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

CRH plc stock research

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

The company's cash conversion was negative in the current quarter, with a negative free cash flow margin. Compared to the previous quarter, performance weakened sharply, but relative to the same quarter one year earlier, the metrics improved.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

The company's cash conversion was negative in the current quarter, with a negative free cash flow margin. Compared to the previous quarter, performance weakened sharply, but relative to the same quarter one year earlier, the metrics improved.

  • Revenue was higher than the prior year, yet operating cash flow remained negative. Capital expenditure, though lower than the prior year, still contributed to a negative free cash flow and a negative free cash flow margin.
  • Versus the immediately preceding quarter, operating cash flow turned from positive to negative, and free cash flow margin declined significantly. Compared to the same quarter one year earlier, revenue was higher, operating cash flow was less negative, capital expenditure was lower, and free cash flow margin improved.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$3.0B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

-$1.2B

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

-$616.0M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$601.0M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

-16.5%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

4.3%

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$10.2B$1.4B$655.0M$723.0M7.1%
2025-09-30$11.1B$2.0B$592.0M$1.4B12.6%
2025-12-31$9.4B$2.9B$821.0M$2.1B22.2%
2026-03-31$7.4B-$616.0M$601.0M-$1.2B-16.5%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income691.5%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue8.2%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cash-$15.2BCash and equivalents minus total debt.

Recent events shaping cash flow

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

Watch

Higher revenue and lower capital expenditure

Revenue was higher than the same period in the prior year, while capital expenditure was lower. This combination, along with a less negative operating cash flow, led to an improved free cash flow margin compared to the prior year.

The improved free cash flow margin narrowed the cash outflow relative to the prior year period.

What the cash flow says

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

Revenue was higher than the prior year, yet operating cash flow remained negative. Capital expenditure, though lower than the prior year, still contributed to a negative free cash flow and a negative free cash flow margin.

Versus the immediately preceding quarter, operating cash flow turned from positive to negative, and free cash flow margin declined significantly. Compared to the same quarter one year earlier, revenue was higher, operating cash flow was less negative, capital expenditure was lower, and free cash flow margin improved.

The total debt balance increased compared to both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter, warranting continued monitoring.

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$69.4BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield4.3%TTM free cash flow divided by market capitalization.
EV / TTM FCF28.2xA quick valuation bridge, not a full DCF.

Peer context

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

CR
CRH

CRH plc

FCF margin

-16.5%

FCF yield

4.3%