Free cash flow takeaway
A quick read on the company's cash generation and what it means for investors.
In this quarter, free cash flow improved sharply versus a year ago but declined from the prior quarter. Revenue increased modestly from both comparative periods, while operating cash flow was higher year-over-year but lower sequentially.
- Cash conversion weakened sequentially as operating cash flow declined despite higher revenue, while capital expenditure increased. Compared to a year ago, operating cash flow growth outpaced revenue growth, and capital expenditure rose, resulting in a stronger free cash flow margin.
- Compared to the prior quarter, free cash flow margin weakened as operating cash flow absorbed a smaller share of revenue. Versus the same quarter last year, margin improved markedly, driven by a significantly higher operating cash flow relative to revenue.
FCF snapshot
Quarterly and TTM cash-flow metrics with the minimum valuation context.
TTM free cash flow
$1.8B
Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.
Quarter free cash flow
$321.0M
Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.
Operating cash flow
$745.0M
Cash generated by operations before capital spending.
CapEx
$424.0M
Capital spending and related asset purchases.
FCF margin
7.7%
The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.
TTM FCF yield
5.2%
TTM FCF divided by market capitalization.
FCF reconciliation
Free cash flow is not a GAAP line item; it should be bridged from the cash flow statement.
| Operating cash flow | $745.0M | Cash generated by operations before capital spending. |
| Capital expenditures | $424.0M | Capital spending used to bridge CFO to FCF. |
| Free cash flow | $321.0M | Operating cash flow less capital spending. |
Cash flow trend
A short quarterly history shows whether FCF is scaling with revenue or only spiking for one period.
| Period | Revenue | Operating CF | CapEx | FCF | FCF margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-06-30 | $5.1B | $740.0M | $217.0M | $523.0M | 10.3% |
| 2022-09-30 | $5.1B | $798.0M | $209.0M | $589.0M | 11.7% |
| 2022-12-31 | $5.0B | $991.0M | $197.0M | $794.0M | 16.0% |
| 2023-03-31 | $5.2B | $613.0M | $201.0M | $412.0M | 7.9% |
| 2023-06-30 | $5.1B | $787.0M | $188.0M | $599.0M | 11.7% |
| 2023-09-30 | $5.1B | $927.0M | $160.0M | $767.0M | 14.9% |
| 2023-12-31 | $1.7B | $1.2B | $217.0M | $998.0M | 59.2% |
| 2024-03-31 | $4.3B | $438.0M | $194.0M | $244.0M | 5.6% |
| 2024-06-30 | $4.2B | $1.0B | $158.0M | $863.0M | 20.4% |
| 2024-09-30 | $4.1B | $958.0M | $160.0M | $798.0M | 19.3% |
| 2024-12-31 | $4.1B | $817.0M | $209.0M | $608.0M | 14.8% |
| 2025-03-31 | $4.1B | $327.0M | $204.0M | $123.0M | 3.0% |
| 2025-06-30 | $4.2B | $770.0M | $197.0M | $573.0M | 13.8% |
| 2025-09-30 | $4.2B | $708.0M | $340.0M | $368.0M | 8.9% |
| 2025-12-31 | $4.1B | $972.0M | $397.0M | $575.0M | 14.1% |
| 2026-03-31 | $4.2B | $745.0M | $424.0M | $321.0M | 7.7% |
Cash conversion quality
Checks that separate high-quality free cash flow from accounting noise or working-capital timing.
| FCF / net income | 48.3% | Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash. |
| CapEx / revenue | 10.2% | Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin. |
| Net cash | n/a | Cash and equivalents minus total debt. |
Recent events shaping cash flow
Near-term business events that help explain the free cash flow result.
Operating cash flow recovery year-over-year
Operating cash flow was substantially higher than the same quarter last year, raising free cash flow and margin even as capital expenditure increased. This contributed to the overall improvement in cash generation compared to a year ago.
Year-over-year cash flow strength supported free cash flow growth despite a sequential pullback.
What the cash flow says
How to interpret the company's free cash flow beyond the headline number.
Cash conversion weakened sequentially as operating cash flow declined despite higher revenue, while capital expenditure increased. Compared to a year ago, operating cash flow growth outpaced revenue growth, and capital expenditure rose, resulting in a stronger free cash flow margin.
Compared to the prior quarter, free cash flow margin weakened as operating cash flow absorbed a smaller share of revenue. Versus the same quarter last year, margin improved markedly, driven by a significantly higher operating cash flow relative to revenue.
Monitor operating cash flow trends given its sequential decline relative to revenue despite year-over-year improvement.
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 | $35.7B | Used as the denominator for FCF yield. |
| TTM FCF yield | 5.2% | TTM free cash flow divided by market capitalization. |
| EV / TTM FCF | n/a | A quick valuation bridge, not a full DCF. |
Peer context
Free cash flow quality is easier to read against related public companies.
Risks and tripwires
Observable signals that would weaken the free cash flow thesis.
| Risk | Tripwire | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| FCF margin compression | FCF margin falls for two consecutive quarters. | Cash conversion may be weakening before earnings show it. |
| Capital intensity rises | CapEx/revenue moves materially above the recent run rate. | More operating cash flow would be consumed before becoming FCF. |
| Working capital drag | Inventory or receivables grow faster than revenue. | Reported growth may not translate into cash. |