KL
KLAC
Latest · Mar 31, 2026
Quarter ended Mar 31, 2026 · FY2026 Q3

KLA Corporation stock research

KLA (KLAC) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Mar 31, 2026

Revenue increased from the prior quarter and from the same quarter last year, but free cash flow margin weakened significantly compared to both periods. Operating cash flow declined sharply from the preceding quarter and was also lower than the year-ago quarter, despite higher revenue.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

Revenue increased from the prior quarter and from the same quarter last year, but free cash flow margin weakened significantly compared to both periods. Operating cash flow declined sharply from the preceding quarter and was also lower than the year-ago quarter, despite higher revenue.

  • Revenue rose while operating cash flow fell, causing free cash flow margin to contract. Capital expenditure was lower than the prior quarter but slightly higher than a year ago, yet the drop in operating cash flow was the primary factor behind the weaker cash conversion.
  • Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, free cash flow and free cash flow margin both decreased, while revenue was higher. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, free cash flow and margin were also lower, despite revenue being higher.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$4.0B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$622.3M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$707.5M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$85.2M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

18.2%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

13.9%

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$3.2B$1.2B$100.4M$1.1B33.5%
2025-09-30$3.2B$1.2B$95.9M$1.1B33.2%
2025-12-31$3.3B$1.4B$105.6M$1.3B38.3%
2026-03-31$3.4B$707.5M$85.2M$622.3M18.2%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income51.8%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue2.5%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cash-$4.1BCash and equivalents minus total debt.

Recent events shaping cash flow

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

Watch

Operating Cash Flow Decline

Operating cash flow decreased substantially from the prior quarter and was also lower than the year-ago quarter, even as revenue increased. This divergence is the strongest observable driver of the weakened free cash flow margin.

The lower operating cash flow directly reduced free cash flow and compressed the free cash flow margin.

What the cash flow says

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

Revenue rose while operating cash flow fell, causing free cash flow margin to contract. Capital expenditure was lower than the prior quarter but slightly higher than a year ago, yet the drop in operating cash flow was the primary factor behind the weaker cash conversion.

Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, free cash flow and free cash flow margin both decreased, while revenue was higher. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, free cash flow and margin were also lower, despite revenue being higher.

Monitor the trajectory of operating cash flow relative to revenue, as it declined despite higher revenue in the current quarter.

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$28.8BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield13.9%TTM free cash flow divided by market capitalization.
EV / TTM FCF8.2xA quick valuation bridge, not a full DCF.

Peer context

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

KL
KLAC

KLA Corporation

FCF margin

18.2%

FCF yield

13.9%