Free cash flow remains volatile, with margins contracting to 22.9% in 2026Q1, while the OCF/NI ratio of -3.34 suggests a persistent disconnect between accounting losses and cash generation.
| Metric | TTM | Dec'25 | Dec'24 | Dec'23 | Dec'22 | Dec'21 | Dec'20 | Dec'19 | Dec'18 | Dec'17 | Dec'16 | Dec'15 | Dec'14 | Dec'13 | Dec'12 | Dec'11 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 777.84M | 750M | 1.09B | 729.83M | 613.6M | 785.36M | 213.75M | 500M | 28.79M | 50.2M | 47.24M | 177.74M | 22.67M | 2.99M | 38.75M | -10.61M |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | 24.69% | 34.69% | 22.39% | 21.55% | 35.69% | 395.4% | 527.17% | 40.09% | 79% | 86.53% | 293.27% | 32.78% | 3.85% | 57.87% | -22.73% |
| Operating CF Growth % | -34.97% | -31.19% | 49.35% | 18.94% | -21.87% | 267.42% | -57.25% | 1636.76% | -42.65% | 6.26% | -73.42% | 684% | 657.3% | -92.27% | 465.25% | - |
| Net Income | -123.87M | -104M | 126M | 7.82M | -80.22M | 106.45M | -253.45M | 139.35M | -34.98M | -30.27M | 169.87M | 202.79M | 43.71M | 21.71M | 16.11M | -22.63M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 511.59M | 657M | 593M | 496.31M | 417.93M | 326.4M | 278.51M | 286.67M | 25.47M | 27.94M | 25.9M | 26.45M | 23.25M | 23.15M | 16.44M | 7.4M |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.93M | 709K | -1.27M | 2.29M | 1.7M | 657.34K | 447.2K | 232.93K | 246.09K | 71K | 158.74K | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | -89.52M | 0 | 0 | -377K | -52.14M | 0 | -1.41B | 57.81M | -11.87M | -8.21M | 70.33M | -26.66M | -10.81M | -7.78M | 0 | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | 331.63M | 197M | 296.11M | 198.98M | 121.44M | 239.03M | 1.51B | 21.55M | 21.05M | 51.39M | -224.45M | -1.44M | -2.13M | 4.27M | -3.43M | 13.75M |
| Working Capital Changes | 85.27M | 0 | 74.89M | 21.16M | 205.89M | 114.75M | 79.58M | -7.08M | 28.45M | 8.9M | 5.35M | -23.65M | -31.42M | -38.51M | 9.64M | -9.13M |
| Change in Receivables | -8.83M | 0 | 47.72M | 69.61M | 16.38M | 1.13M | 35.88M | -16.07M | 937.6K | 650.2K | -5.58M | -83.78M | 2.82M | -3.16M | -6.28M | -2.08M |
| Change in Inventory | -589.65K | 0 | -516K | -359K | -1.36M | -857K | 1.07M | -244.84K | -123.19K | -2.6M | -3.9M | -1.35M | -1.75M | -1.28M | -1.34M | -2.53M |
| Change in Payables | -9.29M | 0 | -70.07M | 36.62M | 86.63M | 6.17M | 41.52M | 27.36M | 713.47K | 9.98M | 6.57M | 17.4M | -1.13M | 1.01M | -1.18M | 6.33M |
| Cash from Investing | -116.74M | -89M | -472M | -462.04M | -130.69M | -134.65M | -3.15M | -99.23M | -70.7M | -115.09M | -1.35M | -34.82M | -80.44M | -23.95M | 14.58M | -45.11M |
| Capital Expenditures | -177.17M | 0 | 0 | -480.75M | -347.15M | -186.12M | -157.13M | -188.01M | -143.19M | -135.06M | -109.06M | -84.31M | -108.78M | -89.12M | -66.7M | -87.26M |
| CapEx % of Revenue | 5.66% | - | 18.56% | 14.75% | 12.19% | 8.46% | 290.67% | 198.23% | 199.39% | 212.56% | 199.77% | 139.11% | 157.27% | 114.7% | 99.61% | 186.92% |
| Acquisitions | 73.07M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -79K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | -12.63M | -89M | -472M | 35.72M | 216.45M | 51.55M | 153.98M | 88.78M | 72.49M | 19.97M | 107.71M | 49.5M | 28.35M | 65.17M | 81.28M | 42.15M |
| Cash from Financing | -835.81M | -819M | -472M | -214.39M | -513.09M | -435.18M | -129.57M | -274.49M | -11.97M | 71.2M | 519.59K | 3.77M | 35.64M | 142.85M | -21.18M | 40.39M |
| Debt Issued (Net) | -169.17M | 0 | -406.24M | -170.18M | -490.21M | -421.2M | -275.84M | -258.75M | -289.81M | -179.21M | 8.92M | 7.14M | 38.43M | -49.11M | -11.26M | 44.36M |
| Equity Issued (Net) | 0 | 0 | -5.07M | -3M | -5.24M | -4.37M | 159.89M | -3.98M | -2.92M | -514.66K | -821.73K | 0 | -479.16K | 199.9M | 0 | 0 |
| Dividends Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | 0 | 0 | -5.07M | -4.02M | -5.24M | -4.37M | -4.51M | -3.98M | -2.92M | -514.66K | -821.73K | 0 | -479.16K | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Financing | -666.64M | -819M | -60.69M | -41.21M | -17.64M | -9.62M | -13.61M | -11.77M | -9.82M | -5.33M | -7.58M | -3.37M | -2.33M | -7.93M | -9.92M | -3.97M |
| Net Change in Cash | -100.98M | -153.98M | 133.85M | 62.3M | -29.27M | 234.65M | 83.02M | 111.78M | -55.36M | -6.13M | 92.38M | 167.49M | -12.63M | 125.05M | 29.68M | -16.94M |
