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

Cummins Inc. stock research

Cummins (CMI) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Mar 31, 2026

This quarter's cash conversion was modest, with free cash flow margin significantly lower than the preceding quarter but improved from a negative margin a year earlier. The strong operating cash flow generation seen in the prior quarter weakened substantially, while capital expenditure also decreased.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

This quarter's cash conversion was modest, with free cash flow margin significantly lower than the preceding quarter but improved from a negative margin a year earlier. The strong operating cash flow generation seen in the prior quarter weakened substantially, while capital expenditure also decreased.

  • Revenue was stable compared to the preceding quarter, but operating cash flow was much lower, leading to a much smaller free cash flow. The free cash flow margin was low, reflecting a less efficient conversion of sales into cash after capital expenditure.
  • Relative to the preceding quarter, free cash flow was sharply lower, as operating cash flow declined more than capital expenditure. Compared to the same quarter a year earlier, free cash flow turned positive from negative, driven by an improvement in operating cash flow.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$2.7B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$120.0M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$309.0M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$189.0M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

1.4%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

2.9%

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$8.6B$785.0M$231.0M$554.0M6.4%
2025-09-30$8.3B$1.3B$298.0M$1.0B12.1%
2025-12-31$8.5B$1.5B$544.0M$990.0M11.6%
2026-03-31$8.4B$309.0M$189.0M$120.0M1.4%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income17.6%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue2.3%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.

Watch

Operating Cash Flow Volatility

Operating cash flow this quarter was much lower than the preceding quarter, while capital expenditure also decreased but not as dramatically. This was the primary factor behind the decline in free cash flow.

The lower operating cash flow reduced free cash flow significantly, resulting in a much lower free cash flow margin.

What the cash flow says

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

Revenue was stable compared to the preceding quarter, but operating cash flow was much lower, leading to a much smaller free cash flow. The free cash flow margin was low, reflecting a less efficient conversion of sales into cash after capital expenditure.

Relative to the preceding quarter, free cash flow was sharply lower, as operating cash flow declined more than capital expenditure. Compared to the same quarter a year earlier, free cash flow turned positive from negative, driven by an improvement in operating cash flow.

Monitor the trajectory of operating cash flow, which significantly decreased from the preceding quarter.

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$93.2BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield2.9%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.

CM
CMI

Cummins Inc.

FCF margin

1.4%

FCF yield

2.9%