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

Colgate-Palmolive Company stock research

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Mar 31, 2026

Revenue and operating cash flow both increased compared to the same quarter last year, resulting in higher free cash flow and an improved free cash flow margin. However, relative to the prior quarter, operating cash flow and free cash flow were significantly lower despite a slight rise in revenue.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

Revenue and operating cash flow both increased compared to the same quarter last year, resulting in higher free cash flow and an improved free cash flow margin. However, relative to the prior quarter, operating cash flow and free cash flow were significantly lower despite a slight rise in revenue.

  • Revenue rose sequentially and year-over-year. Operating cash flow was lower than the prior quarter but higher than the year-ago quarter. Capital expenditure decreased from the prior quarter but increased from a year ago. Free cash flow followed the operating cash flow pattern, and the free cash flow margin weakened sequentially but strengthened year-over-year.
  • Compared to the prior quarter, free cash flow and margin were lower, while revenue was slightly higher. Compared to the same quarter one year earlier, revenue, operating cash flow, free cash flow, and margin all improved.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$3.8B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$609.0M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$747.0M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$138.0M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

11.4%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

5.2%

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$5.1B$884.0M$108.0M$776.0M15.2%
2025-09-30$5.1B$1.3B$155.0M$1.1B21.6%
2025-12-31$5.2B$1.5B$177.0M$1.3B24.4%
2026-03-31$5.3B$747.0M$138.0M$609.0M11.4%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income94.3%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue2.6%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.

Supportive

Operating Cash Flow Growth

The company's filing attributes the increase in operating cash flow from the year-ago period to changes in working capital and higher net income, excluding non-cash items.

This improvement supported the year-over-year expansion in free cash flow and margin.

What the cash flow says

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

Revenue rose sequentially and year-over-year. Operating cash flow was lower than the prior quarter but higher than the year-ago quarter. Capital expenditure decreased from the prior quarter but increased from a year ago. Free cash flow followed the operating cash flow pattern, and the free cash flow margin weakened sequentially but strengthened year-over-year.

Compared to the prior quarter, free cash flow and margin were lower, while revenue was slightly higher. Compared to the same quarter one year earlier, revenue, operating cash flow, free cash flow, and margin all improved.

Monitor changes in working capital, which the filing notes as a factor in the operating cash flow increase compared to the year-ago period.

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$72.8BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield5.2%TTM free cash flow divided by market capitalization.
EV / TTM FCFn/aA quick valuation bridge, not a full DCF.

Peer context

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

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Colgate-Palmolive Company

FCF margin

11.4%

FCF yield

5.2%