What is Barnes & Noble Education's free cash flow?

Barnes & Noble Education generated free cash flow of $33.86M in fiscal 2026 (fiscal year ended May 2, 2026), operating cash flow of $50.06M minus $16.20M of capital expenditures. Free cash flow equaled 2.0% of revenue.

How much does Barnes & Noble Education spend on capital expenditures?

Barnes & Noble Education spent $16.20M on capital expenditures in fiscal 2026, compared with $12.89M a year earlier. That equals 32.4% of operating cash flow.

What is free cash flow?

Free cash flow is operating cash flow minus capital expenditures. It is the cash a company has left for dividends, buybacks, debt repayment or acquisitions after funding its operations and investment.

Barnes & Noble Education (BNED) Cash Flow: Operating & Free Cash Flow

Barnes & Noble Education Cash Flow Statement Analysis

Values in millions USD

Income Statement Balance Sheet Cash Flow Ratios

Scale:

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Cash flow statement showing operating, investing, and financing activities for Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (BNED) - Annual data in millions USD
Breakdown	FY 2026	FY 2026	FY 2025	FY 2025	FY 2025	FY 2024	FY 2023	FY 2023	FY 2022	FY 2021	FY 2021	FY 2020	FY 2019	FY 2018	FY 2017
Period ending	May 2026	Apr 2026	Oct 2025	May 2025	Apr 2025	Apr 2024	Jul 2023	Apr 2023	Apr 2022	May 2021	Apr 2021	Apr 2020	Apr 2019	Apr 2018	Apr 2017
Operating Activities
Net Income	16.87	16.87	-65.83	-65.83	-	-75.02	-90.14	-101.86	-68.86	-139.81	-133.57	-38.25	-24.37	-252.57	5.36
Depreciation & Amortization	32.75	32.75	37.94	37.94	37.94	40.56	42.19	42.19	42.51	45.95	45.95	65.94	66.96	65.59	53.32
Deferred Income Tax	-	-1.14	-0.83	-	-0.83	0.13	0.41	0.41	-17.84	-	-7.77	-5.38	-4.53	-14.77	-11.96
Stock Based Compensation	6.21	6.21	5.39	5.39	5.39	3.38	4.72	4.72	5.73	4.68	4.68	6.64	9.02	8.46	9.37
Change in Working Capital	-	-20.89	-124.19	-124.19	-124.19	6.44	124.20	124.20	6.65	74.06	74.06	-39.15	15.42	-61.30	11.11
Change in Accounts Receivable	-18.45	-18.45	0.76	0.76	-	-6.33	43.49	43.49	-15.53	-30.24	-30.24	7.32	1.81	-13.67	-6.41
Change in Inventory	0.62	0.62	46.35	46.35	46.35	-21.76	-29.86	-29.86	-14.10	144.89	144.89	-2.33	24.02	-4.45	2.05
Change in Accounts Payable	2.85	2.85	0.00	-181.26	-	0.00	0.00	82.34	45.94	-10.41	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Change in Other Working Capital	-18.58	3.66	-171.31	-119.95	5.16	34.53	110.58	3.13	20.52	33.72	-40.58	-44.15	-10.41	-43.19	15.47
Other Operating Activities	11.00	3.66	62.11	64.14	5.16	19.39	10.29	3.13	-21.29	41.02	49.55	1.53	59.30	314.63	0.79
Net Cash from Operating Activities	50.06	50.06	-85.41	-85.41	-85.41	-5.12	91.67	91.67	1.16	32.90	32.90	-8.68	121.79	60.04	67.99
Investing Activities
Capital Expenditures	-16.20	-16.20	-12.89	-12.89	-12.89	-14.07	-25.09	-25.09	-33.61	-27.56	-27.56	-36.19	-46.42	-42.81	-34.67
Acquisitions	-	0.00	0.00	-	-	0.00	0.00	-	0.00	-	0.00	0.00	-10.00	-58.26	-186.72
Other Investing Activities	-	0.00	0.79	-	-	21.47	-5.95	-6.54	0.87	0.34	-9.33	-0.83	0.80	1.04	-3.05
Net Cash from Investing Activities	-16.20	-16.20	-12.10	-12.10	-12.10	7.40	-31.04	-31.04	-42.66	-36.89	-36.89	-37.02	-55.62	-100.03	-224.44
Financing Activities
Debt Repayment	-845.00	-845.37	-62.24	-948.92	-949.29	10.79	-41.55	-631.85	-584.12	-719.70	2.90	41.20	-62.90	36.80	159.60
Common Stock Issued	-	0.00	173.45	173.45	173.45	0.00	0.00	-	0.26	10.87	10.87	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Common Stock Repurchased	-	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	-0.18	-0.86	-0.86	-2.37	-0.89	-0.89	-1.27	-1.98	-1.64	-9.41
Other Financing Activities	-1.90	-1.90	-13.54	-13.54	-13.54	-16.32	-7.27	-7.27	-0.27	-1.08	-1.08	0.00	-3.40	0.00	-2.91
Net Cash from Financing Activities	-34.37	-34.37	97.67	97.67	97.67	-5.70	-49.68	-49.68	45.72	11.80	11.80	39.94	-68.27	35.16	147.28
Summary
Net Change in Cash	-0.50	-0.50	0.15	0.15	0.15	-3.42	10.95	10.95	4.22	7.81	7.81	-5.76	-2.10	-4.83	-9.17
Cash at Beginning of Period	-	28.72	28.57	-	28.57	31.99	21.04	21.04	16.82	-	9.01	14.77	16.87	21.70	30.87
Cash at End of Period	-	28.22	28.72	-	28.72	28.57	31.99	31.99	21.04	-	16.82	9.01	14.77	16.87	21.70
Free Cash Flow	33.86	33.86	-98.31	-98.31	-98.31	-19.19	66.58	66.58	-32.45	5.33	5.33	-44.87	75.37	17.23	33.32
Supplemental Disclosures
Interest Paid	-	-	-	17.91	-	24.94	-	19.02	8.17	6.78	-	-	-	-	-
Income Taxes Paid	-	-	-	2.13	-	-7.29	-	-15.22	-8.01	6.01	-	-	-	-	-

Source: Company financial statements from annual and quarterly filings. Data as of Aug 1, 2026. Data sources and methodology

Barnes & Noble Education (BNED) Cash Flow Statement

Barnes & Noble Education Cash Flow Statement Analysis

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