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Cars.com cash flow, quarter by quarter

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

Free cash flow$59.0M in Q3 2026 · $151M over twelve months

Operating cash flow$59.0M
Capital spending−$43K
Free cash flow+$59.0M
Cash / net income3.6×

Analysis

In Q3 2026, Cars.com generated $59.0M of operating cash flow and spent $43K on capital projects, leaving free cash flow of $59.0M. That is $724K more than in Q3 2025 ($58.3M).

Over the twelve months to Sep 30, 2026, operating cash flow was $152M; the largest uses were buybacks ($96.9M), other investing ($30.2M), net borrowing (+) / repaid (−) ($10.0M); the cash balance rose by $9.5M.

Operating cash flow was $59.0M against net income of $16.3M — 3.6× profit, cash ran ahead of reported earnings. The largest differences: depreciation & amortization +$16.4M, other liabilities +$8.9M, receivables +$6.9M.

Free cash flow

Cars.com: free cash flow by quarterCars.com: free cash flow by quarter$29.1MQ4 2024$28.6MQ1 2025$23.7MQ2 2025$58.3MQ3 2025$36.7MQ4 2025$39.5MQ1 2026$15.3MQ2 2026$59.0MQ3 2026
Operating cash flow less capital spending.
Cars.com: operating cash flow against capital spendingCars.com: operating cash flow against capital spendingOperating cash flowCapital spending$30.0M$954KQ4 2024$29.5M$811KQ1 2025$26.2M$2.5MQ2 2025$58.8M$559KQ3 2025$37.1M$385KQ4 2025$39.8M$262KQ1 2026$15.8M$547KQ2 2026$59.0M$43KQ3 2026
Latest (Q3 2026): Operating cash flow $59.0M, Capital spending $43K.

Capital allocation, year by year

Cars.com: where the cash came from (up) and went (down), by fiscal yearCars.com: where the cash came from (up) and went (down), by fiscal yearOperating cash flowNet borrowingCapital spendingBuybacksFY2021: Operating cash flow $138MFY2021: Net borrowing −$240MFY2021: Capital spending −$1.5M$138MFY2021FY2022: Operating cash flow $129MFY2022: Net borrowing −$37.5MFY2022: Capital spending −$1.8MFY2022: Buybacks −$49.0M$129MFY2022FY2023: Operating cash flow $137MFY2023: Capital spending −$1.3MFY2023: Buybacks −$31.3M$137MFY2023FY2024: Operating cash flow $153MFY2024: Net borrowing −$30.0MFY2024: Capital spending −$3.0MFY2024: Buybacks −$49.2M$153MFY2024FY2025: Operating cash flow $152MFY2025: Net borrowing −$5.0MFY2025: Capital spending −$4.3MFY2025: Buybacks −$86.9M$152MFY2025
Over these 5 years operating cash flow totalled $707M; the largest uses were net borrowing ($312M) and buybacks ($216M). Cash-flow statements as filed.

Cash runway and the debt wall

Cash & investments$64.6M
Debt$455M
Net debt$390M

Cars.com funds itself: free cash flow was $151M over the last twelve months, and $64.6M of cash and investments stands against $455M of debt.

Cars.com: debt maturities by year (FY2025)Cars.com: debt maturities by year (FY2025)$400MYear 3$55.0MYear 4
Principal due in each year as disclosed in the annual report, against $64.6M of cash and investments now.

Where the cash came from and went

Cars.com: sources (+) and uses (−) of cash, Q3 2026Cars.com: sources (+) and uses (−) of cash, Q3 2026Operating cash flow$59.0MCash drawn (+) / kept (−)−$31.3MBuybacks−$16.9MOther investing−$5.2MNet borrowing (+) / repaid (−)−$5.0MOther financing−$467KExchange rates−$207KCapital spending−$43K
Cars.com: sources (+) and uses (−) of cash, TTM to Q3 2026Cars.com: sources (+) and uses (−) of cash, TTM to Q3 2026Operating cash flow$152MBuybacks−$96.9MOther investing−$30.2MNet borrowing (+) / repaid (−)−$10.0MCash drawn (+) / kept (−)−$9.5MOther financing−$3.7MCapital spending−$1.2MExchange rates−$215K

From profit to cash

Cars.com: net income to operating cash flow, Q3 2026Cars.com: net income to operating cash flow, Q3 2026Net income$16.3MDepreciation & amortization$16.4MStock-based pay$5.8MReceivables$6.9MPayables−$528KEmployee-related liabilities$4.3MPrepaid and other assets−$4.9MOther liabilities$8.9MOperating cash flow$59.0M
Non-cash charges are added back; money tied up in receivables or inventory is subtracted.

Every quarter

QuarterOperating cash flowCapital spendingBuybacksNet borrowing (+) / repaid (−)Cash drawn (+) / kept (−)Free cash flow
Q3 2026$59.0M−$43K−$16.9M−$5.0M−$31.3M$59.0M
Q2 2026$15.8M−$547K−$37.0M−$5.0M$31.3M$15.3M
Q1 2026$39.8M−$262K−$20.5M—−$8.4M$39.5M
Q4 2025$37.1M−$385K−$22.6M—−$1.2M$36.7M
Q3 2025$58.8M−$559K−$19.7M−$5.0M−$27.4M$58.3M
Q2 2025$26.2M−$2.5M−$23.1M—$3.7M$23.7M
Q1 2025$29.5M−$811K−$21.5M—$19.2M$28.6M
Q4 2024$30.0M−$954K−$13.5M−$10.0M−$1.1M$29.1M

Cars.com: income statement and cash flow

Cars.com, Q3 2026: revenue $182M (+0.2% year over year), operating margin 15.9%. The chart follows the revenue to costs, profit and cash.

Cars.com: 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.