
4 Stocks With Increasing Cash Flows to Watch This Earnings Season: Powerful 2026 Picks for Smarter Bets
4 Stocks With Increasing Cash Flows to Watch This Earnings Season
Earnings season can feel like a roller coaster: headlines fly, prices jump, and a single guidance update can flip the mood in seconds. Thatâs why many investors like to focus on something less flashyâbut often more reliableâthan short-term profit swings: cash flow.
Cash flow matters because it reflects how much real cash a business is generating (or burning) through its operations. Companies with improving cash flow usually have more flexibility to pay down debt, invest in growth, buy back shares, or simply survive tough markets without scrambling for funding.
In a recent Zacks-themed screen highlighting cash-flow strength for earnings season, four tickers stood out: Enova International (ENVA), Cimpress (CMPR), DNOW (DNOW), and Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality (PRSU).
Below is a detailed, rewritten, and expanded English news-style breakdown of why these four names are commonly discussed when investors look for increasing cash flowsâplus what to watch in upcoming earnings updates, and the risks you should keep in mind.
Why âIncreasing Cash Flowsâ Can Beat âGood Earningsâ in the Short Run
Itâs easy to get excited about earnings per share (EPS). But EPS can move for reasons that donât always improve a companyâs real financial strengthâlike accounting adjustments, one-time tax benefits, or non-cash gains.
Cash flow is harder to fake
Operating cash flow (cash generated from the core business) is often more grounded than net income. A company that sells products or services, collects cash efficiently, and controls costs will usually show that strength in operating cash flow over time.
Cash flow can protect you during uncertainty
When interest rates are high or credit is tight, companies with weak cash generation may be forced to raise money at bad terms (dilution, expensive debt, asset sales). Companies generating more cash can keep control of their own decisions.
Cash flow supports shareholder-friendly actions
Buybacks, dividends, and debt reduction all become easier when free cash flow improves. Investors often reward that stabilityâespecially during earnings season, when âfinancial resilienceâ becomes a key storyline.
Stock #1: Enova International (ENVA) â Cash Generation in Online Lending
Enova International is a fintech-focused lender that operates online consumer and small-business lending platforms. In lending businesses, cash flow and funding structure are extremely important, because growth requires capitalâand risk management determines whether that capital is productive or painful.
Whatâs driving the cash-flow story
Enova reported strong growth and profitability for full-year 2025, including higher revenue and net income compared with 2024. This kind of growth often supports stronger operating cash flowâespecially when credit performance remains stable.
According to Enovaâs reported cash flow figures in its results release, cash flows provided by operating activities increased from 2024 to 2025. Thatâs a big deal for a lender: strong operating cash flow can help fund receivable growth, strengthen liquidity, and support shareholder returns.
Signals to watch in the next earnings discussion
- Credit performance: Delinquencies and charge-offs are the engine room of a lender. Strong originations are great, but only if repayment stays healthy.
- Funding and liquidity: Watch how the company manages borrowing, securitizations, and balance sheet flexibility during different rate environments.
- Scaling efficiency: If operating expenses grow slower than revenue, cash flow can rise faster than sales.
One real-world data point investors noticed
Enovaâs full-year 2025 results showed higher revenue and net income year over year. While net income is not the same as cash flow, strong profitability paired with improving operating cash flow can signal a business thatâs expanding without losing control of its financial footing.
Key risks
- Economic sensitivity: Consumer and small-business credit can weaken quickly in a downturn.
- Regulatory shifts: Lending rules, rate caps, or compliance changes can affect growth and margins.
- Funding markets: Even strong lenders can face pressure if capital markets tighten sharply.
Bottom line on ENVA: If Enova can keep credit quality steady while maintaining strong operating cash flow momentum, it may continue to stand out as a âcash-strengthâ name during earnings season.
Stock #2: Cimpress (CMPR) â Cash Flow from a Global Mass-Customization Platform
Cimpress operates a group of mass-customization businesses (often associated with customized print, signage, and related products). The companyâs story is frequently about balancing growth investments with disciplined cash generationâespecially because manufacturing, logistics, and marketing can be cash-intensive.
What the cash-flow numbers suggest
On widely cited financial statement summaries, Cimpress has shown meaningful operating cash flow and free cash flow across recent periods, with figures reported across fiscal years and trailing periods.
For example, one standardized cash-flow view lists operating cash flow and free cash flow totals that remain substantial in the latest periods, even as year-to-year growth rates can swing (which is common in businesses facing changing demand, input costs, and investment cycles).
Why earnings season matters for CMPR
For a company like Cimpress, investors often focus on:
- Revenue growth quality: Are sales rising with healthy margins, or is growth being âboughtâ with heavy discounts and higher marketing spend?
- Working capital discipline: Inventory and receivables management can swing cash flow.
- Capex levels: Investments in equipment, automation, and technology can reduce free cash flow short term but improve long-term efficiency.
Forward-looking expectations can shape the cash narrative
In recent coverage discussing Cimpress results and outlook, expectations included operational cash generation targets and free cash flow (adjusted) guidance elements tied to the companyâs plans. These forward signals matter during earnings season because markets donât only react to what happenedâthey react to what management believes will happen next.
Key risks
- Demand volatility: Small business demand can soften during uncertainty.
- Cost inflation: Materials, shipping, and labor costs can pressure margins.
- Execution risk: If investments donât deliver efficiency gains, cash flow can disappoint.
Bottom line on CMPR: Cimpress can be attractive to cash-flow-focused investors when it shows it can fund growth, manage costs, and still produce strong operating cash flow through the cycle.
Stock #3: DNOW (DNOW) â Cash Flow Strength in Energy & Industrial Supply
DNOW (often associated with distribution and supply-chain solutions for energy and industrial markets) can be a classic âcash mattersâ story. These businesses may not always look exciting, but when run well, they can throw off meaningful cashâespecially when working capital is managed tightly and demand stays resilient.
