CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW) Cash Flow Statement
Where CXW’s cash came from and went, 2025
December 31, 2025 · U.S. dollars- Cash from operations
- $194.6M −27.7% vs 2024
- Capital expenditures
- $140.6M 6.4% of revenue
- Free cash flow
- $54.0M 2.4% margin
- Returned to shareholders
- $229.0M 424% of free cash flow
- Change in cash
- −$9.7M cash at year-end $112.4M
Drawn to scale: where the cash came from and how it was used. Hover for values.
CXW operating cash flow, capex and free cash flow
CXW cash flow trends, 2016–2025
| Metric | Trend | Then | Latest | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating cash flow | $375.4M2016 | $194.6M2025 | −7.0%/yr | |
| Capital expenditures | $93.5M2016 | $140.6M2025 | +4.6%/yr | |
| Free cash flow | $281.9M2016 | $54.0M2025 | −16.8%/yr | |
| Free cash flow margin | 15.2%2016 | 2.4%2025 | −12.8 pts | |
| Operating cash flow / net income | 1.712016 | 1.672025 | −0.04 | |
| Stock-based compensation | $17.9M2016 | $27.7M2025 | +5.0%/yr | |
| Dividends paid | $255.5M2016 | $45,0002025 | −61.7%/yr | |
| Share buybacks (net) | $4.0M2016 | $229.0M2025 | +56.8%/yr | |
| Capex / revenue | 5.1%2016 | 6.4%2025 | +1.3 pts |
Change is the average annual growth (CAGR) or the difference between the first and latest year.
CXW cash flow by activity
CXW net income vs operating cash flow
Operating cash flow above net income usually means earnings are backed by cash (depreciation and stock-based pay are non-cash expenses).
CXW cash flow statement
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | ||||||||||
| Net income | $116.5M | $68.9M | $67.6M | $122.3M | −$51.9M | $55.3M | $188.9M | $159.2M | $178.0M | $219.9M |
| Depreciation & amortization | $128.9M | $128.0M | $127.3M | $127.9M | $134.7M | $150.9M | $144.6M | $156.5M | $147.1M | $166.7M |
| Stock-based compensation | $27.7M | $25.7M | $20.8M | $17.6M | $18.7M | $17.3M | $17.3M | $13.1M | $13.3M | $17.9M |
| Change in working capital | −$103.7M | $26.4M | $8.4M | −$59.4M | $21.0M | $34.5M | −$5.6M | −$939,000 | $8.4M | −$23.7M |
| Other non-cash items | $25.2M | $20.2M | $7.8M | −$54.8M | $140.6M | $97.6M | $9.2M | −$5.0M | −$5.5M | −$5.5M |
| Cash from operating activities | $194.6M | $269.2M | $231.9M | $153.6M | $263.2M | $355.5M | $354.4M | $322.9M | $341.3M | $375.4M |
| Investing activities | ||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | −$140.6M | −$71.2M | −$70.3M | −$81.4M | −$80.9M | −$83.8M | −$193.3M | −$121.7M | −$73.7M | −$93.5M |
| Investments (net) | — | −$53.8M | −$68.1M | $73.0M | $238.4M | $13.0M | −$244.6M | −$291.1M | $684,000 | $2.5M |
| Acquisitions & other investing | −$65.4M | $71.2M | $79.4M | $81.4M | $80.9M | $83.8M | $193.3M | $121.7M | −$51.5M | −$31.3M |
| Cash from investing activities | −$206.1M | −$53.8M | −$58.9M | $73.0M | $238.4M | $13.0M | −$244.6M | −$291.1M | −$124.6M | −$122.2M |
| Financing activities | ||||||||||
| Dividends paid | −$45,000 | −$136,000 | −$131,000 | −$886,000 | −$2.5M | −$106.0M | −$209.5M | −$204.2M | −$200.3M | −$255.5M |
