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Cato cash flow, quarter by quarter

Latest: Q2 FY27 · from the cash-flow statements filed with the SEC

Free cash flow$13.1M in Q2 FY27 · $1.6M over twelve months

Operating cash flow$14.5M
Capital spending−$1.3M
Free cash flow+$13.1M
Cash / net income12.6×
Cash conversion cycle24 days

Analysis

In Q2 FY27, Cato generated $14.5M of operating cash flow and spent $1.3M on capital projects, leaving free cash flow of $13.1M.

Over the twelve months to Aug 1, 2026, operating cash flow was $5.4M; the largest uses were capital spending ($3.8M), other investing ($468K), buybacks ($422K); besides operations, cash came from shares issued ($155K); the cash balance rose by $890K.

Operating cash flow was $14.5M against net income of $1.1M — 12.6× profit, cash ran ahead of reported earnings. The largest differences: receivables +$12.5M, payables −$10.7M, inventory +$10.0M.

Its cash conversion cycle was 24 days (receivables 15 + inventory 72 − payables 63).

Free cash flow

Cato: free cash flow by quarterCato: free cash flow by quarter−$23.8MQ3 FY25−$7.8MQ4 FY25$2.8MQ1 FY26$10.4MQ2 FY26−$12.9MQ3 FY26−$5.6MQ4 FY26$7.0MQ1 FY27$13.1MQ2 FY27
Operating cash flow less capital spending.
Cato: operating cash flow against capital spendingCato: operating cash flow against capital spendingOperating cash flowCapital spending−$22.1M$1.7MQ3 FY25−$6.5M$1.4MQ4 FY25$3.9M$1.0MQ1 FY26$11.8M$1.3MQ2 FY26−$12.4M$530KQ3 FY26−$4.7M$871KQ4 FY26$8.0M$1.1MQ1 FY27$14.5M$1.3MQ2 FY27
Latest (Q2 FY27): Operating cash flow $14.5M, Capital spending $1.3M.

Capital allocation, year by year

Cato: where the cash came from (up) and went (down), by fiscal yearCato: where the cash came from (up) and went (down), by fiscal yearOperating cash flowShares issuedCapital spendingBuybacksDividendsFY22: Operating cash flow $59.8MFY22: Shares issued $204KFY22: Capital spending −$4.1MFY22: Buybacks −$22.0MFY22: Dividends −$10.0M$60.0MFY22FY23: Operating cash flow $13.4MFY23: Shares issued $307KFY23: Capital spending −$19.4MFY23: Buybacks −$15.2MFY23: Dividends −$14.4M$13.7MFY23FY24: Operating cash flow $477KFY24: Shares issued $384KFY24: Capital spending −$12.5MFY24: Buybacks −$2.6MFY24: Dividends −$14.0M$861KFY24FY25: Operating cash flow −$19.7MFY25: Shares issued $338KFY25: Capital spending −$7.9MFY25: Buybacks −$3.9MFY25: Dividends −$10.5M$338KFY25FY26: Operating cash flow −$1.5MFY26: Shares issued $144KFY26: Capital spending −$3.8MFY26: Buybacks −$995K$144KFY26
Over these 5 years operating cash flow totalled $52.4M; the largest uses were dividends ($48.8M) and capital spending ($47.7M). Cash-flow statements as filed.

Cash runway and the debt wall

Cash & investments$93.8M
Debtnone
Net cash$93.8M

Cato funds itself: free cash flow was $1.6M over the last twelve months, with $93.8M of cash and investments and no debt on the balance sheet.

Where the cash came from and went

Cato: sources (+) and uses (−) of cash, Q2 FY27Cato: sources (+) and uses (−) of cash, Q2 FY27Operating cash flow$14.5MCash drawn (+) / kept (−)−$9.7MOther investing−$3.3MCapital spending−$1.3MBuybacks−$111KShares issued−$4K
Cato: sources (+) and uses (−) of cash, TTM to Q2 FY27Cato: sources (+) and uses (−) of cash, TTM to Q2 FY27Operating cash flow$5.4MCapital spending−$3.8MCash drawn (+) / kept (−)−$890KOther investing−$468KBuybacks−$422KShares issued$155K

From profit to cash

Cato: net income to operating cash flow, Q2 FY27Cato: net income to operating cash flow, Q2 FY27Net income$1.1MDepreciation & amortization$2.2MStock-based pay$394KGains on disposals−$11KReceivables$12.5MInventory$10.0MPayables−$10.7MPrepaid and other assets−$1.4MOperating cash flow$14.5M
Non-cash charges are added back; money tied up in receivables or inventory is subtracted.
QuarterReceivable daysInventory daysPayable daysCash conversion cycle
Q2 FY2715726324
Q1 FY2716756229
Q4 FY2615765933
Q3 FY2615836930
Q2 FY2614847226
Q1 FY2614927531
Q4 FY2514897033
Q3 FY2517907532

Every quarter

QuarterOperating cash flowCapital spendingBuybacksDividendsShares issuedCash drawn (+) / kept (−)Free cash flow
Q2 FY27$14.5M−$1.3M−$111K—−$4K−$9.7M$13.1M
Q1 FY27$8.0M−$1.1M−$311K—$77K−$8.6M$7.0M
Q4 FY26−$4.7M−$871K———$6.0M−$5.6M
Q3 FY26−$12.4M−$530K——$82K$11.5M−$12.9M
Q2 FY26$11.8M−$1.3M−$60K——−$2.9M$10.4M
Q1 FY26$3.9M−$1.0M−$935K—$62K−$10.9M$2.8M
Q4 FY25−$6.5M−$1.4M−$1.5M——$493K−$7.8M
Q3 FY25−$22.1M−$1.7M−$161K−$3.5M$147K$10.8M−$23.8M

Cato: income statement and cash flow

Cato, Q2 FY27: revenue $166M (-6% year over year), operating margin -0.4%. The chart follows the revenue to costs, profit and cash.

Cato: 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.