| Free Cash Flow | 502.43M | 750M | 506.65M | 238.69M | 259.67M | 589.17M | 50.81M | 311.99M | -114.4M | -84.87M | -61.82M | 93.43M | -86.11M | -86.13M | -27.95M | -97.87M |
| FCF Margin % | 16.06% | 24.69% | 16.13% | 7.32% | 9.12% | 26.78% | 93.99% | 328.95% | -159.3% | -133.56% | -113.24% | 154.15% | -124.49% | -110.85% | -41.74% | -209.65% |
| FCF Growth % | -44.62% | 48.03% | 112.27% | -8.08% | -55.93% | 1059.51% | -83.71% | 372.71% | -34.8% | -37.29% | -166.16% | 208.5% | 0.02% | -208.18% | 71.45% | - |
| FCF per Share | 4.37 | 65.26 | 4.40 | 2.05 | 2.23 | 5.05 | 0.50 | 3.08 | -1.13 | -0.84 | -0.61 | 0.92 | -0.85 | -1.00 | -0.35 | -1.22 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | -4.06x | -7.22x | 8.63x | 93.34x | -7.65x | 7.38x | -22.17x | 69.42x | -11.61x | 70.27x | 5.84x | 21.64x | 7.60x | 1.86x | 31.42x | 6.87x |
| Interest Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Taxes Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Operational capacity and engine constraints
As reported in quarterly financial filings, VLRS exhibits a persistent divergence between net income and operating cash flow, evidenced by an OCF/NI ratio of -3.34 in 2026Q1, which suggests that accounting losses are being significantly mitigated by non-cash charges and working capital adjustments.
The substantial gap between net income and operating cash flow indicates that the company's reported profitability is heavily influenced by non-cash items, likely including depreciation and amortization related to its fleet. Investors should monitor whether this cash-generative capacity can persist if the underlying operational losses continue to widen.
Based on the provided cash flow data, FCF margins have fluctuated significantly, peaking at 41.9% in 2024Q2 before contracting to 22.9% in 2026Q1, reflecting the inherent difficulty in maintaining consistent cash generation amidst ongoing fleet maintenance requirements and seasonal demand shifts in the Mexican market.
The volatility in free cash flow suggests that the company's ability to self-fund operations is highly sensitive to the timing of capital expenditures and operational disruptions. The recent decline in FCF margins warrants further investigation into whether the current cost structure allows for sustainable cash accumulation.
According to recent financial statements, VLRS has maintained a variable capital expenditure profile, with CapEx/Revenue ratios reaching as high as 18.5% in 2024Q1, highlighting the significant cash burden required to maintain a modern, fuel-efficient fleet during a period of intense engine maintenance cycles.
The high capital intensity appears to be a structural necessity for the company's ultra-low-cost model, yet it creates a recurring drain on liquidity. Analysts should consider whether these expenditures are primarily for growth or maintenance, as the latter may indicate an inability to optimize fleet utilization.
As indicated by the quarterly cash flow data, working capital changes have been inconsistent, swinging from a $114.9 million outflow in 2023Q4 to a $91.7 million inflow in 2026Q1, which suggests that the company's cash position is highly susceptible to timing differences in payables and receivables.
The erratic nature of these working capital swings may imply that the company is utilizing payables management to bridge short-term liquidity gaps. Investors should monitor these trends closely, as reliance on working capital shifts to support cash flow may indicate underlying stress in the operational cycle.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying VLRS stock.
Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V. (VLRS) generated $750.0M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V. (VLRS) generated $750.0M in free cash flow in 2025. Free cash flow is the cash left over after capital expenditures, which can be used to pay dividends, repurchase shares, or pay down debt.
Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V. (VLRS) spent $0.0M on capital expenditures in 2025. CapEx represents the cash invested in physical assets like property, plant, and equipment to maintain or grow the business.