The Eastern Company (EML) Cash Flow Statement

NASDAQ: EMLOperating cash, capex, free cash flow and buybacks.

Where EML’s cash came from and went, 2025

December 31, 2025 · U.S. dollars
Cash from operations
$8.9M
−56.9% vs 2024
Capital expenditures
$4.0M
1.6% of revenue
Free cash flow
$4.9M
2.0% margin
Returned to shareholders
$6.4M
131% of free cash flow
Change in cash
−$6.6M
cash at year-end $7.4M
Cash from operations: $8.9MCash from operations$8.9MInvestments (net): $2.2MInvestments (net)$2.2MAcquisitions & other: $1.2MAcquisitions & other$1.2MDrawn from cash: $6.6MDrawn from cash$6.6MCurrency & other: $1.3MCurrency & other$1.3MDebt repayment: $9.6MDebt repayment$9.6M · 47%Capital expenditures: $4.0MCapital expenditures$4.0M · 20%Share buybacks: $3.7MShare buybacks$3.7M · 18%Dividends: $2.7MDividends$2.7M · 13%Other financing: $299,520Other financing$299,520 · 1%$20.3M
Cash from operations
$8.9M
Capital expenditures
−$4.0M
Investments (net)
+$2.2M
Acquisitions & other
+$1.2M
Dividends
−$2.7M
Share buybacks (net)
−$3.7M
Net borrowing (repayment)
−$9.6M
Other financing
−$299,520
Currency & other
+$1.3M
Change in cash
−$6.6M

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

EML operating cash flow, capex and free cash flow

Operating cash flowCapital expendituresFree cash flowFCF margin (right axis)

EML cash flow trends, 2016–2025

The Eastern Company cash flow trends
MetricTrendThenLatestChange
Operating cash flow$12.4M2016$8.9M2025−3.7%/yr
Capital expenditures$2.9M2016$4.0M2025+3.7%/yr
Free cash flow$9.6M2016$4.9M2025−7.2%/yr
Free cash flow margin6.9%20162.0%2025−5.0 pts
Operating cash flow / net income1.5920161.492025−0.11
Stock-based compensation$149,5722016$894,0912025+22.0%/yr
Dividends paid$2.8M2016$2.7M2025−0.3%/yr
Share buybacks (net)$02016$3.7M2025—
Capex / revenue2.1%20161.6%2025−0.5 pts

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

EML cash flow by activity

OperatingInvestingFinancingChange in cash

EML 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).

EML cash flow statement

The Eastern Company annual cash flow statement
2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Operating activities
Net income$6.0M$13.2M$8.6M$11.1M$16.2M$5.4M$13.3M$14.5M$5.0M$7.8M
Depreciation & amortization$3.7M$5.9M$5.4M$7.2M$7.2M$8.5M$6.5M$5.3M$4.7M$3.8M
Stock-based compensation$894,091$1.5M$364,694$966,157$1.1M$849,226$656,925$493,767$354,501$149,572
Change in working capital−$2.6M$7.8M$9.7M−$5.2M−$22.9M$2.0M$692,557−$5.9M−$149,641−$56,161
Other non-cash items$870,540−$7.9M$2.4M−$3.6M−$3.7M$3.9M$1.9M−$1.5M$1.2M$722,113
Cash from operating activities$8.9M$20.6M$26.5M$10.5M−$2.0M$20.7M$23.0M$12.9M$11.2M$12.4M
Investing activities
Capital expenditures−$4.0M−$9.7M−$6.4M−$3.4M−$3.7M−$3.1M−$5.4M−$5.4M−$2.8M−$2.9M
Investments (net)$2.2M−$8.5M$1.3M$470,771$28,951−$9.1M−$34,305−$10.4M−$42.8M−$2.9M
Acquisitions & other investing$1.2M$9.7M−$300,943$8.0M$16.3M$3.1M−$80.3M$5.4M$2.8M$2.9M
Cash from investing activities−$508,922−$8.5M−$5.4M$5.1M$12.6M−$9.1M−$85.8M−$10.4M−$42.8M−$2.9M
Financing activities
Dividends paid−$2.7M−$2.7M−$2.8M−$2.7M−$2.8M−$2.8M−$2.7M−$2.8M−$2.8M−$2.8M
Share repurchases & issuance (net)−$3.7M−$3.1M−$735,783−$1.6M−$369,651−$368,864−$368,864−$1.1M$0$1.07B
Net borrowing (repayment)−$9.6M$964,227−$19.4M−$7.2M−$17.1M−$10.1M$69.7M−$6.5M$33.4M−$1.4M
Shares issued$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0
Other financing−$299,520$0$0−$155,386$0$0$368,864$0$0−$1.07B
Cash from financing activities−$16.3M−$4.8M−$22.9M−$11.8M−$20.3M−$13.2M$67.0M−$10.4M$30.7M−$4.2M
Summary
Net change in cash−$6.6M$6.5M−$1.9M$3.6M−$9.5M−$1.9M$4.1M−$8.3M−$449,899$4.9M
Cash at end of period$7.4M$14.8M$8.3M$10.2M$6.6M$16.1M$18.0M$13.9M$22.3M$22.7M
Free cash flow$4.9M$10.8M$20.0M$7.1M−$5.7M$17.6M$17.5M$7.5M$8.4M$9.6M
Free cash flow margin2.0%4.0%7.7%2.5%−2.3%8.9%7.0%3.2%4.1%6.9%
Capex / revenue1.6%3.6%2.5%1.2%1.5%1.6%2.2%2.3%1.4%2.1%
Operating cash flow / net income1.491.563.080.95−0.133.831.730.892.221.59

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.

EML cash generation

In fiscal 2025 (ended December 31, 2025), Eastern generated $8.9 million of cash from operations (down 56.9%) and spent $4.0 million on capital expenditures, leaving free cash flow of $4.9 million, 2.0% of revenue. It returned $6.4 million to shareholders through dividends ($2.7 million) and net share buybacks ($3.7 million). Cash and equivalents fell by $6.6 million over the year.

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

EML cash flow FAQ

What is Eastern's free cash flow?

Eastern's free cash flow was $4.9 million in fiscal 2025: $8.9 million of operating cash flow minus $4.0 million of capital expenditures It was $10.8 million a year earlier..

How much cash does Eastern generate from operations?

Eastern generated $8.9 million of cash from operating activities in fiscal 2025, 1.49 times its net income of $6.0 million.

How much does Eastern spend on capital expenditures?

Eastern spent $4.0 million on capital expenditures in fiscal 2025, 1.6% of revenue, compared with $9.7 million the year before.

How much stock does Eastern buy back?

Eastern spent $3.7 million on net share repurchases in fiscal 2025.

How much does Eastern pay in dividends?

Eastern paid $2.7 million in dividends in fiscal 2025, 54.8% of free cash flow.

Tools & Accessories: cash flow