HW
HWM
Latest · Mar 31, 2026
Quarter ended Mar 31, 2026 · FY2026 Q1

Howmet Aerospace Inc. stock research

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Mar 31, 2026

Revenue increased compared to both the prior quarter and the same quarter one year earlier. Free cash flow margin improved sharply from the year-ago level but declined from the prior quarter.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

Revenue increased compared to both the prior quarter and the same quarter one year earlier. Free cash flow margin improved sharply from the year-ago level but declined from the prior quarter.

  • Operating cash flow was lower than the prior quarter but higher than the year-ago quarter, while capital expenditure decreased relative to both periods. Free cash flow followed the same pattern as operating cash flow, resulting in a free cash flow margin that was higher than a year ago but lower than the prior quarter.
  • Compared to the prior quarter, revenue was higher but operating cash flow and free cash flow were lower, leading to a weakened free cash flow margin. Compared to the year-ago quarter, all three metrics—revenue, operating cash flow, and free cash flow—were higher, and the free cash flow margin improved.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$1.7B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$359.0M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$453.0M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$94.0M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

15.5%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

1.5%

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$2.1B$446.0M$102.0M$344.0M16.8%
2025-09-30$2.1B$531.0M$108.0M$423.0M20.2%
2025-12-31$2.2B$654.0M$124.0M$530.0M24.4%
2026-03-31$2.3B$453.0M$94.0M$359.0M15.5%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income61.9%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue4.1%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cash-$2.3BCash and equivalents minus total debt.

Recent events shaping cash flow

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

Supportive

Operating Results Improvement

According to the filing, the increase in operating cash flow relative to the year-ago quarter was primarily due to higher operating results.

This improvement drove a higher free cash flow margin compared to the same quarter one year earlier.

What the cash flow says

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

Operating cash flow was lower than the prior quarter but higher than the year-ago quarter, while capital expenditure decreased relative to both periods. Free cash flow followed the same pattern as operating cash flow, resulting in a free cash flow margin that was higher than a year ago but lower than the prior quarter.

Compared to the prior quarter, revenue was higher but operating cash flow and free cash flow were lower, leading to a weakened free cash flow margin. Compared to the year-ago quarter, all three metrics—revenue, operating cash flow, and free cash flow—were higher, and the free cash flow margin improved.

Monitor the change in inventory levels, which was cited as an unfavorable working capital component in the filing.

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$109.0BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield1.5%TTM free cash flow divided by market capitalization.
EV / TTM FCF67.2xA quick valuation bridge, not a full DCF.

Peer context

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

HW
HWM

Howmet Aerospace Inc.

FCF margin

15.5%

FCF yield

1.5%