AB
ABT
Latest · Mar 31, 2026
Quarter ended Mar 31, 2026 · FY2026 Q1

Abbott Laboratories stock research

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) Free Cash Flow & Quarterly History

Explore Abbott Laboratories (ABT) free cash flow from 2023 through the latest reported quarter, with SEC-sourced operating cash flow, capital expenditures, and period-by-period analysis.

Free cash flow takeaway

A quick read on the company's cash generation and what it means for investors.

Free cash flow decreased from the prior quarter and was slightly lower than the year-ago period, primarily due to lower operating cash flow. Revenue rose year-over-year but fell sequentially, while capital expenditure also declined.

  • Cash conversion weakened sequentially as operating cash flow dropped while revenue also declined. The free cash flow margin narrowed sharply from the previous quarter and edged lower year-over-year.
  • Compared to the prior quarter, operating cash flow and free cash flow were significantly lower, with the margin contracting. Versus the same quarter last year, operating cash flow was slightly lower and free cash flow was marginally down, while the margin declined.

FCF snapshot

Quarterly and TTM cash-flow metrics with the minimum valuation context.

TTM free cash flow

$7.4B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$916.0M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$1.3B

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$399.0M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

8.2%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

4.8%

TTM FCF divided by market capitalization.

FCF reconciliation

Free cash flow is not a GAAP line item; it should be bridged from the cash flow statement.

Operating cash flow$1.3BCash generated by operations before capital spending.
Capital expenditures$399.0MCapital spending used to bridge CFO to FCF.
Free cash flow$916.0MOperating cash flow less capital spending.

Cash flow trend

A short quarterly history shows whether FCF is scaling with revenue or only spiking for one period.

PeriodRevenueOperating CFCapExFCFFCF margin
2022-06-30$11.3B$2.4B$379.0M$2.0B18.0%
2022-09-30$10.4B$2.8B$467.0M$2.3B22.2%
2022-12-31$10.1B$2.3B$610.0M$1.7B17.0%
2023-03-31$9.7B$1.1B$380.0M$763.0M7.8%
2023-06-30$10.0B$1.2B$507.0M$696.0M7.0%
2023-09-30$10.1B$1.9B$560.0M$1.3B13.0%
2023-12-31$10.2B$3.0B$755.0M$2.3B22.3%
2024-03-31$10.0B$1.0B$398.0M$627.0M6.3%
2024-06-30$10.4B$2.0B$533.0M$1.4B13.8%
2024-09-30$10.6B$2.7B$556.0M$2.1B20.2%
2024-12-31$11.0B$2.9B$720.0M$2.1B19.6%
2025-03-31$10.4B$1.4B$484.0M$933.0M9.0%
2025-06-30$11.1B$2.0B$502.0M$1.5B13.9%
2025-09-30$11.4B$2.8B$496.0M$2.3B20.2%
2025-12-31$11.5B$3.3B$689.0M$2.6B22.9%
2026-03-31$11.2B$1.3B$399.0M$916.0M8.2%

Cash conversion quality

Checks that separate high-quality free cash flow from accounting noise or working-capital timing.

FCF / net income85.1%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue3.6%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cash-$27.2BCash and equivalents minus total debt.

Recent events shaping cash flow

Near-term business events that help explain the free cash flow result.

Watch

Acquisition-related cash outflows

The quarter saw a decline in operating cash flow partly due to cash outflows for equity awards tied to the Exact Sciences acquisition.

These outflows may continue to weigh on cash generation in the near term.

What the cash flow says

How to interpret the company's free cash flow beyond the headline number.

Cash conversion weakened sequentially as operating cash flow dropped while revenue also declined. The free cash flow margin narrowed sharply from the previous quarter and edged lower year-over-year.

Compared to the prior quarter, operating cash flow and free cash flow were significantly lower, with the margin contracting. Versus the same quarter last year, operating cash flow was slightly lower and free cash flow was marginally down, while the margin declined.

Monitor the trajectory of operating cash flow as it was impacted by acquisition-related cash outflows for equity awards.

Valuation context

A cash-flow page should show how much investors are paying for the cash stream, without turning into a full DCF.

Market capitalization$155.0BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield4.8%TTM free cash flow divided by market capitalization.
EV / TTM FCF24.7xA quick valuation bridge, not a full DCF.

Peer context

Free cash flow quality is easier to read against related public companies.

AB
ABT

Abbott Laboratories

FCF margin

8.2%

FCF yield

4.8%

Risks and tripwires

Observable signals that would weaken the free cash flow thesis.

RiskTripwireWhy it matters
FCF margin compressionFCF margin falls for two consecutive quarters.Cash conversion may be weakening before earnings show it.
Capital intensity risesCapEx/revenue moves materially above the recent run rate.More operating cash flow would be consumed before becoming FCF.
Working capital dragInventory or receivables grow faster than revenue.Reported growth may not translate into cash.