C3.ai, Inc. (AI) Cash Flow Statement
Where AI’s cash came from and went, FY2026
April 30, 2026 · U.S. dollars- Cash from operations
- −$188.8M
- Capital expenditures
- $1.9M 0.8% of revenue
- Free cash flow
- −$190.7M −76.2% margin
- Returned to shareholders
- —
- Change in cash
- −$98.2M cash at year-end $66.2M
Cash from operations
−$188.8M
Capital expenditures
−$1.9M
Investments (net)
+$77.0M
Other financing
+$15.5M
Change in cash
−$98.2M
Drawn to scale: where the cash came from and how it was used. Hover for values.
AI operating cash flow, capex and free cash flow
Operating cash flowCapital expendituresFree cash flowFCF margin (right axis)
AI cash flow trends, FY2019–FY2026
| Metric | Trend | Then | Latest | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating cash flow | −$34.9MFY2019 | −$188.8MFY2026 | — | |
| Capital expenditures | $6.8MFY2019 | $1.9MFY2026 | −16.6%/yr | |
| Free cash flow | −$41.7MFY2019 | −$190.7MFY2026 | — | |
| Free cash flow margin | −45.5%FY2019 | −76.2%FY2026 | −30.7 pts | |
| Stock-based compensation | $4.3MFY2019 | $263.7MFY2026 | +80.2%/yr | |
| Share buybacks (net) | $0FY2019 | $0FY2025 | — | |
| Capex / revenue | 7.4%FY2019 | 0.8%FY2026 | −6.7 pts |
Change is the average annual growth (CAGR) or the difference between the first and latest year.
AI cash flow by activity
OperatingInvestingFinancingChange in cash
AI net income vs operating cash flow
Net incomeOperating cash flow
Operating cash flow above net income usually means earnings are backed by cash (depreciation and stock-based pay are non-cash expenses).
AI cash flow statement
| FY2026 | FY2025 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 | FY2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | ||||||||
| Net income | −$470.4M | −$288.7M | −$279.7M | −$268.8M | −$192.1M | −$55.7M | −$69.4M | −$33.3M |
| Depreciation & amortization | $13.6M | $12.6M | $12.7M | $6.1M | $5.2M | $4.3M | $1.3M | $550,000 |
| Stock-based compensation | $263.7M | $231.0M | $215.8M | $216.5M | $113.4M | $21.7M | $8.3M | $4.3M |
| Change in working capital | $6.3M | $14.0M | $5.2M | −$72.2M | −$18.8M | −$11.0M | −$4.9M | −$6.9M |
| Other non-cash items | −$2.0M | −$10.3M | −$16.4M | $2.7M | $5.8M | $3.1M | $3.4M | $534,000 |
| Cash from operating activities | −$188.8M | −$41.4M | −$62.4M | −$115.7M | −$86.5M | −$37.6M | −$61.3M | −$34.9M |
| Investing activities | ||||||||
| Capital expenditures | −$1.9M | −$3.0M | −$28.0M | −$71.5M | −$4.3M | −$1.6M | −$2.9M | −$6.8M |
| Investments (net) | $77.0M | $16.4M | −$66.6M | $59.9M | $321.3M | −$765.5M | −$124.1M | −$96.2M |
| Acquisitions & other investing | $0 | $3.0M | $28.0M | $71.5M | $0 | $0 | $2.9M | $6.8M |
| Cash from investing activities | $75.1M | $16.4M | −$66.6M | $59.9M | $317.0M | −$767.2M | −$124.1M | −$96.2M |
| Financing activities | ||||||||
| Dividends paid | — | — | — | — | — | — | −$75.2M | — |
| Share repurchases & issuance (net) | — | $10.9M | −$13.2M | −$6.9M | −$15.0M | $868.5M | −$3.5M | $2.9M |
| Net borrowing (repayment) | — | — | — | $0 | $0 | $26.0M | $26.0M | $26.0M |
| Shares issued | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $851.9M | $119.2M | $51.6M |
| Other financing | $15.5M | $11.3M | $24.5M | $7.6M | $20.7M | −$859.0M | $53.4M | −$26.0M |
| Cash from financing activities | $15.5M | $22.2M | $11.3M | $621,000 | $5.7M | $887.4M | $119.9M | $54.5M |
| Summary | ||||||||
| Net change in cash | −$98.2M | −$2.8M | −$117.7M | −$55.1M | $236.3M | $82.7M | −$65.5M | −$76.6M |
| Cash at end of period | $66.2M | $176.9M | $179.7M | $297.4M | $352.5M | $116.3M | $33.6M | $99.1M |
| Free cash flow | −$190.7M | −$44.4M | −$90.4M | −$187.2M | −$90.8M | −$39.2M | −$64.2M | −$41.7M |
| Free cash flow margin | −76.2% | −11.4% | −29.1% | −70.2% | −35.9% | −21.4% | −41.0% | −45.5% |
| Capex / revenue | 0.8% | 0.8% | 9.0% | 26.8% | 1.7% | 0.9% | 1.8% | 7.4% |