| Share repurchases & issuance (net) | −$229.0M | −$77.2M | −$43.0M | −$79.9M | −$1.6M | −$3.6M | −$3.5M | −$3.0M | −$5.8M | −$4.0M |
| Net borrowing (repayment) | $232.3M | −$109.9M | −$158.4M | −$293.8M | $356.3M | −$189.4M | $480.3M | $196.5M | $1.5M | −$20.8M |
| Shares issued | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other financing | −$1.4M | −$34.9M | −$4.6M | −$578,000 | −$679.8M | −$51.9M | −$332.1M | $867,000 | $2.4M | −$474,000 |
| Cash from financing activities | $1.8M | −$222.2M | −$206.2M | −$375.2M | −$327.7M | −$350.8M | −$64.8M | −$9.9M | −$202.3M | −$280.8M |
| Summary | ||||||||||
| Net change in cash | −$9.7M | −$6.8M | −$33.2M | −$148.5M | $173.9M | $17.7M | $45.0M | $22.0M | $14.5M | −$27.6M |
| Cash at end of period | $112.4M | $122.1M | $129.0M | $162.2M | $310.7M | $136.8M | $119.1M | $74.1M | $52.2M | $37.7M |
| Free cash flow | $54.0M | $198.0M | $161.6M | $72.2M | $182.3M | $271.7M | $161.1M | $201.2M | $267.6M | $281.9M |
| Free cash flow margin | 2.4% | 10.1% | 8.5% | 3.9% | 9.8% | 14.3% | 8.1% | 11.0% | 15.2% | 15.2% |
| Capex / revenue | 6.4% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.4% | 9.8% | 6.6% | 4.2% | 5.1% |
| Operating cash flow / net income | 1.67 | 3.91 | 3.43 | 1.26 | — | 6.42 | 1.88 | 2.03 | 1.92 | 1.71 |
| Jun '26 | Mar '26 | Dec '25 | Sep '25 | Jun '25 | Mar '25 | Dec '24 | Sep '24 | Jun '24 | Mar '24 | Dec '23 | Sep '23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | ||||||||||||
| Net income | $37.1M | $37.9M | $26.5M | $26.3M | $38.5M | $25.1M | $19.3M | $21.1M | $19.0M | $9.5M | $26.5M | $13.9M |
| Depreciation & amortization | $35.8M | $33.3M | $33.9M | $33.4M | $31.1M | $30.5M | $31.9M | $32.2M | $32.1M | $31.7M | $32.1M | $32.5M |
| Stock-based compensation | $6.0M | $6.5M | $6.6M | $7.1M | $7.4M | $6.5M | $7.0M | $7.6M | $5.0M | $6.1M | $5.3M | $5.3M |
| Change in working capital | $52.1M | −$78.2M | −$76.1M | −$18.6M | $17.3M | −$26.3M | −$15.9M | $31.6M | $11.4M | −$683,000 | −$42.1M | $25.3M |
| Other non-cash items | $1.9M | $14.2M | $8.6M | $5.6M | $2.4M | $8.6M | −$2.9M | −$1.1M | $527,000 | $23.7M | $463,000 | $6.7M |
| Cash from operating activities | $133.0M | $13.8M | −$376,000 | $53.8M | $96.7M | $44.5M | $39.3M | $91.5M | $68.1M | $70.4M | $22.3M | $83.7M |
| Investing activities | ||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | −$39.8M | −$23.3M | −$41.5M | −$38.2M | −$34.8M | −$26.1M | −$22.2M | −$18.1M | −$18.8M | −$12.1M | −$25.9M | −$17.9M |
| Investments (net) | — | — | — | −$106.7M | −$35.1M | −$25.0M | −$19.0M | −$13.4M | −$17.6M | −$3.8M | −$19.7M | −$17.6M |
| Acquisitions & other investing | −$142.4M | $480,000 | $2.2M | $38.2M | $34.8M | $26.1M | $22.2M | $18.1M | $18.8M | $12.1M | $25.9M | $17.9M |
| Cash from investing activities | −$182.3M | −$22.8M | −$39.3M | −$106.7M | −$35.1M | −$25.0M | −$19.0M | −$13.4M | −$17.6M | −$3.8M | −$19.7M | −$17.6M |
| Financing activities | ||||||||||||
