25M | 31M | 0 | 81.87M | 109.21M | 121.78M | 78.58M | 23.76M | 389.51M | 284.35M | 510.49M | 167.4M | 88.47M | 42.1M | 5.88B | 175.8M | 665.14M | 15.86M | 23.21M | 22.03M |
| Share Repurchases | -2.05B | -1.87B | 0 | -1.87B | -2.09B | -62M | -821M | -475M | -1.77B | 0 | 0 | 0 | -18.55B | -1.86B | -4.3B | -2.38B | 0 | -1.04B | 0 | -8.48B | -9.26B | -5.91B | -1.35B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -26.48M | -1.71M | 0 |
| Other Financing | -173.15M | -3.42B | -5.99B | -2.66B | -3.76B | -2.04B | -147M | 475M | -596M | -3.47B | -566M | -2.93B | -23.48B | -2.24B | -5.3B | -2.32B | -1.17B | 503.2M | -2.09B | -1.6B | -1.11B | -45.9M | 3.3B | 2B | 10.13B | -12.2B | 523.15M | 150.9M | 14.86M | 183.71M |
| Net Change in Cash | -1.33B | 4.78B | -5.51B | 4.26B | 1.58B | -7.5B | -317M | 8.21B | -3.91B | -3.61B | 4.25B | -4.45B | 3.34B | 605.09M | 1.04B | 2.1B | -542.21M | 3.45B | -7.3B | 6.67B | -1.14B | -3.04B | 2.76B | -2.62B | 18.36M | -88.97M | 720.15M | -38.6M | -11.18M | 39.11M |
| Exchange Rate Effect | 431.82M | -75M | -94M | 12M | 74M | -255M | -256M | 11M | -433M | -313M | 73.55M | -302.2M | -139.11M | 201.7M | -415.25M | -13.66M | -288.5M | 400.61M | 162.09M | -464.09M | 48.75M | 42.28M | -5.12B | -1.2B | 0 | 0 | 526.78M | -27.68M | 7.45M | 5.65M |
| Cash at Beginning | 10.32B | 6.11B | 11.63B | 7.37B | 5.79B | 13.29B | 13.61B | 5.39B | 9.3B | 12.91B | 8.7B | 13.83B | 8.9B | 8.41B | 7.37B | 4.97B | 5.44B | 1.78B | 9.37B | 4.32B | 5.34B | 8.47B | 508.91M | -17.44B | 130.79M | 6.64B | -1.73B | -516.65M | -724.6M | -261.76M |
| Cash at End | 8.99B | 10.89B | 6.11B | 11.63B | 7.37B | 5.79B | 13.29B | 13.61B | 5.39B | 9.3B | 12.95B | 9.38B | 12.23B | 9.01B | 8.4B | 7.06B | 4.9B | 5.23B | 2.08B | 10.99B | 4.2B | 5.43B | 3.26B | -20.05B | 149.15M | 6.55B | -1.01B | -555.25M | -735.78M | -222.65M |
| Free Cash Flow | 8.58B | 8.67B | 9.7B | 13.1B | 11.21B | 7.95B | 9.29B | 3.76B | 3.76B | 7.94B | -1.74B | 1.14B | 44.72B | 2.36B | 5.22B | 3.82B | 6.84B | 4.19B | -415.89M | 8.24B | 8.53B | 10.46B | 6.2B | 7.31B | -6.6B | -23.17B | -6.25B | -163.39M | -473.49M | -654.69M |
| FCF Growth % | -1.05% | -10.55% | -25.96% | 16.8% | 40.99% | -14.4% | 146.9% | 0.11% | -52.65% | 555.94% | -253.03% | -97.46% | 1792.25% | -54.73% | 36.72% | -44.14% | 63.02% | 1108.18% | -105.05% | -3.4% | -18.41% | 68.66% | -15.17% | 210.73% | 71.52% | -270.62% | -3727.03% | 65.49% | 27.68% | -1420.7% |
| FCF Margin % | 21.07% | 23.16% | 26.41% | 34.77% | 30.3% | 18.15% | 20.23% | 8.37% | 8.07% | 16.67% | -3.35% | 1.97% | 96.41% | 5.24% | 11.21% | 7.31% | 13.69% | 9.47% | -0.93% | 17.98% | 20.27% | 26.88% | 12.33% | 16.6% | -17.67% | -95.48% | -47.64% | -3.25% | -12.34% | -26.51% |
| FCF / Net Income % | -2147.61% | -208.06% | 850.61% | 110.64% | 501.25% | 13479.66% | -989.07% | -79.41% | 85.28% | -362.47% | 34.12% | 14.44% | 331.69% | 482.32% | 62.61% | 42.11% | 70.43% | 126.15% | -4.97% | -103.08% | -27.14% | 111.89% | -45.9% | -51.07% | 24.98% | 144.93% | -770.23% | -17.15% | -72.8% | -127.46% |
High leverage and churn
Based on reported financial statements, Vodafone exhibits a persistent divergence between net income and operating cash flow, with the OCF/NI ratio reaching an extreme -7.24 in 2026Q4, suggesting that accounting earnings are currently failing to capture the underlying cash-generating reality of the core telecommunications business.
The massive gap between net income and operating cash flow indicates that non-cash charges and accounting adjustments are heavily distorting the bottom line. Investors should monitor whether this disconnect is a temporary byproduct of portfolio restructuring or a structural issue where depreciation and amortization costs consistently outpace operational cash inflows.
As reported in recent filings, free cash flow has fluctuated significantly, ranging from $1.7 billion to $9.1 billion over the last ten quarters, which highlights the inherent instability in the company's ability to generate consistent surplus cash after accounting for heavy capital expenditure requirements.
The erratic FCF trajectory suggests that the company's dividend policy may be vulnerable to sudden shifts in operational performance or capital intensity. The lack of a stable FCF growth trend warrants further investigation into whether the current dividend payout is supported by sustainable cash generation or debt-funded distributions.
According to historical data, Vodafone maintains a high capital intensity, with CapEx/Revenue ratios frequently exceeding 18%, reflecting the ongoing, heavy financial burden of maintaining and upgrading legacy network infrastructure while simultaneously attempting to fund new 5G deployments across its core European and African operating segments.
The persistent high level of capital expenditure suggests that the company is locked into a cycle of continuous reinvestment just to maintain its competitive position. This capital intensity limits the amount of cash available for debt reduction or shareholder returns, reinforcing the company's status as a capital-heavy utility.
Based on quarterly cash flow data, working capital changes have been highly volatile, swinging from a $2.5 billion inflow in 2025Q4 to a $2.4 billion outflow in 2025Q2, which indicates significant instability in the company's ability to manage its cash conversion cycle effectively across diverse geographic markets.
These sharp fluctuations in working capital suggest potential inefficiencies in inventory management or collection cycles, which may be exacerbated by the company's complex multi-country operations. Investors should monitor whether these swings are indicative of underlying operational friction or merely the result of large-scale, lumpy contract settlements.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying VOD stock.
Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (VOD) generated $13.49B in net cash from operating activities in 2026. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (VOD) generated $8.58B 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.
Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (VOD) spent $7.37B 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, Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (VOD) returned $1.10B to shareholders via cash dividends and spent $2.05B on share repurchases. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.