KM
KMB
Latest · Mar 31, 2026
Quarter ended Mar 31, 2026 · FY2026 Q1

Kimberly-Clark Corporation stock research

Kimberly-Clark (KMB) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Mar 31, 2026

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.

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.

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$4.2B$770.0M$197.0M$573.0M13.8%
2025-09-30$4.2B$708.0M$340.0M$368.0M8.9%
2025-12-31$4.1B$972.0M$397.0M$575.0M14.1%
2026-03-31$4.2B$745.0M$424.0M$321.0M7.7%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income48.3%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue10.2%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cashn/aCash 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 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$35.7BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield5.2%TTM free cash flow divided by market capitalization.
EV / TTM FCFn/aA quick valuation bridge, not a full DCF.

Peer context

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

KM
KMB

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

FCF margin

7.7%

FCF yield

5.2%