IQ
IQV
Latest · Mar 31, 2026
Quarter ended Mar 31, 2026 · FY2026 Q1

IQVIA Holdings Inc. stock research

IQVIA Holdings (IQV) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Mar 31, 2026

Free cash flow margin improved versus the same quarter last year but declined from the immediately preceding quarter. Cash generation strengthened on a year-over-year basis despite a sequential pullback in revenue and operating cash flow.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

Free cash flow margin improved versus the same quarter last year but declined from the immediately preceding quarter. Cash generation strengthened on a year-over-year basis despite a sequential pullback in revenue and operating cash flow.

  • Operating cash flow exceeded capital expenditure, producing positive free cash flow. The conversion from revenue to free cash flow was stable, with margin higher year over year but lower sequentially.
  • Compared with the preceding quarter, revenue, operating cash flow, and free cash flow were lower, and margin weakened. Compared with the same quarter one year earlier, all metrics were higher and margin improved.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$2.1B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$491.0M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$618.0M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$127.0M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

11.8%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

6.1%

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$4.0B$443.0M$151.0M$292.0M7.3%
2025-09-30$4.1B$908.0M$136.0M$772.0M18.8%
2025-12-31$4.4B$735.0M$174.0M$561.0M12.9%
2026-03-31$4.2B$618.0M$127.0M$491.0M11.8%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income179.2%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue3.1%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cash-$13.9BCash and equivalents minus total debt.

Recent events shaping cash flow

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

Supportive

Operating Cash Flow Strength

Operating cash flow increased year over year, supporting a higher free cash flow despite a sequential revenue decline. The company stated in its filing that operating cash flows are its principal source of liquidity, and this quarter's performance aligns with that view.

Continued operating cash flow growth underpins free cash flow generation and provides a foundation for liquidity management.

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 conversion from revenue to free cash flow was stable, with margin higher year over year but lower sequentially.

Compared with the preceding quarter, revenue, operating cash flow, and free cash flow were lower, and margin weakened. Compared with the same quarter one year earlier, all metrics were higher and margin improved.

Monitor capital expenditure trends, as the current quarter's level was lower compared with both prior periods.

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$34.8BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield6.1%TTM free cash flow divided by market capitalization.
EV / TTM FCF23.0xA quick valuation bridge, not a full DCF.

Peer context

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

IQ
IQV

IQVIA Holdings Inc.

FCF margin

11.8%

FCF yield

6.1%

IQV Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Mar 31, 2026