Medline Inc. (MDLN) Cash Flow Statement
Where MDLN’s cash came from and went, 2025
December 31, 2025 · U.S. dollars- Cash from operations
- $1.74B −1.4% vs 2024
- Capital expenditures
- $447.0M 1.6% of revenue
- Free cash flow
- $1.30B 4.6% margin
- Returned to shareholders
- $2.52B 194% of free cash flow
- Change in cash
- $1.69B cash at year-end $1.94B
Drawn to scale: where the cash came from and how it was used. Hover for values.
MDLN operating cash flow, capex and free cash flow
MDLN cash flow trends, 2022–2025
| Metric | Trend | Then | Latest | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating cash flow | $187.0M2022 | $1.74B2025 | +110.5%/yr | |
| Capital expenditures | $254.0M2022 | $447.0M2025 | +20.7%/yr | |
| Free cash flow | −$67.0M2022 | $1.30B2025 | — | |
| Free cash flow margin | −0.3%2022 | 4.6%2025 | +4.9 pts | |
| Operating cash flow / net income | 7.202023 | 1.502025 | −5.70 | |
| Dividends paid | $114.0M2023 | $518.0M2025 | +113.2%/yr | |
| Share buybacks (net) | $20.0M2024 | $2.00B2025 | +9,915.0%/yr | |
| Capex / revenue | 1.2%2022 | 1.6%2025 | +0.4 pts |
Change is the average annual growth (CAGR) or the difference between the first and latest year.
MDLN cash flow by activity
MDLN 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).
MDLN cash flow statement
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | ||||
| Net income | $1.16B | $1.20B | $234.0M | −$25.0M |
| Depreciation & amortization | $1.01B | $977.0M | $951.0M | $933.0M |
| Stock-based compensation | $76.0M | — | — | — |
| Change in working capital | −$783.0M | −$675.0M | $199.0M | −$919.0M |
| Other non-cash items | $281.0M | $267.0M | $301.0M | $198.0M |
| Cash from operating activities | $1.74B | $1.77B | $1.69B | $187.0M |
| Investing activities | ||||
| Capital expenditures | −$447.0M | −$364.0M | −$285.0M | −$254.0M |
| Acquisitions & other investing | −$27.0M | −$1.13B | −$27.0M | −$10.0M |
| Cash from investing activities | −$474.0M | −$1.49B | −$312.0M | −$264.0M |
| Financing activities | ||||
| Dividends paid | −$518.0M | — | −$114.0M | — |
| Share repurchases & issuance (net) | −$2.00B | −$20.0M | — | — |
| Net borrowing (repayment) | −$4.09B | — | — | — |
| Shares issued | $7.05B | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other financing | −$36.0M | −$1.59B | −$77.0M | −$84.0M |
| Cash from financing activities | $399.0M | −$1.61B | −$191.0M | −$84.0M |
| Summary | ||||
| Net change in cash | $1.69B | −$1.33B | $1.58B | — |
| Cash at end of period | $1.94B | $250.0M | $1.58B | — |
| Free cash flow | $1.30B | $1.41B | $1.40B | −$67.0M |
| Free cash flow margin | 4.6% | 5.5% | 6.0% | −0.3% |
| Capex / revenue | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 1.2% |
| Operating cash flow / net income | 1.50 | 1.47 | 7.20 | — |
| Jun '26 | Mar '26 | Dec '25 | Sep '25 | Jun '25 | Mar '25 | Sep '24 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | |||||||
| Net income | $139.0M | $129.0M | $180.0M | $322.0M | $333.0M | $322.0M | $324.0M |
| Depreciation & amortization | $256.0M | $254.0M | $261.0M | $253.0M | $250.0M | $247.0M | $248.0M |
| Stock-based compensation | $29.0M | $23.0M | $27.0M | — | $15.0M | $19.0M | — |
| Change in working capital | −$163.0M | −$161.0M | −$282.0M | $1.0M | −$503.0M | $1.0M | $62.0M |
| Other non-cash items | $454.0M | $167.0M | $43.0M | $60.0M | $148.0M | $47.0M | $88.0M |
| Cash from operating activities | $715.0M | $412.0M | $229.0M | $636.0M | $243.0M | $636.0M | $722.0M |
| Investing activities | |||||||
| Capital expenditures | −$111.0M | −$96.0M | −$342.0M | −$101.0M | −$140.0M | −$101.0M | −$107.0M |
| Acquisitions & other investing | −$350.0M | $0 | $204.0M | $0 | $6.0M | $0 | −$891.0M |
| Cash from investing activities | −$461.0M | −$96.0M | −$138.0M | −$101.0M | −$134.0M | −$101.0M | −$998.0M |
| Financing activities | |||||||
| Dividends paid | — | — | −$96.0M | — | — | — | — |
| Share repurchases & issuance (net) | $0 | $0 | −$1.97B | −$18.0M | $3.0M | −$18.0M | −$3.0M |
| Net borrowing (repayment) | −$38.0M | $0 | −$4.05B | — | −$19.0M | $0 | — |
| Shares issued | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other financing | −$121.0M | −$13.0M | $7.01B | −$143.0M | −$160.0M | −$143.0M | −$555.0M |
| Cash from financing activities | −$159.0M | −$13.0M | $897.0M | −$161.0M | −$176.0M | −$161.0M | −$558.0M |
| Summary | |||||||
| Net change in cash | $91.0M | $296.0M | −$955.0M | $371.0M | $584.0M | −$250.0M | — |
| Cash at end of period | $2.33B | $2.24B | $1.94B | $955.0M | $584.0M | $840.0M | $584.0M |
| Free cash flow | $604.0M | $316.0M | $571.0M | $535.0M | $103.0M | $535.0M | $615.0M |
| Free cash flow margin | 7.9% | 4.3% | 7.3% | 7.5% | 1.5% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Capex / revenue | 1.4% | 1.3% | 4.4% | 1.4% | 2.0% | 1.5% | 1.7% |
| Operating cash flow / net income | 5.14 | 3.19 | 1.27 | 1.98 | 0.73 | 1.98 | 2.23 |
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.
MDLN cash generation
In fiscal 2025 (ended December 31, 2025), Medline generated $1.7 billion of cash from operations (down 1.4%) and spent $447.0 million on capital expenditures, leaving free cash flow of $1.3 billion, 4.6% of revenue. It returned $2.5 billion to shareholders through dividends ($518.0 million) and net share buybacks ($2.0 billion). Cash and equivalents rose by $1.7 billion over the year.
Related: MDLN income statement, MDLN balance sheet. See the MDLN stock overview for the latest quote and news.
MDLN cash flow FAQ
What is Medline's free cash flow?
Medline's free cash flow was $1.3 billion in fiscal 2025: $1.7 billion of operating cash flow minus $447.0 million of capital expenditures It was $1.4 billion a year earlier..
How much cash does Medline generate from operations?
Medline generated $1.7 billion of cash from operating activities in fiscal 2025, 1.50 times its net income of $1.2 billion.
How much does Medline spend on capital expenditures?
Medline spent $447.0 million on capital expenditures in fiscal 2025, 1.6% of revenue, compared with $364.0 million the year before.
How much stock does Medline buy back?
Medline spent $2.0 billion on net share repurchases in fiscal 2025.
How much does Medline pay in dividends?
Medline paid $518.0 million in dividends in fiscal 2025, 39.9% of free cash flow.