Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT) Cash Flow Statement
Where HLT’s cash came from and went, 2025
December 31, 2025 · U.S. dollars- Cash from operations
- $2.13B +5.8% vs 2024
- Capital expenditures
- $185.0M 1.5% of revenue
- Free cash flow
- $1.94B 16.1% margin
- Returned to shareholders
- $3.40B 175% of free cash flow
- Change in cash
- −$406.0M cash at year-end $970.0M
Drawn to scale: where the cash came from and how it was used. Hover for values.
HLT operating cash flow, capex and free cash flow
HLT cash flow trends, 2016–2025
| Metric | Trend | Then | Latest | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating cash flow | $1.35B2016 | $2.13B2025 | +5.2%/yr | |
| Capital expenditures | $453.0M2016 | $185.0M2025 | −9.5%/yr | |
| Free cash flow | $897.0M2016 | $1.94B2025 | +9.0%/yr | |
| Free cash flow margin | 13.6%2016 | 16.1%2025 | +2.5 pts | |
| Operating cash flow / net income | 3.712016 | 1.462025 | −2.25 | |
| Stock-based compensation | $65.0M2016 | $170.0M2025 | +11.3%/yr | |
| Dividends paid | $277.0M2016 | $143.0M2025 | −7.1%/yr | |
| Share buybacks (net) | $15.0M2016 | $3.25B2025 | +81.8%/yr | |
| Capex / revenue | 6.9%2016 | 1.5%2025 | −5.4 pts |
Change is the average annual growth (CAGR) or the difference between the first and latest year.
HLT cash flow by activity
HLT 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).
HLT cash flow statement
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | ||||||||||
| Net income | $1.46B | $1.54B | $1.15B | $1.26B | $407.0M | −$720.0M | $886.0M | $769.0M | $1.26B | $364.0M |
| Depreciation & amortization | $57.0M | $146.0M | $147.0M | $162.0M | $188.0M | $331.0M | $346.0M | $325.0M | $347.0M | $686.0M |
| Stock-based compensation | $170.0M | $176.0M | $169.0M | $162.0M | $193.0M | $97.0M | $154.0M | $127.0M | $74.0M | $65.0M |
| Change in working capital | $525.0M | $504.0M | $855.0M | $171.0M | −$528.0M | $893.0M | $138.0M | $97.0M | −$142.0M | $279.0M |
| Other non-cash items | −$84.0M | −$352.0M | −$376.0M | −$71.0M | −$151.0M | $107.0M | −$140.0M | −$63.0M | −$619.0M | −$44.0M |
| Cash from operating activities | $2.13B | $2.01B | $1.95B | $1.68B | $109.0M | $708.0M | $1.38B | $1.25B | $924.0M | $1.35B |
| Investing activities | ||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | −$185.0M | −$198.0M | −$247.0M | −$102.0M | −$79.0M | −$92.0M | −$205.0M | −$159.0M | −$208.0M | −$453.0M |
| Investments (net) | $5.0M | −$446.0M | −$253.0M | $26.0M | −$57.0M | $4.0M | $3.0M | $50.0M | −$222.0M | −$478.0M |
| Acquisitions & other investing | −$10.0M | $198.0M | $195.0M | −$47.0M | $79.0M | −$19.0M | $79.0M | −$22.0M | $208.0M | $453.0M |
| Cash from investing activities | −$190.0M | −$446.0M | −$305.0M | −$123.0M | −$57.0M | −$107.0M | −$123.0M | −$131.0M | −$222.0M | −$478.0M |
| Financing activities | ||||||||||
| Dividends paid | −$143.0M | −$150.0M | −$158.0M | −$123.0M | −$123.0M | −$42.0M | −$172.0M | −$181.0M | −$195.0M | −$277.0M |
| Share repurchases & issuance (net) | −$3.25B | −$2.89B | −$2.34B | −$1.59B | −$49.0M | −$296.0M | −$1.54B | −$1.72B | −$891.0M | −$15.0M |
| Net borrowing (repayment) | $959.0M | $1.95B | $426.0M | −$25.0M | −$1.72B | $2.47B | $653.0M | $671.0M | −$36.0M | $280.0M |
| Shares issued | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other financing | $90.0M | $45.0M | $30.0M | −$27.0M | $99.0M | −$99.0M | −$56.0M | −$69.0M | −$602.0M | −$17.0M |
| Cash from financing activities | −$2.35B | −$1.04B | −$2.04B | −$1.76B | −$1.79B | $2.03B | −$1.11B | −$1.30B | −$1.72B | −$29.0M |
| Summary | ||||||||||
| Net change in cash | −$406.0M | $501.0M | −$411.0M | −$226.0M | −$1.75B | $2.63B | $146.0M | −$186.0M | −$1.01B | $828.0M |
| Cash at end of period | $970.0M | $1.38B | $875.0M | $1.29B | $1.51B | $3.26B | $630.0M | $484.0M | $670.0M | $1.68B |
| Free cash flow | $1.94B | $1.81B | $1.70B | $1.58B | $30.0M | $616.0M | $1.18B | $1.10B | $716.0M | $897.0M |
| Free cash flow margin | 16.1% | 16.2% | 16.6% | 18.0% | 0.5% | 14.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% | 21.0% | 13.6% |
| Capex / revenue | 1.5% | 1.8% | 2.4% | 1.2% | 1.4% | 2.1% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 6.1% | 6.9% |
| Operating cash flow / net income | 1.46 | 1.31 | 1.69 | 1.34 | 0.27 | — | 1.56 | 1.63 | 0.73 | 3.71 |
| 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 | $482.0M | $383.0M | $298.0M | $421.0M | $442.0M | $300.0M | $509.0M | $344.0M | $422.0M | $268.0M | $150.0M | $379.0M |
