Cash Flow Statement
Quarterly Data

The cash flow statement provides information about a company cash receipts and cash payments during an accounting period, showing how these cash flows link the ending cash balance to the beginning balance shown on the company balance sheet.

The cash flow statement consists of three parts: cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities, and cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities.

Lowe’s Cos. Inc., consolidated cash flow statement (quarterly data)

US$ in millions

3 months ended:	Jan 30, 2026	Oct 31, 2025	Aug 1, 2025	May 2, 2025	Jan 31, 2025	Nov 1, 2024	Aug 2, 2024	May 3, 2024	Feb 2, 2024	Nov 3, 2023	Aug 4, 2023	May 5, 2023	Feb 3, 2023	Oct 28, 2022	Jul 29, 2022	Apr 29, 2022	Jan 28, 2022	Oct 29, 2021	Jul 30, 2021	Apr 30, 2021	Jan 29, 2021	Oct 30, 2020	Jul 31, 2020	May 1, 2020
Net earnings	1,000)	1,616)	2,397)	1,641)	1,124)	1,696)	2,382)	1,755)	1,020)	1,773)	2,673)	2,260)	958)	154)	2,992)	2,333)	1,207)	1,895)	3,019)	2,321)	978)	692)	2,828)	1,337)
Depreciation and amortization	637)	535)	515)	507)	511)	494)	481)	486)	496)	486)	476)	465)	472)	502)	504)	503)	494)	481)	464)	443)	442)	405)	374)	373)
Noncash lease expense	167)	138)	136)	131)	128)	132)	129)	131)	129)	129)	133)	108)	127)	130)	138)	135)	134)	131)	128)	124)	123)	122)	118)	116)
Deferred income taxes	232)	(46)	(56)	126)	19)	(76)	(69)	135)	33)	(50)	(79)	102)	13)	(252)	(59)	59)	39)	(14)	—)	110)	(113)	19)	(60)	46)
(Gain) loss on property and other assets, net	8)	15)	10)	20)	(6)	15)	3)	(7)	33)	27)	12)	11)	5)	2,081)	28)	4)	9)	24)	16)	(15)	25)	34)	63)	17)
(Gain) loss on sale of business	—)	—)	—)	—)	(80)	(54)	(43)	—)	—)	(12)	—)	(67)	421)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	1,060)	—)	—)
Share-based payment expense	70)	60)	59)	58)	57)	54)	55)	55)	50)	47)	54)	59)	58)	55)	60)	50)	61)	54)	61)	54)	48)	43)	37)	27)
Merchandise inventory, net	(113)	(357)	2,099)	(926)	158)	(725)	1,383)	(1,330)	635)	(107)	2,099)	(990)	(286)	(580)	918)	(2,646)	(967)	650)	1,027)	(2,123)	(422)	(1,871)	509)	(1,183)
Other operating assets	(269)	28)	104)	(106)	(21)	(15)	215)	(86)	(54)	12)	67)	157)	36)	140)	92)	(212)	107)	73)	140)	(343)	179)	81)	272)	(206)
Accounts payable	(479)	402)	(1,795)	1,945)	(1,311)	265)	(1,354)	3,033)	(1,210)	(419)	(1,552)	1,361)	(1,470)	(358)	(1,200)	2,479)	30)	(679)	(1,943)	3,058)	(1,888)	(160)	2,052)	3,207)
Other operating liabilities	314)	(1,704)	762)	(17)	332)	(487)	(29)	90)	(24)	(822)	(21)	(1,360)	117)	254)	(438)	272)	(180)	(349)	(491)	863)	192)	(692)	1,109)	716)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	(547)	(1,631)	1,170)	896)	(842)	(962)	215)	1,707)	(653)	(1,336)	593)	(832)	(1,603)	(544)	(628)	(107)	(1,010)	(305)	(1,267)	1,455)	(1,939)	(2,642)	3,942)	2,534)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities	567)	(929)	1,834)	1,738)	(213)	(397)	771)	2,507)	88)	(709)	1,189)	(154)	(507)	1,972)	43)	644)	(273)	371)	(598)	2,171)	(1,414)	(959)	4,474)	3,113)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,567)	687)	4,231)	3,379)	911)	1,299)	3,153)	4,262)	1,108)	1,064)	3,862)	2,106)	451)	2,126)	3,035)	2,977)	934)	2,266)	2,421)	4,492)	(436)	(267)	7,302)	4,450)
Purchases of investments	(403)	(445)	(454)	(391)	(287)	(371)	(351)	(277)	(502)	(405)	(428)	(450)	(530)	(329)	(221)	(109)	(740)	(690)	(1,342)	(293)	(546)	(1,416)	(1,062)	(70)
Proceeds from sale/maturity of investments	406)	425)	452)	375)	286)	347)	305)	266)	507)	404)	399)	412)	577)	307)	158)	132)	1,032)	1,569)	345)	347)	1,894)	772)	153)	107)
Capital expenditures	(603)	(597)	(495)	(518)	(548)	(571)	(426)	(382)	(620)	(579)	(385)	(380)	(739)	(403)	(344)	(343)	(597)	(410)	(385)	(461)	(619)	(462)	(382)	(328)
Proceeds from sale of property and other long-term assets	57)	18)	5)	2)	51)	32)	7)	15)	24)	12)	9)	8)	8)	18)	9)	10)	19)	16)	14)	64)	30)	14)	21)	25)
Acquisitions of businesses, net	(33)	(8,741)	(1,314)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Proceeds from sale of business	—)	—)	—)	—)	80)	54)	43)	—)	—)	(23)	—)	123)	491)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Other, net	(1)	(4)	(4)	(1)	—)	(11)	—)	—)	(4)	—)	(6)	(17)	(1)	1)	(1)	—)	—)	—)	—)	(134)	(1)	—)	(2)	(22)
Net cash used in investing activities	(577)	(9,344)	(1,810)	(533)	(418)	(520)	(422)	(378)	(595)	(591)	(411)	(304)	(194)	(406)	(399)	(310)	(286)	485)	(1,368)	(477)	758)	(1,092)	(1,272)	(288)
Net change in commercial paper	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	(72)	(427)	499)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	(941)
Net proceeds from issuance of debt	—)	6,974)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	2,983)	—)	4,703)	—)	4,964)	—)	1,984)	1,000)	1,988)	—)	3,968)	—)	3,961)
Repayment of debt	(19)	(1,772)	(18)	(778)	(23)	(475)	(25)	(22)	(25)	(531)	(23)	(22)	(36)	(32)	(26)	(773)	(1,523)	(27)	(25)	(543)	(36)	(5,014)	(25)	(543)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under share-based payment plans	67)	12)	68)	2)	64)	11)	69)	15)	62)	3)	71)	5)	65)	14)	71)	1)	60)	9)	54)	9)	50)	19)	79)	4)
Cash dividend payments	(673)	(673)	(645)	(645)	(650)	(654)	(629)	(633)	(632)	(642)	(624)	(633)	(643)	(666)	(524)	(537)	(551)	(563)	(430)	(440)	(452)	(416)	(416)	(420)
Repurchases of common stock	—)	(98)	(1)	(112)	(1,372)	(751)	(1,007)	(923)	(201)	(1,581)	(2,250)	(2,106)	(1,997)	(3,999)	(4,091)	(4,037)	(4,013)	(2,825)	(3,136)	(3,038)	(3,443)	(562)	—)	(966)
Other, net	(4)	(25)	(19)	(20)	(22)	1)	(16)	(5)	(6)	(6)	(9)	—)	(5)	2)	2)	(4)	402)	(42)	(370)	4)	(6)	(28)	(1)	(3)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(629)	4,418)	(615)	(1,553)	(2,003)	(1,868)	(1,608)	(1,568)	(802)	(2,757)	(2,907)	(200)	(2,117)	22)	(4,568)	(386)	(5,625)	(1,464)	(2,907)	(2,020)	(3,887)	(2,033)	(363)	1,092)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	16)	(32)	—)	—)	(11)	(1)	(3)	7)	6)	—)	19)	(15)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	361)	(4,239)	1,806)	1,293)	(1,510)	(1,089)	1,123)	2,316)	(289)	(2,284)	544)	1,602)	(1,844)	1,710)	(1,932)	2,281)	(4,988)	1,286)	(1,857)	2,002)	(3,559)	(3,392)	5,686)	5,239)

