AE
AEE
Latest · Mar 31, 2026
Quarter ended Mar 31, 2026 · FY2026 Q1

Ameren Corporation stock research

Ameren (AEE) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Mar 31, 2026

For the quarter, revenue was higher than both the prior quarter and the year-ago period, while operating cash flow declined from the prior quarter but stayed near the year-ago level. Free cash flow became further negative due to a substantial increase in capital expenditure, resulting in a much weaker margin.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

For the quarter, revenue was higher than both the prior quarter and the year-ago period, while operating cash flow declined from the prior quarter but stayed near the year-ago level. Free cash flow became further negative due to a substantial increase in capital expenditure, resulting in a much weaker margin.

  • Revenue increased, but operating cash flow did not keep pace, falling from the prior quarter. The conversion of revenue into cash from operations weakened, and after significant capital spending, free cash flow turned deeply negative.
  • Compared to the previous quarter, revenue improved, operating cash flow decreased, capital expenditure rose, and free cash flow worsened. Relative to the same quarter last year, revenue was slightly higher, operating cash flow was similar, capital expenditure was higher, and free cash flow was more negative.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

-$1.3B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

-$1.2B

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$421.0M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$1.6B

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

-53.0%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

-4.1%

TTM FCF divided by market capitalization.

Cash flow trend

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

PeriodRevenueOperating CFCapExFCFFCF margin
2025-06-30$2.2B$862.0M$1.1B-$204.0M-9.2%
2025-09-30$2.7B$1.1B$988.0M$116.0M4.3%
2025-12-31$1.8B$956.0M$1.0B-$54.0M-3.0%
2026-03-31$2.2B$421.0M$1.6B-$1.2B-53.0%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income-322.1%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue72.3%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cash-$20.1BCash and equivalents minus total debt.

Recent events shaping cash flow

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

Watch

Capital Expenditure Increase

Capital expenditure rose substantially compared to both the prior quarter and the year-ago period, outpacing the growth in revenue and operating cash flow.

The elevated capital spending was the main cause of the weakened free cash flow position.

What the cash flow says

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

Revenue increased, but operating cash flow did not keep pace, falling from the prior quarter. The conversion of revenue into cash from operations weakened, and after significant capital spending, free cash flow turned deeply negative.

Compared to the previous quarter, revenue improved, operating cash flow decreased, capital expenditure rose, and free cash flow worsened. Relative to the same quarter last year, revenue was slightly higher, operating cash flow was similar, capital expenditure was higher, and free cash flow was more negative.

Monitor the level of capital expenditure relative to operating cash flow, as the current quarter's elevated spending was the primary factor behind the negative free cash flow.

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$31.3BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield-4.1%TTM free cash flow divided by market capitalization.
EV / TTM FCF-39.7xA quick valuation bridge, not a full DCF.

Peer context

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

AE
AEE

Ameren Corporation

FCF margin

-53.0%

FCF yield

-4.1%