National CineMedia (NCMI) Cash Flow: Operating & Free Cash Flow

National CineMedia (NCMI) Cash Flow Statement

In fiscal 2025 (fiscal year ended Jan 1, 2026), National CineMedia generated $8.40M of operating cash flow and spent $5.60M on capital expenditures. That left free cash flow of $2.80M, down 94.9% from $54.50M a year earlier, or 1.2% of revenue. It returned $33.40M to shareholders through $11.40M in dividends and $22.00M in share buybacks.

National CineMedia Cash Flow Statement Analysis

Values in millions USD

Income Statement Balance Sheet Cash Flow Ratios

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Cash flow statement showing operating, investing, and financing activities for National CineMedia, Inc. (NCMI) - Annual data in millions USD
Breakdown	FY 2025	FY 2025	FY 2024	FY 2023	FY 2022	FY 2021	FY 2020	FY 2019	FY 2018	FY 2017
Period ending	Jan 2026	Dec 2025	Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020	Dec 2019	Dec 2018	Dec 2017
Operating Activities
Net Income	-10.60	0.00	-22.30	705.20	-66.20	-118.40	-65.40	86.70	80.20	58.70
Depreciation & Amortization	37.90	37.90	42.40	25.50	31.50	35.60	29.20	40.30	39.90	37.60
Deferred Income Tax	-	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	162.40	12.10	22.90	128.90
Stock Based Compensation	9.30	9.30	12.20	4.50	7.10	8.10	2.20	5.50	7.80	11.20
Change in Working Capital	-	-24.10	21.90	11.00	-32.00	-18.80	130.40	-17.50	-1.10	-18.10
Change in Accounts Receivable	-8.90	-8.90	10.60	36.30	-40.00	-36.80	158.00	-20.90	10.70	-0.10
Change in Accounts Payable	-3.30	-0.50	2.40	-6.90	15.20	13.20	-18.50	3.60	4.80	1.70
Change in Other Working Capital	1.80	-4.10	6.10	-186.70	13.60	-2.90	-6.60	-0.20	-16.60	-19.70
Other Operating Activities	-3.20	-4.10	6.10	-186.70	13.60	-2.90	-53.80	16.50	0.60	-79.40
Net Cash from Operating Activities	8.40	8.40	60.30	-6.70	-47.30	-95.20	55.30	143.60	150.30	138.90
Investing Activities
Capital Expenditures	-5.60	-5.60	-5.80	-3.30	-2.90	-5.70	-8.00	-14.00	-14.30	-13.70
Acquisitions	-7.50	-7.50	0.00	-15.50	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.10	-0.20
Purchases of Investments	-2.00	-2.30	-1.10	0.00	0.00	0.00	23.60	-24.50	-36.80	-34.40
Sales/Maturities of Investments	-	0.00	0.00	1.30	0.30	0.30	31.80	34.50	32.20	51.20
Other Investing Activities	-0.30	-0.30	1.20	34.60	2.20	0.00	0.00	5.60	2.70	5.60
Net Cash from Investing Activities	-15.40	-15.40	-5.70	32.60	-0.40	-5.40	15.60	1.60	-16.10	8.50
Financing Activities
Debt Repayment	-20.00	-20.00	0.00	-0.80	-23.00	-2.30	124.60	0.70	0.10	-3.00
Common Stock Repurchased	-22.00	-22.60	-13.80	0.00	-0.20	-2.00	-1.00	-1.30	-2.40	-4.70
Dividends Paid	-11.40	-11.40	-0.30	-0.50	-9.50	-16.90	-32.00	-125.50	-54.40	-58.70
Other Financing Activities	-2.10	-1.50	0.00	-50.80	-7.00	-7.30	-38.10	-4.60	-66.30	-73.80
Net Cash from Financing Activities	-33.50	-33.50	-14.10	-52.10	10.30	21.50	53.50	-130.70	-123.00	-140.20
Summary
Net Change in Cash	-40.50	-40.50	40.50	-26.20	-37.40	-79.10	124.40	14.50	11.20	7.20
Cash at Beginning of Period	-	78.10	37.60	63.80	101.20	180.30	55.90	41.40	30.20	23.00
Cash at End of Period	-	37.60	78.10	37.60	63.80	101.20	180.30	55.90	41.40	30.20
Free Cash Flow	2.80	2.80	54.50	-10.00	-50.20	-100.90	47.30	129.60	136.00	125.20
Supplemental Disclosures
Interest Paid	-	-	0.90	12.50	66.50	58.60	54.60	-	-	-
Income Taxes Paid	-	-	0.10	-	0.10	-0.10	0.50	-	-	-

Source: Company financial statements from annual and quarterly filings. Data as of Jul 2, 2026. Data sources and methodology

Frequently Asked Questions About National CineMedia Cash Flow

What is National CineMedia's free cash flow?

National CineMedia generated free cash flow of $2.80M in fiscal 2025 (fiscal year ended Jan 1, 2026), operating cash flow of $8.40M minus $5.60M of capital expenditures. That was down 94.9% from $54.50M a year earlier. Free cash flow equaled 1.2% of revenue.

How much does National CineMedia spend on capital expenditures?

National CineMedia spent $5.60M on capital expenditures in fiscal 2025, compared with $5.80M a year earlier. That equals 66.7% of operating cash flow.

Does National CineMedia pay dividends or buy back shares?

Yes. In fiscal 2025 National CineMedia returned $11.40M in dividends and $22.00M in share buybacks to shareholders, according to its cash flow statement.

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. Full definition