| Dividends paid | −$120,000 | — | −$45,000 | −$45,000 | −$45,000 | $0 | −$136,000 | −$136,000 | −$116,000 | −$20,000 | $0 | −$131,000 |
| Share repurchases & issuance (net) | −$48,000 | −$55.1M | −$95.1M | −$40.0M | −$43.3M | −$50.6M | −$8.0M | −$69.2M | −$20.2M | −$49.0M | −$12.5M | −$30.5M |
| Net borrowing (repayment) | −$49.1M | $176.0M | $176.8M | $21.8M | $36.8M | −$3.1M | −$7.7M | −$28.1M | — | — | — | −$3.3M |
| Shares issued | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other financing | −$3.0M | −$18,000 | −$1.3M | $32,000 | −$78,000 | −$15,000 | $136,000 | $69.2M | −$81.8M | −$27.2M | $20.9M | $30.6M |
| Cash from financing activities | −$52.3M | $120.9M | $80.4M | −$18.2M | −$6.6M | −$53.7M | −$15.7M | −$28.2M | −$102.1M | −$76.2M | $8.4M | −$3.3M |
| Summary | ||||||||||||
| Net change in cash | −$101.5M | $111.9M | $40.7M | −$71.2M | $55.0M | −$34.2M | $4.5M | $49.9M | −$51.7M | −$9.6M | $11.0M | $62.8M |
| Cash at end of period | $122.8M | $224.3M | $112.4M | $71.8M | $143.0M | $87.9M | $122.1M | $117.6M | $67.7M | $119.4M | $129.0M | $117.9M |
| Free cash flow | $93.2M | −$9.5M | −$41.9M | $15.6M | $61.9M | $18.4M | $17.1M | $73.4M | $49.2M | $58.3M | −$3.6M | $65.8M |
| Free cash flow margin | 13.6% | −1.5% | −6.9% | 2.7% | 11.5% | 3.8% | 3.6% | 14.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% | −0.7% | 13.6% |
| Capex / revenue | 5.8% | 3.8% | 6.9% | 6.6% | 6.5% | 5.3% | 4.6% | 3.7% | 3.8% | 2.4% | 5.3% | 3.7% |
| Operating cash flow / net income | 3.58 | 0.36 | −0.01 | 2.04 | 2.51 | 1.77 | 2.04 | 4.34 | 3.59 | 7.37 | 0.84 | 6.03 |
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.
CXW cash generation
In fiscal 2025 (ended December 31, 2025), CoreCivic generated $194.6 million of cash from operations (down 27.7%) and spent $140.6 million on capital expenditures, leaving free cash flow of $54.0 million, 2.4% of revenue. It returned $229.0 million to shareholders through dividends ($0.0 million) and net share buybacks ($229.0 million). Cash and equivalents fell by $9.7 million over the year.
Related: CXW income statement, CXW balance sheet. See the CXW stock overview for the latest quote and news.
CXW cash flow FAQ
What is CoreCivic's free cash flow?
CoreCivic's free cash flow was $54.0 million in fiscal 2025: $194.6 million of operating cash flow minus $140.6 million of capital expenditures It was $198.0 million a year earlier..
How much cash does CoreCivic generate from operations?
CoreCivic generated $194.6 million of cash from operating activities in fiscal 2025, 1.67 times its net income of $116.5 million.
How much does CoreCivic spend on capital expenditures?
CoreCivic spent $140.6 million on capital expenditures in fiscal 2025, 6.4% of revenue, compared with $71.2 million the year before.
How much stock does CoreCivic buy back?
CoreCivic spent $229.0 million on net share repurchases in fiscal 2025.
How much does CoreCivic pay in dividends?
CoreCivic paid $0.0 million in dividends in fiscal 2025, 0.1% of free cash flow.