AX
AXP
Dec 31, 2025
Quarter ended Dec 31, 2025 · FY2025 Q4

American Express Company stock research

American Express (AXP) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Dec 31, 2025

Revenue increased, but operating cash flow and free cash flow decreased significantly compared to both the prior quarter and the same quarter last year. As a result, free cash flow margin weakened.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

Revenue increased, but operating cash flow and free cash flow decreased significantly compared to both the prior quarter and the same quarter last year. As a result, free cash flow margin weakened.

  • Operating cash flow was lower relative to revenue, while capital expenditure was higher, resulting in a lower free cash flow compared to prior periods.
  • Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, both operating cash flow and free cash flow were lower. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, the same trend was observed, with free cash flow margin declining.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$16.0B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$2.3B

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$3.1B

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$722.0M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

21.4%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

Cash flow trend

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

PeriodRevenueOperating CFCapExFCFFCF margin
2025-03-31$9.6B$4.8B$430.0M$4.3B45.0%
2025-06-30$10.3B$4.4B$619.0M$3.7B36.3%
2025-09-30$10.4B$6.2B$654.0M$5.6B53.6%
2025-12-31$10.9B$3.1B$722.0M$2.3B21.4%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income95.2%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue6.6%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cashn/aCash and equivalents minus total debt.

Recent events shaping cash flow

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

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Operating cash flow decrease

Operating cash flow was considerably lower than the previous quarter and the year-ago quarter, while revenue increased. This drove the reduction in free cash flow and margin.

The decline in operating cash flow was the primary factor behind the lower free cash flow and weakened margin.

What the cash flow says

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

Operating cash flow was lower relative to revenue, while capital expenditure was higher, resulting in a lower free cash flow compared to prior periods.

Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, both operating cash flow and free cash flow were lower. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, the same trend was observed, with free cash flow margin declining.

Monitor changes in operating assets and liabilities, as they can cause significant variability in cash flows from operations.

AXP Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Dec 31, 2025