HC
HCA
Sep 30, 2025
Quarter ended Sep 30, 2025 · FY2025 Q3

HCA Healthcare, Inc. stock research

HCA Healthcare (HCA) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Sep 30, 2025

Revenue, operating cash flow, and free cash flow all increased compared to the prior quarter and the same quarter last year. The free cash flow margin remained stable sequentially but improved relative to the year-ago period.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

Revenue, operating cash flow, and free cash flow all increased compared to the prior quarter and the same quarter last year. The free cash flow margin remained stable sequentially but improved relative to the year-ago period.

  • Operating cash flow exceeded capital expenditure, producing positive free cash flow. The free cash flow margin was stable sequentially, indicating consistent cash conversion efficiency.
  • Compared to the prior quarter, revenue and free cash flow were higher, while the margin was unchanged. Versus the same quarter a year ago, all metrics were higher and the margin improved.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$8.1B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$3.1B

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$4.4B

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$1.3B

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

16.3%

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.

PeriodRevenueOperating CFCapExFCFFCF margin
2024-12-31$18.3B$2.6B$1.3B$1.3B7.0%
2025-03-31$18.3B$1.7B$991.0M$660.0M3.6%
2025-06-30$18.6B$4.2B$1.2B$3.0B16.3%
2025-09-30$19.2B$4.4B$1.3B$3.1B16.3%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income190.4%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue6.7%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cash-$41.6BCash and equivalents minus total debt.

Recent events shaping cash flow

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

Supportive

Growth in Operating Cash Flow

Operating cash flow increased compared to both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter, supported by higher net income and a decline in income tax payments as noted in the filing.

The increase in operating cash flow directly contributed to the higher free cash flow.

What the cash flow says

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

Operating cash flow exceeded capital expenditure, producing positive free cash flow. The free cash flow margin was stable sequentially, indicating consistent cash conversion efficiency.

Compared to the prior quarter, revenue and free cash flow were higher, while the margin was unchanged. Versus the same quarter a year ago, all metrics were higher and the margin improved.

Monitor the impact of the negative working capital position, which the filing attributes primarily to increased short-term borrowings and other accrued expenses.

HCA Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Sep 30, 2025