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Autonation cash flow, quarter by quarter

Latest: Q3 2026 · from the cash-flow statements filed with the SEC

Free cash flow$134M in Q3 2026 · $22.9M over twelve months

Operating cash flow$209M
Capital spending−$75.7M
Free cash flow+$134M
Cash / net income1.3×
Cash conversion cycle61 days

Analysis

In Q3 2026, Autonation generated $209M of operating cash flow and spent $75.7M on capital projects, leaving free cash flow of $134M. That is $10.8M more than in Q3 2025 ($123M).

Over the twelve months to Sep 30, 2026, operating cash flow was $311M; the largest uses were buybacks ($993M), acquisitions ($427M), capital spending ($288M); besides operations, cash came from other financing ($1.0B), net borrowing (+) / repaid (−) ($355M); the cash balance rose by $16.6M.

Operating cash flow was $209M against net income of $162M — 1.3× profit, cash ran ahead of reported earnings. The largest differences: inventory +$63.8M, receivables +$53.0M, other liabilities +$41.2M.

Its cash conversion cycle was 61 days (receivables 8 + inventory 59 − payables 5).

Free cash flow

Autonation: free cash flow by quarterAutonation: free cash flow by quarter$83.5MQ4 2024−$128MQ1 2025−$257MQ2 2025$123MQ3 2025$64.2MQ4 2025−$34.2MQ1 2026−$141MQ2 2026$134MQ3 2026
Operating cash flow less capital spending.
Autonation: operating cash flow against capital spendingAutonation: operating cash flow against capital spendingOperating cash flowCapital spending$150M$66.3MQ4 2024−$52.5M$75.2MQ1 2025−$178M$79.0MQ2 2025$192M$68.9MQ3 2025$150M$86.3MQ4 2025$22.2M$56.4MQ1 2026−$71.1M$69.6MQ2 2026$209M$75.7MQ3 2026
Latest (Q3 2026): Operating cash flow $209M, Capital spending $75.7M.

Capital allocation, year by year

Autonation: where the cash came from (up) and went (down), by fiscal yearAutonation: where the cash came from (up) and went (down), by fiscal yearOperating cash flowNet borrowingShares issuedAsset salesCapital spendingAcquisitionsBuybacksFY2021: Operating cash flow $1.6BFY2021: Net borrowing $332MFY2021: Shares issued $54.5MFY2021: Asset sales $85.8MFY2021: Capital spending −$216MFY2021: Acquisitions −$433MFY2021: Buybacks −$2.3B$2.1BFY2021FY2022: Operating cash flow $1.7BFY2022: Net borrowing $398MFY2022: Shares issued $3.4MFY2022: Asset sales $78.0MFY2022: Capital spending −$329MFY2022: Acquisitions −$192MFY2022: Buybacks −$1.7B$2.1BFY2022FY2023: Operating cash flow $724MFY2023: Net borrowing $378MFY2023: Shares issued $1.9MFY2023: Asset sales $31.1MFY2023: Capital spending −$410MFY2023: Acquisitions −$271MFY2023: Buybacks −$874M$1.1BFY2023FY2024: Operating cash flow $315MFY2024: Net borrowing $177MFY2024: Shares issued $500KFY2024: Asset sales $160MFY2024: Capital spending −$328MFY2024: Buybacks −$460M$652MFY2024FY2025: Operating cash flow $112MFY2025: Net borrowing −$447MFY2025: Shares issued $700KFY2025: Asset sales $59.6MFY2025: Capital spending −$309MFY2025: Acquisitions −$459MFY2025: Buybacks −$792M$172MFY2025
Over these 5 years operating cash flow totalled $4.4B; the largest uses were buybacks ($6.1B) and capital spending ($1.6B). Cash-flow statements as filed.

Cash runway and the debt wall

Cash & investments$51.2M
Debt$4.3B
Net debt$4.3B
Due within a year$630M

Autonation funds itself: free cash flow was $22.9M over the last twelve months, and $51.2M of cash and investments stands against $4.3B of debt ($630M due within a year, 0.1× covered by cash).

Where the cash came from and went

Autonation: sources (+) and uses (−) of cash, Q3 2026Autonation: sources (+) and uses (−) of cash, Q3 2026Operating cash flow$209MBuybacks−$162MOther financing$110MNet borrowing (+) / repaid (−)−$80.0MCapital spending−$75.7MCash drawn (+) / kept (−)−$10.2MOther investing$8.2MTaxes on employees’ shares−$400K
Autonation: sources (+) and uses (−) of cash, TTM to Q3 2026Autonation: sources (+) and uses (−) of cash, TTM to Q3 2026Other financing$1.0BBuybacks−$993MAcquisitions−$427MNet borrowing (+) / repaid (−)$355MOperating cash flow$311MCapital spending−$288MOther investing$45.0MTaxes on employees’ shares−$24.4MAsset & business sales$17.4MCash drawn (+) / kept (−)−$16.6MShares issued$100K

From profit to cash

Autonation: net income to operating cash flow, Q3 2026Autonation: net income to operating cash flow, Q3 2026Net income$162MStock-based pay$9.3MDeferred taxes$6.7MGains on investments−$200KOther non-cash−$3.9MReceivables$53.0MInventory$63.8MPayables$16.2MPrepaid and other assets−$22.0MOther liabilities$41.2MOperating cash flow$209M
Non-cash charges are added back; money tied up in receivables or inventory is subtracted.
QuarterReceivable daysInventory daysPayable daysCash conversion cycle
Q3 2026859561
Q2 2026857660
Q1 2026958660
Q4 2025955658
Q3 2025855558
Q2 2025953557
Q1 20251054659
Q4 2024953557

Every quarter

QuarterOperating cash flowCapital spendingAcquisitionsBuybacksNet borrowing (+) / repaid (−)Shares issuedCash drawn (+) / kept (−)Free cash flow
Q3 2026$209M−$75.7M—−$162M−$80.0M—−$10.2M$134M
Q2 2026−$71.1M−$69.6M−$316M−$169M$315M—−$6.5M−$141M
Q1 2026$22.2M−$56.4M—−$301M$120M—−$40.1M−$34.2M
Q4 2025$150M−$86.3M−$111M−$362M—$100K$40.2M$64.2M
Q3 2025$192M−$68.9M−$279M−$176M$70.0M$100K−$28.6M$123M
Q2 2025−$178M−$79.0M—−$33.2M−$210M$300K$32.0M−$257M
Q1 2025−$52.5M−$75.2M−$69.6M−$221M$210M$200K−$26.0M−$128M
Q4 2024$150M−$66.3M—−$104M$280M$100K−$5.0M$83.5M

Autonation: income statement and cash flow

Autonation, Q3 2026: revenue $7.0B (-0.4% year over year), operating margin 4.5%. The chart follows the revenue to costs, profit and cash.

Autonation: every quarter, Q/Q and Y/Y → Open in the app

Read automatically from the company’s XBRL cash-flow statements; quarterly figures for the fourth quarter are the year less the first three. Errors are possible. Not investment advice.