Free cash flow takeaway
A quick read on the company's cash generation and what it means for investors.
Cash conversion weakened significantly this quarter compared to both the prior quarter and the same quarter last year. Revenue was stable versus a year ago but lower than the preceding quarter, while free cash flow margin contracted notably.
- Operating cash flow was lower than the prior quarter and substantially lower than the same quarter last year. Capital expenditure was higher than a year ago but lower than the preceding quarter, resulting in free cash flow that declined sequentially and dropped sharply year over year.
- Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, revenue, operating cash flow, capital expenditure, free cash flow, and free cash flow margin all decreased. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, revenue was stable, but operating cash flow, free cash flow, and free cash flow margin were substantially lower, while capital expenditure was higher.
FCF snapshot
Quarterly and TTM cash-flow metrics with the minimum valuation context.
TTM free cash flow
$1.0B
Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.
Quarter free cash flow
$284.0M
Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.
Operating cash flow
$430.0M
Cash generated by operations before capital spending.
CapEx
$146.0M
Capital spending and related asset purchases.
FCF margin
2.5%
The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.
TTM FCF yield
2.9%
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 | $430.0M | Cash generated by operations before capital spending. |
| Capital expenditures | $146.0M | Capital spending used to bridge CFO to FCF. |
| Free cash flow | $284.0M | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-05-31 | $12.2B | $1.2B | $242.0M | $909.0M | 7.4% |
| 2022-08-31 | $12.7B | $357.0M | $264.0M | $93.0M | 0.7% |
| 2022-11-30 | $13.3B | $1.0B | $236.0M | $765.0M | 5.7% |
| 2023-02-28 | $12.4B | $2.2B | $200.0M | $2.0B | 16.4% |
| 2023-05-31 | $12.8B | $2.3B | $269.0M | $2.0B | 15.5% |
| 2023-08-31 | $12.9B | -$66.0M | $253.0M | -$319.0M | -2.5% |
| 2023-11-30 | $13.4B | $2.8B | $205.0M | $2.6B | 19.5% |
| 2024-02-29 | $12.4B | $2.1B | $141.0M | $1.9B | 15.4% |
| 2024-05-31 | $12.6B | $2.6B | $213.0M | $2.4B | 19.1% |
| 2024-08-31 | $11.6B | $394.0M | $120.0M | $274.0M | 2.4% |
| 2024-11-30 | $12.4B | $1.0B | $129.0M | $920.0M | 7.4% |
| 2025-02-28 | $11.3B | $1.8B | $81.0M | $1.7B | 15.2% |
| 2025-05-31 | $11.1B | $463.0M | $100.0M | $363.0M | 3.3% |
| 2025-08-31 | $11.7B | $222.0M | $207.0M | $15.0M | 0.1% |
| 2025-11-30 | $12.4B | $579.0M | $193.0M | $386.0M | 3.1% |
| 2026-02-28 | $11.3B | $430.0M | $146.0M | $284.0M | 2.5% |
Cash conversion quality
Checks that separate high-quality free cash flow from accounting noise or working-capital timing.
| FCF / net income | 54.6% | Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash. |
| CapEx / revenue | 1.3% | Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin. |
| Net cash | -$1.4B | 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 Decline
Operating cash flow was the strongest observable driver of the free cash flow decrease, as it dropped sequentially and was significantly lower than the same quarter last year. The filing notes that for the nine-month period, cash from operations was reduced by a net change in working capital components, including higher accounts receivable and lower accounts payable.
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.
Operating cash flow was lower than the prior quarter and substantially lower than the same quarter last year. Capital expenditure was higher than a year ago but lower than the preceding quarter, resulting in free cash flow that declined sequentially and dropped sharply year over year.
Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, revenue, operating cash flow, capital expenditure, free cash flow, and free cash flow margin all decreased. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, revenue was stable, but operating cash flow, free cash flow, and free cash flow margin were substantially lower, while capital expenditure was higher.
Monitor the trajectory of operating cash flow, which declined sequentially and fell sharply from the prior year, as it directly drives free cash flow generation.
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 | $36.6B | Used as the denominator for FCF yield. |
| TTM FCF yield | 2.9% | TTM free cash flow divided by market capitalization. |
| EV / TTM FCF | 36.3x | 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. |