The cash flow statements reveal a volatile pattern of cash generation over the analyzed period, spanning from May 2020 to August 2025. While periods of substantial cash inflow from operating activities are evident, these are interspersed with quarters exhibiting significant cash outflows or minimal net cash provision. A notable trend is the increasing variability in financing activities, particularly concerning debt and stock repurchases, impacting overall cash positions.

Operating Activities: Net cash provided by operating activities demonstrates considerable fluctuation. A peak is observed in the July 2021 period at US$3,862 million, followed by a decline. The period from May 2022 through February 2023 shows a marked decrease, with a low of US$451 million in February 2023. A recovery is then seen, peaking again in May 2024 at US$4,231 million, before a substantial drop in August 2025. Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities are consistently positive, though also variable, indicating non-cash items significantly influence cash flow from operations. Merchandise inventory consistently presents a large and fluctuating impact, often negative, on operating cash flow.
Investing Activities: Net cash used in investing activities is consistently negative, reflecting ongoing investments. Capital expenditures represent a significant and relatively stable cash outflow throughout the period, generally ranging between US$300 million and US$740 million per quarter. Proceeds from the sale of investments and property provide some offset, but are insufficient to turn investing activities into a net cash inflow. A large cash outflow is observed in the first quarter of 2025, primarily due to acquisitions of businesses.
Financing Activities: Financing activities exhibit the most dramatic swings. Significant net cash inflows are seen in earlier periods, largely driven by net proceeds from the issuance of debt. However, substantial net cash outflows occur in several quarters, primarily due to repurchases of common stock and repayment of debt. Cash dividend payments represent a consistent, though moderate, cash outflow. The period from July 2021 to February 2024 shows a consistent pattern of negative cash flow from financing, largely driven by stock repurchases and debt repayment. A large inflow is observed in the first quarter of 2025, likely related to a significant debt issuance.
Net Earnings & Related Items: Net earnings are highly variable, peaking at US$3,019 million in July 2021 and reaching a low of US$154 million in October 2022. Depreciation and amortization, along with share-based payment expense, consistently contribute positive, though relatively stable, cash flow adjustments. Noncash lease expense also provides a consistent positive adjustment. Deferred income taxes show significant fluctuations, sometimes positive and sometimes negative, impacting overall cash flow. Gains and losses on asset sales and business sales introduce further variability.
Working Capital: Changes in operating assets and liabilities demonstrate substantial volatility, with significant impacts on overall cash flow. Accounts payable and other operating liabilities exhibit large fluctuations, often offsetting each other. The combined effect of these changes is a significant driver of the variability observed in net cash provided by operating activities.

Overall, the company’s cash flow profile is characterized by significant variability across all three activities. While operating activities generally provide a net cash inflow, the magnitude fluctuates considerably. Investing activities consistently consume cash, and financing activities are subject to large swings driven by debt management and stock repurchase programs. The company appears to actively manage its capital structure and investment portfolio, resulting in a dynamic cash flow pattern.

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Lowe’s Cos. Inc. (NYSE:LOW)

Cash Flow Statement Quarterly Data

Cash Flow Statement
Quarterly Data