| Depreciation & amortization | $66.0M | $50.0M | $47.0M | $46.0M | −$14.0M | $41.0M | $39.0M | $37.0M | $34.0M | $36.0M | $33.0M | $40.0M |
| Stock-based compensation | $61.0M | $45.0M | $35.0M | $44.0M | $55.0M | $36.0M | $36.0M | $44.0M | $55.0M | $41.0M | $36.0M | $48.0M |
| Change in working capital | −$41.0M | $171.0M | $4.0M | $264.0M | $143.0M | $114.0M | $273.0M | $227.0M | −$58.0M | $62.0M | $557.0M | $235.0M |
| Other non-cash items | −$96.0M | −$31.0M | −$181.0M | $41.0M | $32.0M | −$39.0M | −$275.0M | $12.0M | −$32.0M | −$61.0M | −$311.0M | −$15.0M |
| Cash from operating activities | $472.0M | $618.0M | $203.0M | $816.0M | $658.0M | $452.0M | $582.0M | $664.0M | $421.0M | $346.0M | $465.0M | $687.0M |
| Investing activities | ||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | −$9.0M | −$9.0M | −$52.0M | −$50.0M | −$23.0M | −$40.0M | −$48.0M | −$47.0M | −$38.0M | −$34.0M | −$70.0M | −$61.0M |
| Investments (net) | $1.0M | $3.0M | −$2.0M | −$44.0M | −$36.0M | −$50.0M | −$79.0M | −$49.0M | −$291.0M | −$27.0M | −$77.0M | −$74.0M |
| Acquisitions & other investing | −$33.0M | −$33.0M | −$6.0M | $50.0M | $23.0M | $40.0M | $48.0M | $47.0M | $38.0M | $34.0M | $70.0M | −$93.0M |
| Cash from investing activities | −$41.0M | −$39.0M | −$60.0M | −$44.0M | −$36.0M | −$50.0M | −$79.0M | −$49.0M | −$291.0M | −$27.0M | −$77.0M | −$228.0M |
| Financing activities | ||||||||||||
| Dividends paid | −$34.0M | −$35.0M | −$35.0M | −$35.0M | −$36.0M | −$37.0M | −$37.0M | −$37.0M | −$37.0M | −$39.0M | −$38.0M | −$39.0M |
| Share repurchases & issuance (net) | −$966.0M | −$821.0M | −$779.0M | −$759.0M | −$769.0M | −$875.0M | −$766.0M | −$725.0M | −$736.0M | −$666.0M | −$743.0M | −$675.0M |
| Net borrowing (repayment) | $993.0M | −$8.0M | $491.0M | $699.0M | −$221.0M | −$10.0M | −$15.0M | $986.0M | — | — | — | −$16.0M |
| Shares issued | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other financing | $19.0M | −$59.0M | $27.0M | $3.0M | $40.0M | −$52.0M | $47.0M | $8.0M | $29.0M | $943.0M | $485.0M | $17.0M |
| Cash from financing activities | $12.0M | −$923.0M | −$296.0M | −$92.0M | −$986.0M | −$974.0M | −$771.0M | $232.0M | −$744.0M | $238.0M | −$296.0M | −$713.0M |
| Summary | ||||||||||||
| Net change in cash | $445.0M | −$351.0M | −$156.0M | $678.0M | −$359.0M | −$569.0M | −$279.0M | $853.0M | −$618.0M | $545.0M | $96.0M | −$104.0M |
| Cash at end of period | $1.06B | $619.0M | $970.0M | $1.13B | $448.0M | $807.0M | $1.38B | $1.66B | $802.0M | $1.42B | $875.0M | $779.0M |
| Free cash flow | $481.0M | $609.0M | $151.0M | $766.0M | $635.0M | $412.0M | $534.0M | $617.0M | $383.0M | $312.0M | $395.0M | $626.0M |
| Free cash flow margin | 14.4% | 20.7% | 4.9% | 24.6% | 20.2% | 15.3% | 19.2% | 21.5% | 13.0% | 12.1% | 15.1% | 23.4% |
| Capex / revenue | 0.3% | 0.3% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 0.7% | 1.5% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 2.7% | 2.3% |
| Operating cash flow / net income | 0.98 | 1.61 | 0.68 | 1.94 | 1.49 | 1.51 | 1.14 | 1.93 | 1.00 | 1.29 | 3.10 | 1.81 |
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.
HLT cash generation
In fiscal 2025 (ended December 31, 2025), Hilton generated $2.1 billion of cash from operations (up 5.8%) and spent $185.0 million on capital expenditures, leaving free cash flow of $1.9 billion, 16.1% of revenue. It returned $3.4 billion to shareholders through dividends ($143.0 million) and net share buybacks ($3.3 billion). Cash and equivalents fell by $406.0 million over the year.
Related: HLT income statement, HLT balance sheet, HLT dividend history. See the HLT stock overview for the latest quote and news.
HLT cash flow FAQ
What is Hilton's free cash flow?
Hilton's free cash flow was $1.9 billion in fiscal 2025: $2.1 billion of operating cash flow minus $185.0 million of capital expenditures It was $1.8 billion a year earlier..
How much cash does Hilton generate from operations?
Hilton generated $2.1 billion of cash from operating activities in fiscal 2025, 1.46 times its net income of $1.5 billion.
How much does Hilton spend on capital expenditures?
Hilton spent $185.0 million on capital expenditures in fiscal 2025, 1.5% of revenue, compared with $198.0 million the year before.
How much stock does Hilton buy back?
Hilton spent $3.3 billion on net share repurchases in fiscal 2025.
How much does Hilton pay in dividends?
Hilton paid $143.0 million in dividends in fiscal 2025, 7.4% of free cash flow.