IT
ITW
Dec 31, 2023
Quarter ended Dec 31, 2023 · FY2023 Q4

Illinois Tool Works Inc. stock research

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Dec 31, 2023

Operating cash flow and free cash flow both improved from the preceding quarter, while capital expenditure remained stable. The free cash flow margin strengthened compared to the prior quarter.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

Operating cash flow and free cash flow both improved from the preceding quarter, while capital expenditure remained stable. The free cash flow margin strengthened compared to the prior quarter.

  • Revenue was stable versus the prior quarter. Operating cash flow increased, and with capital expenditure roughly unchanged, free cash flow rose, leading to a higher free cash flow margin.
  • Compared to the preceding quarter, operating cash flow, free cash flow, and free cash flow margin were higher. Capital expenditure was slightly higher. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, operating cash flow and free cash flow were higher, while capital expenditure was lower.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$3.1B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$908.0M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$1.0B

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$131.0M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

22.8%

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
2023-03-31$4.0B$728.0M$113.0M$615.0M15.3%
2023-06-30$4.1B$790.0M$85.0M$705.0M17.3%
2023-09-30$4.0B$982.0M$126.0M$856.0M21.2%
2023-12-31$4.0B$1.0B$131.0M$908.0M22.8%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income126.6%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue3.3%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cash-$6.6BCash 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 improved from both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter, driving higher free cash flow.

This improvement directly supported the rise in free cash flow and margin.

What the cash flow says

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

Revenue was stable versus the prior quarter. Operating cash flow increased, and with capital expenditure roughly unchanged, free cash flow rose, leading to a higher free cash flow margin.

Compared to the preceding quarter, operating cash flow, free cash flow, and free cash flow margin were higher. Capital expenditure was slightly higher. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, operating cash flow and free cash flow were higher, while capital expenditure was lower.

Monitor whether operating cash flow can sustain its improvement relative to the preceding quarter.

ITW Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Dec 31, 2023