SkyWest, Inc. (SKYW) Cash Flow Statement

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

Where SKYW’s cash came from and went, 2025

December 31, 2025 · U.S. dollars
Cash from operations
$940.4M
+35.8% vs 2024
Capital expenditures
$653.4M
16.1% of revenue
Free cash flow
$287.0M
7.1% margin
Returned to shareholders
$84.9M
30% of free cash flow
Change in cash
−$104.7M
cash at year-end $122.7M
Cash from operations: $940.4MCash from operations$940.4MDrawn from cash: $104.7MDrawn from cash$104.7MAcquisitions & other: $11.4MAcquisitions & other$11.4MCapital expenditures: $653.4MCapital expenditures$653.4M · 62%Debt repayment: $283.1MDebt repayment$283.1M · 27%Share buybacks: $84.9MShare buybacks$84.9M · 8%Other financing, Investments (net): $37.7MOther uses$37.7M · 4%$1.06B
Cash from operations
$940.4M
Capital expenditures
−$653.4M
Investments (net)
−$9.9M
Acquisitions & other
+$11.4M
Share buybacks (net)
−$84.9M
Net borrowing (repayment)
−$283.1M
Other financing
−$27.9M
Change in cash
−$104.7M

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

SKYW operating cash flow, capex and free cash flow

Operating cash flowCapital expendituresFree cash flowFCF margin (right axis)

SKYW cash flow trends, 2016–2025

SkyWest, Inc. cash flow trends
MetricTrendThenLatestChange
Operating cash flow$506.7M2016$940.4M2025+7.1%/yr
Capital expenditures$1.15B2016$653.4M2025−6.1%/yr
Free cash flow−$647.3M2016$287.0M2025—
Free cash flow margin−20.7%20167.1%2025+27.8 pts
Operating cash flow / net income1.6020172.202025+0.60
Stock-based compensation$7.6M2016$18.7M2025+10.6%/yr
Dividends paid$9.3M2016$1.1M2022−29.4%/yr
Share buybacks (net)$02016$84.9M2025—
Capex / revenue37.0%201616.1%2025−20.9 pts

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

SKYW cash flow by activity

OperatingInvestingFinancingChange in cash

SKYW 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).

SKYW cash flow statement

SkyWest, Inc. annual cash flow statement
2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Operating activities
Net income$428.3M$323.0M$34.3M$73.0M$111.9M−$8.5M$340.1M$280.4M$428.9M−$161.6M
Depreciation & amortization$364.5M$383.9M$383.1M$394.6M$440.2M$475.0M$368.1M$334.6M$292.8M$285.0M
Stock-based compensation$18.7M$19.9M$17.1M$9.2M$8.7M$6.8M$10.3M$13.1M$10.6M$7.6M
Change in working capital$5.5M−$125.4M$312.9M−$47.6M$158.0M$133.4M−$82.4M$75.3M$97.4M−$5.2M
Other non-cash items$123.3M$91.2M−$11.1M$51.3M$113.1M$26.9M$85.0M$99.1M−$145.5M$380.9M
Cash from operating activities$940.4M$692.5M$736.3M$480.4M$831.8M$633.6M$721.0M$802.5M$684.1M$506.7M
Investing activities
Capital expenditures−$653.4M−$328.3M−$316.3M−$682.6M−$681.4M−$447.9M−$714.7M−$1.14B−$735.4M−$1.15B
Investments (net)−$9.9M−$228.6M$20.7M−$346.0M$8.2M−$177.2M−$18.8M$142.6M−$93.6M−$123.2M
Acquisitions & other investing$11.4M$328.3M$272.4M$123.7M−$25.3M−$58.3M$76.5M$12.7M$77.6M$100.1M
Cash from investing activities−$651.8M−$228.6M−$23.2M−$904.9M−$698.5M−$683.5M−$657.0M−$983.4M−$751.3M−$1.18B
Financing activities
Dividends paid———−$1.1M−$1.6M−$13.1M−$23.5M−$19.7M−$15.0M−$9.3M
Share repurchases & issuance (net)−$84.9M−$43.3M−$291.9M−$1.1M−$1.6M−$20.0M−$94.6M−$54.4M−$20.0M$926.1M
Net borrowing (repayment)−$283.1M−$336.7M−$377.9M$267.3M−$92.2M$214.8M−$184.0M$413.9M$141.4M$623.9M
Shares issued$2.7M$2.9M$2.8M$3.0M$3.1M$2.8M$6.3M$5.2M$0$0
Other financing−$27.9M−$7.6M−$759,000$1.1M$1.6M−$6.2M−$9.3M−$17.4M−$4.2M−$926.6M
Cash from financing activities−$393.2M−$384.8M−$667.8M$269.1M−$90.6M$178.4M−$305.2M$327.5M$102.2M$614.1M
Summary
Net change in cash−$104.7M$79.1M$45.3M−$155.4M$42.7M$128.5M−$241.2M$146.6M$35.0M−$56.3M
Cash at end of period$122.7M$227.4M$148.3M$103.0M$258.4M$215.7M$87.2M$328.4M$181.8M$146.8M
Free cash flow$287.0M$364.2M$420.0M−$202.2M$150.4M$185.6M$6.3M−$336.2M−$51.3M−$647.3M
Free cash flow margin7.1%10.3%14.3%−6.7%5.5%8.7%0.2%−10.4%−1.6%−20.7%
Capex / revenue16.1%9.3%10.8%22.7%25.1%21.1%24.0%35.3%23.6%37.0%
Operating cash flow / net income2.202.1421.446.587.43—2.122.861.60—

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.

SKYW cash generation

In fiscal 2025 (ended December 31, 2025), SkyWest generated $940.4 million of cash from operations (up 35.8%) and spent $653.4 million on capital expenditures, leaving free cash flow of $287.0 million, 7.1% of revenue. It returned $84.9 million to shareholders through dividends ($0) and net share buybacks ($84.9 million). Cash and equivalents fell by $104.7 million over the year.

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

SKYW cash flow FAQ

What is SkyWest's free cash flow?

SkyWest's free cash flow was $287.0 million in fiscal 2025: $940.4 million of operating cash flow minus $653.4 million of capital expenditures It was $364.2 million a year earlier..

How much cash does SkyWest generate from operations?

SkyWest generated $940.4 million of cash from operating activities in fiscal 2025, 2.20 times its net income of $428.3 million.

How much does SkyWest spend on capital expenditures?

SkyWest spent $653.4 million on capital expenditures in fiscal 2025, 16.1% of revenue, compared with $328.3 million the year before.

How much stock does SkyWest buy back?

SkyWest spent $84.9 million on net share repurchases in fiscal 2025.

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