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

Ecolab Inc. stock research

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

Revenue was slightly lower than the prior quarter but higher than a year ago. Operating cash flow improved year over year but declined sharply from the prior quarter, while capital expenditure rose, resulting in free cash flow that was lower sequentially and year over year, with a correspondingly weaker free cash flow margin.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

Revenue was slightly lower than the prior quarter but higher than a year ago. Operating cash flow improved year over year but declined sharply from the prior quarter, while capital expenditure rose, resulting in free cash flow that was lower sequentially and year over year, with a correspondingly weaker free cash flow margin.

  • Operating cash flow as a percentage of revenue was higher than a year ago but lower than the prior quarter. The conversion to free cash flow was weakened by higher capital expenditure relative to both periods.
  • Compared to the prior quarter, revenue was slightly lower, operating cash flow and free cash flow were significantly lower, and capital expenditure was higher. Compared to the same quarter a year ago, revenue and operating cash flow were higher, but capital expenditure was also higher, leading to lower free cash flow and a weaker margin.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$1.9B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$97.4M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$445.9M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$348.5M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

2.4%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

2.5%

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$4.0B$701.8M$216.7M$485.1M12.1%
2025-09-30$4.2B$791.3M$261.6M$529.7M12.7%
2025-12-31$4.2B$1.1B$332.1M$758.0M18.1%
2026-03-31$4.1B$445.9M$348.5M$97.4M2.4%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income22.5%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue8.6%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.

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Capital Expenditure Increase

Capital expenditure rose compared to both the prior quarter and the same quarter a year ago, outpacing the growth in operating cash flow and reducing free cash flow significantly.

The higher capital spending directly lowered free cash flow and margin, making it the primary factor in the cash conversion decline.

What the cash flow says

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

Operating cash flow as a percentage of revenue was higher than a year ago but lower than the prior quarter. The conversion to free cash flow was weakened by higher capital expenditure relative to both periods.

Compared to the prior quarter, revenue was slightly lower, operating cash flow and free cash flow were significantly lower, and capital expenditure was higher. Compared to the same quarter a year ago, revenue and operating cash flow were higher, but capital expenditure was also higher, leading to lower free cash flow and a weaker margin.

Monitor the trend in capital expenditure relative to operating cash flow, as it has a material effect on free cash flow generation.

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$75.9BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield2.5%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.

EC
ECL

Ecolab Inc.

FCF margin

2.4%

FCF yield

2.5%