Scholastic (SCHL) Cash Flow: Operating & Free Cash Flow

Scholastic (SCHL) Cash Flow Statement

In fiscal 2026 (fiscal year ended May 31, 2026), Scholastic generated $50.90M of operating cash flow and spent $48.40M on capital expenditures. That left free cash flow of $2.50M, down 96.5% from $72.00M a year earlier, or 0.2% of revenue. It returned $285.90M to shareholders through $20.00M in dividends and $265.90M in share buybacks.

Scholastic Cash Flow Statement Analysis

Values in millions USD

Income Statement Balance Sheet Cash Flow Ratios

Scale:

Scroll to see more

Cash flow statement showing operating, investing, and financing activities for Scholastic Corporation (SCHL) - Annual data in millions USD
Breakdown	FY 2026	FY 2025	FY 2024	FY 2023	FY 2022	FY 2021	FY 2020	FY 2019	FY 2018	FY 2017
Period ending	May 2026	May 2025	May 2024	May 2023	May 2022	May 2021	May 2020	May 2019	May 2018	May 2017
Operating Activities
Net Income	56.70	-1.90	12.10	86.30	80.90	-11.00	-43.80	15.60	-5.00	52.50
Depreciation & Amortization	83.70	110.80	93.60	64.60	91.30	90.30	64.00	59.30	44.20	39.10
Deferred Income Tax	3.60	-19.70	-1.90	-0.70	3.20	-8.00	17.90	3.30	7.70	15.50
Stock Based Compensation	8.50	9.30	11.00	10.50	7.80	6.60	3.80	8.30	10.70	10.10
Change in Working Capital	-73.70	-3.50	2.00	-69.60	-4.50	-47.40	-162.20	-23.80	-35.80	-33.20
Change in Accounts Receivable	13.40	-26.70	38.20	15.00	-73.10	-14.60	-7.00	-11.90	-12.90	-15.20
Change in Inventory	-22.50	-2.80	50.90	-83.60	-46.70	-26.20	-20.80	-49.80	-27.40	-29.40
Change in Accounts Payable	-12.80	15.50	-32.50	9.40	27.40	-17.90	-33.60	11.80	45.90	-6.00
Change in Other Working Capital	-78.10	-27.90	-13.90	-10.40	-32.80	-12.00	-100.80	26.10	-41.40	17.40
Other Operating Activities	-78.10	9.50	35.90	57.80	24.40	29.90	122.40	53.70	119.70	57.40
Net Cash from Operating Activities	50.90	124.20	154.60	148.90	226.00	71.00	2.10	116.40	141.50	141.40
Investing Activities
Capital Expenditures	-48.40	-52.20	-58.40	-62.00	-42.00	-47.20	-66.00	-95.00	-121.50	-65.70
Acquisitions	0.00	-176.20	-6.40	-10.70	16.00	17.40	0.00	4.30	0.00	0.00
Purchases of Investments	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	-1.20	-18.50	-4.40	-10.10
Sales/Maturities of Investments	19.40	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Other Investing Activities	434.80	-24.50	-2.10	-26.90	-17.20	-20.70	-28.50	-38.10	-36.10	-17.00
Net Cash from Investing Activities	405.80	-252.90	-89.70	-99.60	-43.20	-50.50	-95.70	-147.30	-162.00	-92.80
Financing Activities
Debt Repayment	-430.40	-93.90	-56.40	-2.50	-188.50	-36.20	205.50	-2.90	1.60	-1.30
Common Stock Issued	18.60	1.20	9.10	0.00	10.20	0.40	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Common Stock Repurchased	-265.90	-70.00	-158.20	-132.10	-33.40	0.00	-35.50	-8.50	-27.30	-6.90
Dividends Paid	-20.00	-22.60	-24.70	-25.60	-20.70	-20.60	-20.80	-21.10	-21.10	-20.80
Other Financing Activities	-0.10	0.20	9.10	20.70	10.20	0.10	4.90	6.80	14.80	24.90
Net Cash from Financing Activities	-446.00	137.30	-176.10	-139.50	-229.20	-52.30	154.10	-25.70	-32.00	-4.10
Summary
Effect of Forex Changes on Cash	0.20	1.70	0.40	-1.90	-3.50	4.50	-0.80	-1.20	0.30	-0.10
Net Change in Cash	10.90	10.30	-110.80	-92.10	-49.90	-27.30	59.70	-57.80	-52.20	44.40
Cash at Beginning of Period	124.00	113.70	224.50	316.60	366.50	393.80	334.10	391.90	444.10	399.70
Cash at End of Period	134.90	124.00	113.70	224.50	316.60	366.50	393.80	334.10	391.90	444.10
Free Cash Flow	2.50	72.00	96.20	86.90	184.00	23.80	-63.90	21.40	20.00	75.70
Supplemental Disclosures
Interest Paid	-	18.30	2.20	1.50	3.30	5.40	-	-	-	-
Income Taxes Paid	-	2.00	23.70	2.50	-48.80	1.30	-	-	-	-

Source: Company financial statements from annual and quarterly filings. Data as of Aug 31, 2026. Data sources and methodology

Frequently Asked Questions About Scholastic Cash Flow

What is Scholastic's free cash flow?

Scholastic generated free cash flow of $2.50M in fiscal 2026 (fiscal year ended May 31, 2026), operating cash flow of $50.90M minus $48.40M of capital expenditures. That was down 96.5% from $72.00M a year earlier. Free cash flow equaled 0.2% of revenue.

How much does Scholastic spend on capital expenditures?

Scholastic spent $48.40M on capital expenditures in fiscal 2026, compared with $52.20M a year earlier. That equals 95.1% of operating cash flow.

Does Scholastic pay dividends or buy back shares?

Yes. In fiscal 2026 Scholastic returned $20.00M in dividends and $265.90M 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