MA
MA
Latest · Mar 31, 2026
Quarter ended Mar 31, 2026 · FY2026 Q1

Mastercard Incorporated stock research

Mastercard (MA) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Mar 31, 2026

Free cash flow declined sequentially but increased compared to the same quarter last year. The free cash flow margin was lower than the prior quarter yet higher than the year-ago period.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

Free cash flow declined sequentially but increased compared to the same quarter last year. The free cash flow margin was lower than the prior quarter yet higher than the year-ago period.

  • Operating cash flow as a proportion of revenue weakened from the preceding quarter, though it improved versus the prior year. Capital expenditure remained relatively stable, resulting in a free cash flow margin that reflected the changes in operating cash flow.
  • Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, revenue, operating cash flow, and free cash flow were all lower, while capital expenditure was higher. Year-over-year, all metrics were higher except capital expenditure, which was slightly lower.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$17.8B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$2.8B

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$3.0B

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$154.0M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

33.9%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

27.1%

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$8.1B$4.6B$40.0M$4.6B56.1%
2025-09-30$8.6B$5.7B$178.0M$5.5B63.8%
2025-12-31$8.8B$5.0B$112.0M$4.9B55.5%
2026-03-31$8.4B$3.0B$154.0M$2.8B33.9%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income73.3%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue1.8%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cash-$11.1BCash 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

Operating cash flow decreased from the prior quarter, while capital expenditure increased. This combination drove the sequential drop in free cash flow and margin.

Sustained operating cash flow levels will be key to maintaining free cash flow generation.

What the cash flow says

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

Operating cash flow as a proportion of revenue weakened from the preceding quarter, though it improved versus the prior year. Capital expenditure remained relatively stable, resulting in a free cash flow margin that reflected the changes in operating cash flow.

Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, revenue, operating cash flow, and free cash flow were all lower, while capital expenditure was higher. Year-over-year, all metrics were higher except capital expenditure, which was slightly lower.

Monitor the conversion of revenue into operating cash flow, as the sequential decline was the primary factor in the free cash flow reduction.

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$65.7BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield27.1%TTM free cash flow divided by market capitalization.
EV / TTM FCF4.3xA quick valuation bridge, not a full DCF.

Peer context

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

MA
MA

Mastercard Incorporated

FCF margin

33.9%

FCF yield

27.1%