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

Capital One Financial Corporation stock research

Capital One Financial (COF) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Mar 31, 2026

Revenue was stable compared to the prior quarter but higher than the same quarter a year earlier. Operating cash flow and free cash flow decreased from the prior quarter, though they increased year over year, while free cash flow margin weakened in both comparisons.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

Revenue was stable compared to the prior quarter but higher than the same quarter a year earlier. Operating cash flow and free cash flow decreased from the prior quarter, though they increased year over year, while free cash flow margin weakened in both comparisons.

  • Cash conversion weakened compared to both the prior quarter and the same quarter last year, as free cash flow margin decreased despite higher revenue. The decline in operating cash flow and higher capital expenditure contributed to the lower free cash flow.
  • Compared to the prior quarter, revenue was stable, operating cash flow and free cash flow were lower, and capital expenditure was higher. Relative to the same quarter a year earlier, revenue, operating cash flow, capital expenditure, and free cash flow were all higher, but free cash flow margin was lower.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$27.3B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$5.5B

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$6.0B

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$553.0M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

227.0%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

21.4%

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$1.8B$6.1B$399.0M$5.7B307.3%
2025-09-30$2.3B$9.2B$387.0M$8.8B384.0%
2025-12-31$2.4B$7.8B$444.0M$7.4B302.0%
2026-03-31$2.4B$6.0B$553.0M$5.5B227.0%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income251.6%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue22.9%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 Decline

The primary driver was a decrease in operating cash flow from the prior quarter, despite stable revenue. This, along with a rise in capital expenditure, led to a lower free cash flow and a weaker margin.

The lower operating cash flow reduced the ability to convert revenue into free cash efficiently, resulting in a weakened margin compared to both prior periods.

What the cash flow says

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

Cash conversion weakened compared to both the prior quarter and the same quarter last year, as free cash flow margin decreased despite higher revenue. The decline in operating cash flow and higher capital expenditure contributed to the lower free cash flow.

Compared to the prior quarter, revenue was stable, operating cash flow and free cash flow were lower, and capital expenditure was higher. Relative to the same quarter a year earlier, revenue, operating cash flow, capital expenditure, and free cash flow were all higher, but free cash flow margin was lower.

Monitor the trend in capital expenditure relative to operating cash flow, as higher spending combined with lower cash generation may pressure future free cash flow margins.

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$127.8BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield21.4%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.

CO
COF

Capital One Financial Corporation

FCF margin

227.0%

FCF yield

21.4%

COF Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Mar 31, 2026