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Element Solutions cash flow, quarter by quarter

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

Free cash flow$129M in Q3 2026

Operating cash flow$159M
Capital spending−$30.4M
Free cash flow+$129M
Cash / net income2.4×
Cash conversion cycle98 days

Analysis

In Q3 2026, Element Solutions generated $159M of operating cash flow and spent $30.4M on capital projects, leaving free cash flow of $129M. That is $45.2M more than in Q3 2025 ($83.6M).

Operating cash flow was $159M against net income of $65.7M — 2.4× profit, cash ran ahead of reported earnings. The largest differences: depreciation & amortization +$45.1M, accrued liabilities +$36.6M, receivables −$23.9M.

Its cash conversion cycle was 98 days (receivables 67 + inventory 58 − payables 27).

Free cash flow

Element Solutions: free cash flow by quarterElement Solutions: free cash flow by quarter$116MQ4 2024$15.0MQ1 2025$54.9MQ2 2025$83.6MQ3 2025$74.1MQ4 2025−$91.7MQ1 2026$71.7MQ2 2026$129MQ3 2026
Operating cash flow less capital spending.
Element Solutions: operating cash flow against capital spendingElement Solutions: operating cash flow against capital spendingOperating cash flowCapital spending$139M$22.3MQ4 2024$26.0M$11.0MQ1 2025$72.6M$17.7MQ2 2025$100M$16.5MQ3 2025$91.1M$17.0MQ4 2025−$66.6M$25.1MQ1 2026$99.6M$27.9MQ2 2026$159M$30.4MQ3 2026
Latest (Q3 2026): Operating cash flow $159M, Capital spending $30.4M.

Capital allocation, year by year

Element Solutions: where the cash came from (up) and went (down), by fiscal yearElement Solutions: where the cash came from (up) and went (down), by fiscal yearOperating cash flowNet borrowingAsset salesCapital spendingAcquisitionsBuybacksDividendsFY2021: Operating cash flow $326MFY2021: Net borrowing $388MFY2021: Capital spending −$46.3MFY2021: Acquisitions −$536MFY2021: Buybacks −$19.6MFY2021: Dividends −$61.9M$714MFY2021FY2022: Operating cash flow $296MFY2022: Net borrowing −$16.4MFY2022: Asset sales $4.8MFY2022: Capital spending −$47.8MFY2022: Acquisitions −$22.6MFY2022: Buybacks −$151MFY2022: Dividends −$78.4M$301MFY2022FY2023: Operating cash flow $334MFY2023: Net borrowing $33.0MFY2023: Asset sales $1.4MFY2023: Capital spending −$52.7MFY2023: Acquisitions −$215MFY2023: Dividends −$77.4M$368MFY2023FY2024: Operating cash flow $362MFY2024: Net borrowing −$112MFY2024: Capital spending −$68.4MFY2024: Acquisitions −$3.9MFY2024: Dividends −$78.2M$362MFY2024FY2025: Operating cash flow $290MFY2025: Net borrowing −$203MFY2025: Asset sales $323MFY2025: Capital spending −$62.2MFY2025: Buybacks −$25.0MFY2025: Dividends −$77.8M$612MFY2025
Over these 5 years operating cash flow totalled $1.6B; the largest uses were acquisitions ($778M) and dividends ($374M). Cash-flow statements as filed.

Cash runway and the debt wall

Cash & investments$225M
Debt$2.1B
Net debt$1.9B
Due within a year$27.9M

Element Solutions funds itself: free cash flow was — over the last twelve months, and $225M of cash and investments stands against $2.1B of debt ($27.9M due within a year, 8.1× covered by cash).

Element Solutions: debt maturities by year (FY2025)Element Solutions: debt maturities by year (FY2025)$800MYear 3$836MYear 5
Principal due in each year as disclosed in the annual report, against $225M of cash and investments now.

Where the cash came from and went

Element Solutions: sources (+) and uses (−) of cash, Q3 2026Element Solutions: sources (+) and uses (−) of cash, Q3 2026Operating cash flow$159MNet borrowing (+) / repaid (−)−$38.2MBuybacks−$37.7MCash drawn (+) / kept (−)−$35.3MCapital spending−$30.4MDividends−$19.5MExchange rates$1.7MOther investing$100KOther financing$100K

From profit to cash

Element Solutions: net income to operating cash flow, Q3 2026Element Solutions: net income to operating cash flow, Q3 2026Net income$65.7MDepreciation & amortization$45.1MStock-based pay$18.2MDeferred taxes−$2.1MOther non-cash$2.7MReceivables−$23.9MInventory$7.9MPayables$11.5MAccrued liabilities$36.6MPrepaid and other assets−$8.5MOther operating capital$20.2MOperating cash flow$159M
Non-cash charges are added back; money tied up in receivables or inventory is subtracted.
QuarterReceivable daysInventory daysPayable daysCash conversion cycle
Q3 202667582798
Q2 202665592698
Q1 202664623096
Q4 2025696736101
Q3 2025707036104
Q2 2025697037102
Q1 2025686835101
Q4 2024676631103

Every quarter

QuarterOperating cash flowCapital spendingAcquisitionsBuybacksDividendsNet borrowing (+) / repaid (−)Cash drawn (+) / kept (−)Free cash flow
Q3 2026$159M−$30.4M—−$37.7M−$19.5M−$38.2M−$35.3M$129M
Q2 2026$99.6M−$27.9M−$1.6M—−$19.6M−$38.2M−$12.3M$71.7M
Q1 2026−$66.6M−$25.1M−$864M—−$20.2M$534M$449M−$91.7M
Q4 2025$91.1M−$17.0M—−$5.6M−$19.4M—−$32.2M$74.1M
Q3 2025$100M−$16.5M——−$19.3M—−$64.4M$83.6M
Q2 2025$72.6M−$17.7M——−$19.3M—−$30.7M$54.9M
Q1 2025$26.0M−$11.0M——−$19.8M−$203M−$140M$15.0M
Q4 2024$139M−$22.3M——−$19.4M−$104M$16.6M$116M

Element Solutions: income statement and cash flow

Element Solutions, Q3 2026: revenue $995M (+52% year over year), operating margin 11.4%. The chart follows the revenue to costs, profit and cash.

Element Solutions: 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.