IT
ITW
Jun 30, 2024
Quarter ended Jun 30, 2024 · FY2024 Q2

Illinois Tool Works Inc. stock research

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Jun 30, 2024

Free cash flow improved sequentially as operating cash flow rose while capital expenditure increased moderately. Compared to the same quarter last year, free cash flow was lower despite a slight decline in revenue.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

Free cash flow improved sequentially as operating cash flow rose while capital expenditure increased moderately. Compared to the same quarter last year, free cash flow was lower despite a slight decline in revenue.

  • Revenue was stable sequentially, while operating cash flow increased, leading to a higher free cash flow margin. Capital expenditure was higher than both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter, partially offsetting the cash conversion improvement.
  • Compared to the prior quarter, free cash flow and margin improved as operating cash flow increased. Versus the same quarter last year, free cash flow and margin weakened, driven by lower operating cash flow and higher capital expenditure.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$2.8B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$571.0M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$687.0M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$116.0M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

14.2%

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
2023-09-30$4.0B$982.0M$126.0M$856.0M21.2%
2023-12-31$4.0B$1.0B$131.0M$908.0M22.8%
2024-03-31$4.0B$589.0M$95.0M$494.0M12.4%
2024-06-30$4.0B$687.0M$116.0M$571.0M14.2%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income75.2%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue2.9%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cash-$7.6BCash and equivalents minus total debt.

Recent events shaping cash flow

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

Supportive

Sequential Operating Cash Flow Improvement

Operating cash flow increased from the prior quarter, which was the strongest observable driver of the sequential free cash flow improvement. This occurred even as revenue remained essentially unchanged.

The higher operating cash flow directly lifted free cash flow and margin compared to the prior quarter.

What the cash flow says

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

Revenue was stable sequentially, while operating cash flow increased, leading to a higher free cash flow margin. Capital expenditure was higher than both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter, partially offsetting the cash conversion improvement.

Compared to the prior quarter, free cash flow and margin improved as operating cash flow increased. Versus the same quarter last year, free cash flow and margin weakened, driven by lower operating cash flow and higher capital expenditure.

Monitor the trend in capital expenditure relative to operating cash flow, as higher spending this quarter reduced free cash flow conversion.