| Jul '26 | Apr '26 | Jan '26 | Oct '25 | Jul '25 | Apr '25 | Jan '25 | Oct '24 | Jul '24 | Apr '24 | Jan '24 | Oct '23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | ||||||||||||
| Net income | −$92.8M | −$115.6M | −$133.4M | −$104.7M | −$116.8M | −$79.7M | −$80.2M | −$66.0M | −$62.8M | −$72.9M | −$72.6M | −$69.8M |
| Depreciation & amortization | $3.4M | $3.3M | $3.4M | $3.4M | $3.4M | $3.4M | $3.1M | $3.0M | $3.1M | $3.2M | $3.2M | $3.2M |
| Stock-based compensation | $59.2M | $54.2M | $75.9M | $68.9M | $64.8M | $56.6M | $62.7M | $57.0M | $54.7M | $56.7M | $55.0M | $53.2M |
| Change in working capital | $34.7M | $645,000 | −$203,000 | −$11.7M | $15.3M | $33.0M | −$6.3M | −$29.5M | $16.8M | $38.2M | −$20.5M | −$30.5M |
| Other non-cash items | −$2.4M | $4.4M | −$1.5M | −$2.4M | −$274,000 | −$2.0M | −$1.3M | −$3.2M | −$3.8M | −$3.9M | −$4.2M | −$4.6M |
| Cash from operating activities | $2.1M | −$53.0M | −$55.8M | −$46.5M | −$33.5M | $11.3M | −$22.0M | −$38.7M | $8.0M | $21.3M | −$39.1M | −$48.6M |
| Investing activities | ||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | −$8,000 | −$323,000 | −$439,000 | −$386,000 | −$760,000 | −$938,000 | −$362,000 | −$815,000 | −$924,000 | −$2.5M | −$6.1M | −$6.5M |
| Investments (net) | −$4.6M | $24.3M | $40.7M | $62.5M | −$51.2M | $22.9M | $12.4M | $22.6M | −$41.5M | $26.0M | $4.1M | −$11.9M |
| Acquisitions & other investing | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $760,000 | $938,000 | $362,000 | $815,000 | $924,000 | $2.5M | $6.1M | $6.5M |
| Cash from investing activities | −$4.6M | $23.9M | $40.2M | $62.1M | −$51.2M | $22.9M | $12.4M | $22.6M | −$41.5M | $26.0M | $4.1M | −$11.9M |
| Financing activities | ||||||||||||
| Share repurchases & issuance (net) | — | — | $9.1M | $8.0M | $1.3M | −$1.6M | $24.7M | $9.5M | −$2.9M | −$2.8M | −$711,000 | −$2.6M |
| Shares issued | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other financing | $72.8M | $6.4M | −$8.0M | −$1.3M | $0 | $6.6M | −$11.2M | −$6.0M | $3.1M | $8.1M | $1.2M | $5.6M |
| Cash from financing activities | $72.8M | $6.4M | $1.2M | $6.7M | $1.3M | $5.1M | $13.5M | $3.5M | $182,000 | $5.3M | $505,000 | $3.1M |
| Summary | ||||||||||||
| Net change in cash | $70.2M | −$22.6M | −$14.4M | $22.3M | −$83.4M | $39.3M | $3.8M | −$12.5M | −$33.3M | $52.6M | −$34.4M | −$57.4M |
| Cash at end of period | $149.0M | $66.2M | $101.4M | $115.8M | $93.5M | $176.9M | $137.7M | $133.8M | $146.4M | $179.7M | $114.6M | $161.6M |
| Free cash flow | $2.1M | −$53.3M | −$56.2M | −$46.9M | −$34.3M | $10.3M | −$22.4M | −$39.5M | $7.1M | $18.8M | −$45.1M | −$55.1M |
| Free cash flow margin | 3.9% | −103.3% | −105.5% | −62.4% | −48.8% | 9.5% | −22.7% | −41.9% | 8.2% | 21.7% | −57.6% | −75.3% |
| Capex / revenue | 0.0% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 0.5% | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.4% | 0.9% | 1.1% | 2.9% | 7.8% | 8.9% |
Negative numbers are cash paid out. Quarterly columns are labeled by the month the quarter ended. Figures in U.S. dollars as reported; data from EODHD.
AI cash generation
In fiscal 2026 (ended April 30, 2026), C3.ai generated -$188.8 million of cash from operations and spent $1.9 million on capital expenditures, leaving free cash flow of -$190.7 million, −76.2% of revenue. Cash and equivalents fell by $98.2 million over the year.
Related: AI income statement, AI balance sheet. See the AI stock overview for the latest quote and news.
AI cash flow FAQ
What is C3.ai's free cash flow?
C3.ai's free cash flow was -$190.7 million in fiscal 2026: -$188.8 million of operating cash flow minus $1.9 million of capital expenditures It was -$44.4 million a year earlier..
How much cash does C3.ai generate from operations?
C3.ai generated -$188.8 million of cash from operating activities in fiscal 2026.
How much does C3.ai spend on capital expenditures?
C3.ai spent $1.9 million on capital expenditures in fiscal 2026, 0.8% of revenue, compared with $3.0 million the year before.