GP
GPN
Latest · Mar 31, 2026
Quarter ended Mar 31, 2026 · FY2026 Q1

Global Payments Inc. stock research

Global Payments (GPN) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Mar 31, 2026

Revenue increased compared with both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter. Operating cash flow turned negative, resulting in a significant free cash flow deficit.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

Revenue increased compared with both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter. Operating cash flow turned negative, resulting in a significant free cash flow deficit.

  • Cash conversion weakened as operating cash flow moved from positive to negative despite higher revenue, while capital expenditure also rose. These factors combined to produce a negative free cash flow margin.
  • Compared with the prior quarter, revenue improved while operating cash flow and free cash flow weakened sharply. Compared with the year-ago quarter, revenue was higher but all cash flow metrics deteriorated.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$1.1B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

-$550.2M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

-$288.8M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$261.3M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

-18.5%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

4.9%

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$2.0B$817.5M$152.2M$665.4M34.0%
2025-09-30$2.0B$768.7M$169.8M$598.9M29.8%
2025-12-31$1.9B$515.2M$168.2M$347.0M18.0%
2026-03-31$3.0B-$288.8M$261.3M-$550.2M-18.5%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income30.6%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue8.8%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cash-$16.8BCash 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 Reversal

The swing in operating cash flow from a positive level to a negative level was the largest change among the cash flow components, despite increased revenue. This reversal was the primary driver of the negative free cash flow.

Restoring positive operating cash flow will be critical for the company to fund capital expenditure and other cash needs internally.

What the cash flow says

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

Cash conversion weakened as operating cash flow moved from positive to negative despite higher revenue, while capital expenditure also rose. These factors combined to produce a negative free cash flow margin.

Compared with the prior quarter, revenue improved while operating cash flow and free cash flow weakened sharply. Compared with the year-ago quarter, revenue was higher but all cash flow metrics deteriorated.

Monitor the trajectory of operating cash flow in upcoming quarters for signs of recovery or further decline.

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$21.8BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield4.9%TTM free cash flow divided by market capitalization.
EV / TTM FCF36.4xA quick valuation bridge, not a full DCF.

Peer context

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

GP
GPN

Global Payments Inc.

FCF margin

-18.5%

FCF yield

4.9%