CF
CF
Sep 30, 2024
Quarter ended Sep 30, 2024 · FY2024 Q3

CF Industries Holdings, Inc. stock research

CF Industries Holdings (CF) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Sep 30, 2024

Free cash flow improved versus both the prior quarter and the same quarter last year, supported by higher operating cash flow. The free cash flow margin expanded compared with both periods.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

Free cash flow improved versus both the prior quarter and the same quarter last year, supported by higher operating cash flow. The free cash flow margin expanded compared with both periods.

  • Revenue was lower sequentially but higher year-over-year. Operating cash flow rose sharply from the prior quarter and increased versus last year, driving free cash flow higher despite a slightly higher capital expenditure compared with the prior period. The free cash flow margin strengthened significantly compared with both the preceding quarter and the year-ago period.
  • Compared with the prior quarter, revenue was lower while operating cash flow and free cash flow were higher, resulting in a higher free cash flow margin. Versus the same quarter last year, revenue, operating cash flow, and free cash flow were all higher, with the free cash flow margin also higher.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$1.8B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$792.0M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$931.0M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$139.0M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

57.8%

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
2023-12-31$1.6B$480.0M$188.0M$292.0M18.6%
2024-03-31$1.5B$445.0M$98.0M$347.0M23.6%
2024-06-30$1.6B$475.0M$84.0M$391.0M24.9%
2024-09-30$1.4B$931.0M$139.0M$792.0M57.8%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income232.3%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue10.1%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.

Supportive

Strong operating cash flow conversion

Operating cash flow increased substantially from the prior quarter and improved compared with the year-ago period, despite lower sequential revenue. This drove a notable increase in free cash flow and margin.

The quarter generated significantly higher free cash flow than both comparison periods, reinforcing cash generation efficiency.

What the cash flow says

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

Revenue was lower sequentially but higher year-over-year. Operating cash flow rose sharply from the prior quarter and increased versus last year, driving free cash flow higher despite a slightly higher capital expenditure compared with the prior period. The free cash flow margin strengthened significantly compared with both the preceding quarter and the year-ago period.

Compared with the prior quarter, revenue was lower while operating cash flow and free cash flow were higher, resulting in a higher free cash flow margin. Versus the same quarter last year, revenue, operating cash flow, and free cash flow were all higher, with the free cash flow margin also higher.

Monitor capital expenditure trends, as the current level moved higher sequentially while year-over-year spending was slightly lower.

CF Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Sep 30, 2024