Free cash flow takeaway
A quick read on the company's cash generation and what it means for investors.
In the quarter ended December 2025, free cash flow turned strongly positive after a negative prior quarter, with operating cash flow reaching a level significantly above revenue. Compared to the same quarter a year earlier, free cash flow and margin both improved, supported by higher operating cash flow and slightly lower capital expenditure.
- Revenue was lower than the immediate prior quarter, but operating cash flow increased sharply, driving free cash flow to a positive level. The free cash flow margin exceeded one hundred percent because operating cash flow surpassed revenue, while capital expenditure remained stable.
- Compared with the prior quarter, free cash flow improved from negative to positive, and operating cash flow was substantially higher, while revenue was lower. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, free cash flow and margin were higher, with operating cash flow slightly higher and capital expenditure slightly lower.
FCF snapshot
Quarterly and TTM cash-flow metrics with the minimum valuation context.
TTM free cash flow
-$74.2B
Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.
Quarter free cash flow
$24.9B
Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.
Operating cash flow
$26.6B
Cash generated by operations before capital spending.
CapEx
$1.6B
Capital spending and related asset purchases.
FCF margin
125.4%
The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.
TTM FCF yield
-31.8%
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 | $26.6B | Cash generated by operations before capital spending. |
| Capital expenditures | $1.6B | Capital spending used to bridge CFO to FCF. |
| Free cash flow | $24.9B | Operating 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.
| Period | Revenue | Operating CF | CapEx | FCF | FCF margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-06-30 | $19.6B | $23.5B | $1.2B | $22.3B | 113.3% |
| 2022-09-30 | $18.5B | -$2.0B | $1.2B | -$3.2B | -17.2% |
| 2022-12-31 | $18.0B | $12.8B | $2.0B | $10.8B | 60.2% |
| 2023-03-31 | $21.4B | -$30.5B | $1.6B | -$32.1B | -149.8% |
| 2023-06-30 | $19.4B | -$54.1B | $1.5B | -$55.5B | -285.8% |
| 2023-09-30 | $20.1B | $15.8B | $1.7B | $14.1B | 70.0% |
| 2024-09-30 | $20.2B | -$16.7B | $1.6B | -$18.2B | -90.2% |
| 2024-12-31 | $19.5B | $24.8B | $1.7B | $23.1B | 118.7% |
| 2025-03-31 | $21.6B | -$58.7B | $1.5B | -$60.2B | -278.9% |
| 2025-06-30 | $21.7B | -$36.6B | $1.8B | -$38.3B | -176.9% |
| 2025-09-30 | $22.1B | $1.1B | $1.6B | -$517.0M | -2.3% |
| 2025-12-31 | $19.9B | $26.6B | $1.6B | $24.9B | 125.4% |
Cash conversion quality
Checks that separate high-quality free cash flow from accounting noise or working-capital timing.
| FCF / net income | 1008.7% | Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash. |
| CapEx / revenue | 8.2% | Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin. |
| Net cash | n/a | Cash and equivalents minus total debt. |
Recent events shaping cash flow
Near-term business events that help explain the free cash flow result.
Operating Cash Flow Surge
Operating cash flow rose sharply from the prior quarter, reaching a level well above revenue. This was the strongest observable driver of the free cash flow turnaround and margin expansion.
The increase in operating cash flow allowed free cash flow to become positive and raised the margin above one hundred percent, despite lower revenue.
What the cash flow says
How to interpret the company's free cash flow beyond the headline number.
Revenue was lower than the immediate prior quarter, but operating cash flow increased sharply, driving free cash flow to a positive level. The free cash flow margin exceeded one hundred percent because operating cash flow surpassed revenue, while capital expenditure remained stable.
Compared with the prior quarter, free cash flow improved from negative to positive, and operating cash flow was substantially higher, while revenue was lower. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, free cash flow and margin were higher, with operating cash flow slightly higher and capital expenditure slightly lower.
Monitor whether operating cash flow can remain at the elevated level seen this quarter, as it was the primary driver of the large free cash flow and margin improvement.
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 | $233.1B | Used as the denominator for FCF yield. |
| TTM FCF yield | -31.8% | TTM free cash flow divided by market capitalization. |
| EV / TTM FCF | n/a | A quick valuation bridge, not a full DCF. |
Peer context
Free cash flow quality is easier to read against related public companies.
Risks and tripwires
Observable signals that would weaken the free cash flow thesis.
| Risk | Tripwire | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| FCF margin compression | FCF margin falls for two consecutive quarters. | Cash conversion may be weakening before earnings show it. |
| Capital intensity rises | CapEx/revenue moves materially above the recent run rate. | More operating cash flow would be consumed before becoming FCF. |
| Working capital drag | Inventory or receivables grow faster than revenue. | Reported growth may not translate into cash. |