ICON Public Limited Company (ICLR) Cash Flow Statement

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

Where ICLR’s cash came from and went, 2025

December 31, 2025 · U.S. dollars
Cash from operations
$1.04B
−19.5% vs 2024
Capital expenditures
$174.2M
2.1% of revenue
Free cash flow
$862.0M
10.4% margin
Returned to shareholders
$750.0M
87% of free cash flow
Change in cash
$108.5M
cash at year-end $647.3M
Cash from operations: $1.04BCash from operations$1.04BOther financing, Currency & other: $37.1MOther sources$37.1MShare buybacks: $750.0MShare buybacks$750.0M · 70%Capital expenditures: $174.2MCapital expenditures$174.2M · 16%Added to cash: $108.5MAdded to cash$108.5M · 10%Debt repayment, Investments (net): $40.5MOther uses$40.5M · 4%$1.07B
Cash from operations
$1.04B
Capital expenditures
−$174.2M
Investments (net)
−$10.8M
Share buybacks (net)
−$750.0M
Net borrowing (repayment)
−$29.8M
Other financing
+$8.5M
Currency & other
+$28.6M
Change in cash
$108.5M

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

ICLR operating cash flow, capex and free cash flow

Operating cash flowCapital expendituresFree cash flowFCF margin (right axis)

ICLR cash flow trends, 2016–2025

ICON Public Limited Company cash flow trends
MetricTrendThenLatestChange
Operating cash flow$259.2M2016$1.04B2025+16.6%/yr
Capital expenditures$42.6M2016$174.2M2025+16.9%/yr
Free cash flow$216.6M2016$862.0M2025+16.6%/yr
Free cash flow margin13.0%201610.4%2025−2.6 pts
Operating cash flow / net income0.9920164.522025+3.53
Stock-based compensation$40.3M2016$102.0M2025+10.9%/yr
Dividends paid$13.2M2020$35.8M2022+64.8%/yr
Share buybacks (net)$110.0M2016$750.0M2025+23.8%/yr
Capex / revenue2.6%20162.1%2025−0.4 pts

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

ICLR cash flow by activity

OperatingInvestingFinancingChange in cash

ICLR 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).

ICLR cash flow statement

ICON Public Limited Company annual cash flow statement
2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Operating activities
Net income$229.3M$791.5M$612.3M$505.3M$153.2M$331.4M$375.9M$322.8M$24.2M$262.2M
Depreciation & amortization$383.0M$488.5M$586.0M$569.5M$315.0M$94.6M$61.5M$65.9M$61.3M$59.6M
Stock-based compensation$102.0M$45.9M$55.7M$70.5M$133.8M$26.3M$26.8M$28.1M$21.6M$40.3M
Change in working capital−$98.1M−$56.5M−$114.8M−$550.2M$135.0M$114.7M−$82.7M−$177.7M$2.7M−$103.3M
Other non-cash items$419.9M$17.3M$21.9M−$31.8M$92.1M$27.7M$31.1M$24.9M$273.2M$422,000
Cash from operating activities$1.04B$1.29B$1.16B$563.3M$829.1M$594.7M$412.5M$264.0M$383.1M$259.2M
Investing activities
Capital expenditures−$174.2M−$168.1M−$140.7M−$142.2M−$93.8M−$51.1M−$50.6M−$48.4M−$28,000−$42.6M
Investments (net)−$10.8M−$266.8M−$163.0M−$145.9M−$6.0M−$46.6M−$162.0M−$37.3M−$177.8M−$74.8M
Acquisitions & other investing−$2.5M$168.1M$77.1M$142.2M−$5.92B$51.1M$50.6M$48.4M$28,000$42.6M
Cash from investing activities−$187.5M−$266.8M−$226.7M−$145.9M−$6.02B−$46.6M−$162.0M−$37.3M−$177.8M−$74.8M
Financing activities
Dividends paid———−$35.8M—−$13.2M————
Share repurchases & issuance (net)−$750.0M−$500.0M$0−$100.0M−$100.0M−$175.0M−$146.9M−$129.0M−$133.1M−$110.0M
Net borrowing (repayment)−$29.8M−$360.3M−$895.0M−$800.0M$5.03B$5.03B$5.03B$5.03B——
Shares issued$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0
Other financing$8.5M$23.1M$51.0M$71.6M$187.4M−$5.07B−$5.01B−$5.01B$13.8M$16.3M
Cash from financing activities−$771.3M−$837.2M−$844.0M−$864.2M$5.11B−$235.0M−$125.4M−$108.4M−$119.3M−$93.7M
Summary
Net change in cash$108.5M$160.7M$89.3M−$463.4M−$88.1M$320.0M$124.5M$113.0M$90.3M$88.6M
Cash at end of period$647.3M$538.8M$378.1M$288.8M$752.2M$840.3M$520.3M$395.9M$51.5M$192.5M
Free cash flow$862.0M$1.12B$1.02B$421.2M$735.4M$543.7M$361.9M$215.6M$48.7M$216.6M
Free cash flow margin10.4%13.5%12.6%5.4%13.4%19.4%12.9%8.3%2.8%13.0%
Capex / revenue2.1%2.0%1.7%1.8%1.7%1.8%1.8%1.9%0.0%2.6%
Operating cash flow / net income4.521.631.901.115.411.791.100.8215.810.99

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.

ICLR cash generation

In fiscal 2025 (ended December 31, 2025), ICON Public generated $1.0 billion of cash from operations (down 19.5%) and spent $174.2 million on capital expenditures, leaving free cash flow of $862.0 million, 10.4% of revenue. It returned $750.0 million to shareholders through dividends ($0) and net share buybacks ($750.0 million). Cash and equivalents rose by $108.5 million over the year.

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

ICLR cash flow FAQ

What is ICON Public's free cash flow?

ICON Public's free cash flow was $862.0 million in fiscal 2025: $1.0 billion of operating cash flow minus $174.2 million of capital expenditures It was $1.1 billion a year earlier..

How much cash does ICON Public generate from operations?

ICON Public generated $1.0 billion of cash from operating activities in fiscal 2025, 4.52 times its net income of $229.3 million.

How much does ICON Public spend on capital expenditures?

ICON Public spent $174.2 million on capital expenditures in fiscal 2025, 2.1% of revenue, compared with $168.1 million the year before.

How much stock does ICON Public buy back?

ICON Public spent $750.0 million on net share repurchases in fiscal 2025.

Diagnostics & Research: cash flow