What âincreasing cash flowsâ looks like for DNOW
Financial statement summaries for DNOW show operating cash flow and free cash flow figures that can rise and fall by year depending on market conditions and working-capital timing.
In one standardized view, DNOWâs free cash flow increased strongly in some periods (with a notable jump shown in the 2024 figure compared with 2023 in that dataset), even though trailing figures can fluctuate. That kind of pattern is common in distribution-style businesses where inventories and receivables can swing with customer activity.
Why investors watch DNOW during earnings season
- Demand signals from energy and industrial customers: Orders, backlog, and customer spending trends can shift quickly.
- Margins and mix: Higher-value solutions and services can support steadier profitability and cash generation.
- Capital allocation: With stronger cash flow, buybacks and strategic moves become more realistic.
A major strategic backdrop: the MRC Global deal
DNOW announced a large all-stock acquisition of MRC Global in a deal reported around $1.5 billion, aimed at creating a broader energy and industrial solutions platform. If completed and integrated well, deals like this can influence future cash flows by expanding scaleâbut they can also introduce integration risk.
Key risks
- Energy cycle exposure: Industry spending can weaken if commodity prices fall or projects pause.
- Integration complexity: Large mergers can create short-term disruption.
- Working-capital swings: Cash flow may fluctuate even if the business is healthy.
Bottom line on DNOW: DNOWâs cash-flow story can strengthen when demand is steady and management controls inventory and costsâmaking earnings season an important checkpoint for whether that momentum continues.
Stock #4: Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality (PRSU) â Cash Flow from Experiences and Travel Demand
Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality operates in the attractions and hospitality spaceâmeaning its results can be seasonal and sensitive to travel demand. But that same seasonality can also create bursts of strong cash flow when bookings and visitor volumes are high.
Recent performance signals
In its 2025 second-quarter results communication, Pursuit reported revenue growth year over year and discussed profitability measures like adjusted EBITDA. The company also provided liquidity details and discussed strategic actions that can influence long-term financial flexibility.
Cash-flow improvement can show up fast in this kind of business
In standardized cash-flow summaries, PRSUâs free cash flow metrics have swung dramatically by yearâreflecting the reality that hospitality and attractions can be impacted by macro conditions, portfolio changes, and investment cycles.
At the same time, the companyâs filings discuss how its ability to fund investments depends on generating sufficient operating cash flow or accessing financingâhighlighting why cash generation remains a top priority.
What to watch during earnings season
- Advance bookings and pricing power: Higher ticket prices and strong visitation can lift cash flow quickly.
- Cost control during peak periods: Labor and operating costs can rise fast in hospitality.
- Capex plans: Refreshing properties can boost guest experience, but too much capex can pressure free cash flow.
Key risks
- Travel demand shocks: Weather events, macro slowdowns, or reduced tourism can hit revenue.
- Currency movement: International travel trends and FX shifts can influence results.
- Operational seasonality: Weak periods can drag annual cash flow even if peak periods are strong.
Bottom line on PRSU: For investors hunting improving cash-flow stories, PRSU can be compelling when travel demand is strong and management keeps liquidity healthyâbut itâs also the most seasonal of the four names, so expectations need to be realistic.
How to Use This List (Practically) During Earnings Season
1) Donât just read EPSâread the cash flow line items
When results are released, look for:
- Cash flow from operations (is it rising year over year?)
- Capital expenditures (is spending growing, and why?)
- Free cash flow (whatâs left after investments?)
2) Compare cash flow to revenue growth
A simple question: Is cash growing as fast as sales? If revenue rises but cash flow falls, the company may be relying on credit terms, building inventory, or facing margin pressure.
3) Listen for âqualityâ language in management commentary
Phrases like âworking capital discipline,â âcollections,â âunit economics,â âmargin flow-through,â and âcapital allocationâ often tell you more about future cash flow than a single quarterâs profit number.
4) Keep risk management in the picture
Even cash-flow growers can disappoint if the market environment shifts (credit risk for lenders, demand risk for travel, cycle risk for energy, and execution risk for global manufacturers).
Mini FAQ (Common Investor Questions)
1) What does âincreasing cash flowsâ actually mean?
It usually means operating cash flow or free cash flow is trending upward over time, suggesting a business is generating more real cash from operations after expenses and investments.
2) Why focus on cash flow during earnings season?
Because earnings headlines can be noisy. Cash flow can be a stronger âreality checkâ on whether performance is sustainable.
3) Are these four stocks guaranteed to do well?
No. They are simply examples often highlighted in cash-flow screens. Prices can still drop if guidance disappoints, risks rise, or market sentiment changes.
4) Which stock here is most sensitive to the economy?
All have some sensitivity, but ENVA (consumer/small-business credit) and PRSU (travel demand) can be especially tied to economic conditions.
5) Why can DNOWâs cash flow swing so much?
Distribution businesses can see big working-capital changes as inventories and receivables move with demand.
6) Where can I read more about the original theme?
You can view the original Zacks page for the headline and context here: Zacks article link. (Note: access may depend on region/browser settings.)
Conclusion: Cash Flow Is the Quiet Signal Worth Watching
During earnings season, itâs tempting to chase the loudest surprise number. But over time, markets tend to respect companies that can generate cash and keep doing it consistently.
Thatâs the shared thread across ENVA, CMPR, DNOW, and PRSU: each has a narrative investors can track through the lens of operating cash flow, free cash flow, and financial flexibilityâespecially when earnings reports provide fresh updates and guidance.
Investor reminder: Cash flow is powerful, but itâs not magic. Always weigh cash trends against debt, business risk, and management executionâthen decide whether the price you pay makes sense.
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