Free cash flow takeaway
A quick read on the company's cash generation and what it means for investors.
In the fourth quarter, free cash flow was materially higher than the same quarter a year earlier, supported by operating cash flow improvement. The free cash flow margin remained strong relative to the prior quarter.
- Revenue increased versus both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter. Operating cash flow rose substantially year over year, while capital expenditure was moderately higher, resulting in a large increase in free cash flow margin compared to the prior year.
- Compared to the preceding quarter, revenue and operating cash flow were similar, and free cash flow was stable with a slightly lower margin. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, revenue, operating cash flow, and free cash flow were all higher, and the margin improved.
FCF snapshot
Quarterly and TTM cash-flow metrics with the minimum valuation context.
TTM free cash flow
$5.1B
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
$399.0M
Capital spending and related asset purchases.
FCF margin
34.7%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 2024-12-31 | $5.3B | $2.2B | $399.0M | $1.8B | 34.7% |
Cash conversion quality
Checks that separate high-quality free cash flow from accounting noise or working-capital timing.
| FCF / net income | 194.2% | Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash. |
| CapEx / revenue | 7.6% | 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 Expansion
Operating cash flow for the current quarter was substantially above the year-ago period, outpacing the revenue increase and providing the primary lift to free cash flow.
The higher operating cash flow directly supported a significant improvement in free cash flow and margin compared to the prior year.
What the cash flow says
How to interpret the company's free cash flow beyond the headline number.
Revenue increased versus both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter. Operating cash flow rose substantially year over year, while capital expenditure was moderately higher, resulting in a large increase in free cash flow margin compared to the prior year.
Compared to the preceding quarter, revenue and operating cash flow were similar, and free cash flow was stable with a slightly lower margin. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, revenue, operating cash flow, and free cash flow were all higher, and the margin improved.
Monitor the free cash flow margin trend, as it edged lower from the prior quarter despite a stable operating cash flow level.