CL
CL
Jun 30, 2023
Quarter ended Jun 30, 2023 · FY2023 Q2

Colgate-Palmolive Company stock research

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Jun 30, 2023

Revenue was unchanged from the prior quarter but higher than the same quarter last year. Free cash flow margin improved from a year ago but weakened slightly from the preceding quarter.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

Revenue was unchanged from the prior quarter but higher than the same quarter last year. Free cash flow margin improved from a year ago but weakened slightly from the preceding quarter.

  • Operating cash flow and free cash flow were both higher than a year earlier, with capital expenditure slightly higher. The resulting free cash flow margin expanded year-over-year but contracted sequentially.
  • Compared to the prior quarter, revenue was stable while operating cash flow and free cash flow were lower, and capital expenditure was higher. Compared to the same quarter a year ago, revenue, operating cash flow, and free cash flow were all higher, with an improved free cash flow margin.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$2.4B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$538.0M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$722.0M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$184.0M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

11.2%

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
2022-09-30$4.5B$969.0M$175.0M$794.0M17.8%
2022-12-31$4.6B$673.0M$221.0M$452.0M9.8%
2023-03-31$4.8B$735.0M$163.0M$572.0M12.0%
2023-06-30$4.8B$722.0M$184.0M$538.0M11.2%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income107.2%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue3.8%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cash-$8.2BCash and equivalents minus total debt.

Recent events shaping cash flow

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

Supportive

Working Capital Improvement

The company's operating cash flow was higher than the prior year, attributed in the filing to an improvement in working capital, partially offset by lower net income excluding non-cash items.

This driver supported higher free cash flow and contributed to the year-over-year margin expansion.

What the cash flow says

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

Operating cash flow and free cash flow were both higher than a year earlier, with capital expenditure slightly higher. The resulting free cash flow margin expanded year-over-year but contracted sequentially.

Compared to the prior quarter, revenue was stable while operating cash flow and free cash flow were lower, and capital expenditure was higher. Compared to the same quarter a year ago, revenue, operating cash flow, and free cash flow were all higher, with an improved free cash flow margin.

Monitor working capital trends, as the filing noted that operating cash flow improvement in the first half of the year was primarily due to working capital improvement.