Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL) Cash Flow Statement

NYSE: CRLOperating cash, capex, free cash flow and buybacks.

Where CRL’s cash came from and went, 2025

December 31, 2025 · U.S. dollars
Cash from operations
$737.6M
+0.4% vs 2024
Capital expenditures
$219.2M
5.5% of revenue
Free cash flow
$518.5M
12.9% margin
Returned to shareholders
$360.7M
70% of free cash flow
Change in cash
$10.4M
cash at year-end $216.0M
Cash from operations: $737.6MCash from operations$737.6MAcquisitions & other, Currency & other: $39.6MOther sources$39.6MShare buybacks: $360.7MShare buybacks$360.7M · 46%Capital expenditures: $219.2MCapital expenditures$219.2M · 28%Debt repayment: $121.8MDebt repayment$121.8M · 16%Other financing: $54.3MOther financing$54.3M · 7%Investments (net), Added to cash: $21.4MOther uses$21.4M · 3%$777.3M
Cash from operations
$737.6M
Capital expenditures
−$219.2M
Investments (net)
−$11.0M
Acquisitions & other
+$20.8M
Share buybacks (net)
−$360.7M
Net borrowing (repayment)
−$121.8M
Other financing
−$54.3M
Currency & other
+$18.8M
Change in cash
$10.4M

Drawn to scale: where the cash came from and how it was used. Hover for values.

CRL operating cash flow, capex and free cash flow

Operating cash flowCapital expendituresFree cash flowFCF margin (right axis)

CRL cash flow trends, 2016–2025

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. cash flow trends
MetricTrendThenLatestChange
Operating cash flow$298.3M2016$737.6M2025+10.6%/yr
Capital expenditures$55.3M2016$219.2M2025+16.5%/yr
Free cash flow$243.0M2016$518.5M2025+8.8%/yr
Free cash flow margin14.5%201612.9%2025−1.5 pts
Operating cash flow / net income1.91201629.042024+27.13
Stock-based compensation$43.6M2016$71.1M2025+5.6%/yr
Dividends paid$02016$25.6M2023—
Share buybacks (net)$12.3M2016$360.7M2025+45.6%/yr
Capex / revenue3.3%20165.5%2025+2.2 pts

Change is the average annual growth (CAGR) or the difference between the first and latest year.

CRL cash flow by activity

OperatingInvestingFinancingChange in cash

CRL 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).

CRL cash flow statement

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. annual cash flow statement
2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Operating activities
Net income−$142.2M$25.3M$480.4M$492.6M$398.8M$365.3M$254.1M$227.2M$125.6M$156.1M
Depreciation & amortization$403.3M$361.7M$314.1M$303.9M$265.5M$234.9M$198.1M$161.8M$131.2M$126.7M
Stock-based compensation$71.1M$69.9M$72.0M$73.6M$71.5M$56.3M$57.3M$47.3M$44.0M$43.6M
Change in working capital$14.1M−$30.3M−$102.4M−$152.6M$42.9M−$26.3M$6.2M$14.8M$5.9M−$30.0M
Other non-cash items$391.3M$308.0M−$80.3M−$97.9M−$18.0M−$83.7M−$34.7M−$10.0M$9.6M$2.0M
Cash from operating activities$737.6M$734.6M$683.9M$619.6M$760.8M$546.6M$480.9M$441.1M$316.3M$298.3M
Investing activities
Capital expenditures−$219.2M−$233.0M−$318.5M−$324.7M−$228.8M−$166.6M−$140.5M−$140.1M−$82.4M−$55.3M
Investments (net)−$11.0M−$245.1M−$280.4M−$153.7M−$39.0M−$15.3M−$21.4M$10.7M−$37.1M$13.7M
Acquisitions & other investing$20.8M$233.0M$35.8M−$129.5M−$1.17B−$419.7M−$519.6M−$825.7M$46.9M−$644.8M
Cash from investing activities−$209.3M−$245.1M−$563.2M−$607.9M−$1.44B−$601.5M−$681.5M−$955.0M−$72.6M−$686.4M
Financing activities
Dividends paid——−$25.6M—−$45.7M−$46.6M−$34.5M—$0$0
Share repurchases & issuance (net)−$360.7M−$119.2M−$24.2M−$38.7M−$40.7M−$24.0M−$18.1M−$13.8M−$106.9M−$12.3M
Net borrowing (repayment)−$121.8M−$412.2M−$75.3M$19.8M$670.0M$30.6M$227.3M$535.7M−$135.6M$388.0M
Shares issued$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0
Other financing−$54.3M−$19.6M$39.6M−$23.5M$89.0M$87.2M$57.3M$36.2M$34.0M$15.0M
Cash from financing activities−$536.7M−$550.9M−$85.5M−$42.4M$672.6M$47.2M$231.9M$558.1M−$208.5M$390.7M
Summary
Net change in cash$10.4M−$78.9M$43.3M−$5.1M$13.2M−$6.9M$42.7M$31.0M$46.4M−$321,000
Cash at end of period$216.0M$205.6M$284.5M$241.2M$246.3M$233.1M$240.0M$197.3M$166.3M$117.6M
Free cash flow$518.5M$501.6M$365.4M$294.9M$532.0M$380.0M$340.4M$301.1M$233.8M$243.0M
Free cash flow margin12.9%12.4%8.8%7.4%15.0%13.0%13.0%13.3%12.6%14.5%
Capex / revenue5.5%5.8%7.7%8.2%6.5%5.7%5.4%6.2%4.4%3.3%
Operating cash flow / net income—29.041.421.261.911.501.891.942.521.91

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.

CRL cash generation

In fiscal 2025 (ended December 31, 2025), Charles River generated $737.6 million of cash from operations (up 0.4%) and spent $219.2 million on capital expenditures, leaving free cash flow of $518.5 million, 12.9% of revenue. It returned $360.7 million to shareholders through dividends ($0) and net share buybacks ($360.7 million). Cash and equivalents rose by $10.4 million over the year.

Related: CRL income statement, CRL balance sheet. See the CRL stock overview for the latest quote and news.

CRL cash flow FAQ

What is Charles River's free cash flow?

Charles River's free cash flow was $518.5 million in fiscal 2025: $737.6 million of operating cash flow minus $219.2 million of capital expenditures It was $501.6 million a year earlier..

How much cash does Charles River generate from operations?

Charles River generated $737.6 million of cash from operating activities in fiscal 2025.

How much does Charles River spend on capital expenditures?

Charles River spent $219.2 million on capital expenditures in fiscal 2025, 5.5% of revenue, compared with $233.0 million the year before.

How much stock does Charles River buy back?

Charles River spent $360.7 million on net share repurchases in fiscal 2025.

Diagnostics & Research: cash flow