Free cash flow takeaway
A quick read on the company's cash generation and what it means for investors.
The company's free cash flow and margin improved markedly compared to both the immediate prior quarter and the same period one year earlier, driven primarily by a substantial increase in operating cash flow. Revenue also rose sequentially and year-over-year, while capital expenditure saw a moderate increase.
- Operating cash flow rose sharply relative to revenue, leading to a strong cash conversion rate. Capital expenditure grew at a slower pace than operating cash flow, further boosting free cash flow.
- Compared to the preceding quarter, free cash flow and margin more than recovered, while year-over-year figures also showed clear improvement. Revenue was higher in both comparisons, but the gain in operating cash flow was the main factor.
FCF snapshot
Quarterly and TTM cash-flow metrics with the minimum valuation context.
TTM free cash flow
$4.5B
Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.
Quarter free cash flow
$1.8B
Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.
Operating cash flow
$2.2B
Cash generated by operations before capital spending.
CapEx
$402.0M
Capital spending and related asset purchases.
FCF margin
35.2%
The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.
Cash flow trend
A short quarterly history shows whether FCF is scaling with revenue or only spiking for one period.
| Period | Revenue | Operating CF | CapEx | FCF | FCF margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-12-31 | $4.9B | $1.6B | $354.0M | $1.2B | 25.2% |
| 2024-03-31 | $4.9B | $831.0M | $420.0M | $411.0M | 8.4% |
| 2024-06-30 | $5.1B | $1.3B | $348.0M | $993.0M | 19.4% |
| 2024-09-30 | $5.2B | $2.2B | $402.0M | $1.8B | 35.2% |
Cash conversion quality
Checks that separate high-quality free cash flow from accounting noise or working-capital timing.
| FCF / net income | 325.5% | Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash. |
| CapEx / revenue | 7.7% | Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin. |
| Net cash | n/a | Cash and equivalents minus total debt. |
Recent events shaping cash flow
Near-term business events that help explain the free cash flow result.
Operating Cash Flow Surge
The quarter's operating cash flow increased significantly from both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter, outpacing revenue growth and leading to a higher free cash flow margin.
This strong cash generation supports the company's financial flexibility.
What the cash flow says
How to interpret the company's free cash flow beyond the headline number.
Operating cash flow rose sharply relative to revenue, leading to a strong cash conversion rate. Capital expenditure grew at a slower pace than operating cash flow, further boosting free cash flow.
Compared to the preceding quarter, free cash flow and margin more than recovered, while year-over-year figures also showed clear improvement. Revenue was higher in both comparisons, but the gain in operating cash flow was the main factor.
Monitor the trajectory of capital expenditure, which increased sequentially and year-over-year.