PA
PANW
Latest · Apr 30, 2026
Quarter ended Apr 30, 2026 · FY2026 Q3

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. stock research

Palo Alto Networks (PANW) Free Cash Flow & Quarterly History

Explore Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) free cash flow from 2023 through the latest reported quarter, with SEC-sourced operating cash flow, capital expenditures, and period-by-period analysis.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

Free cash flow improved sharply versus the prior quarter, driven by higher operating cash flow and lower capital expenditure. Compared to the same quarter last year, free cash flow also increased, with the margin showing a modest improvement.

  • Revenue rose from both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter. Operating cash flow increased more than proportionally, and capital expenditure declined sequentially, resulting in a higher free cash flow margin.
  • Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, free cash flow and margin were higher, with operating cash flow improving and capital expenditure lower. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, free cash flow and margin were also higher, though capital expenditure was slightly higher.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$3.8B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$788.0M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$871.0M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$83.0M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

26.2%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

1.3%

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$871.0MCash generated by operations before capital spending.
Capital expenditures$83.0MCapital spending used to bridge CFO to FCF.
Free cash flow$788.0MOperating 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.

PeriodRevenueOperating CFCapExFCFFCF margin
2022-04-30$1.4B$389.5M$38.3M$351.2M25.3%
2022-07-31$1.6B$523.7M$39.2M$484.5M31.2%
2022-10-31$1.6B$1.2B$39.6M$1.2B76.6%
2023-01-31$1.7B$694.6M$38.3M$656.3M39.7%
2023-04-30$1.7B$432.1M$31.2M$400.9M23.3%
2023-07-31$2.0B$414.1M$37.2M$376.9M19.3%
2023-10-31$1.9B$1.5B$36.8M$1.5B79.3%
2024-01-31$2.0B$690.0M$35.2M$654.8M33.2%
2024-04-30$2.0B$528.9M$37.4M$491.5M24.8%
2024-07-31$2.2B$512.7M$47.4M$465.3M21.3%
2024-10-31$2.1B$1.5B$44.0M$1.5B68.5%
2025-01-31$2.3B$557.0M$48.0M$509.0M22.6%
2025-04-30$2.3B$628.0M$68.0M$560.0M24.5%
2025-07-31$2.5B$1.0B$86.2M$934.8M36.9%
2025-10-31$2.5B$1.8B$84.0M$1.7B68.2%
2026-01-31$2.6B$554.0M$170.0M$384.0M14.8%
2026-04-30$3.0B$871.0M$83.0M$788.0M26.2%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income-445.2%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue2.8%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 Strength

Operating cash flow increased substantially from both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter, providing the primary lift to free cash flow.

Higher operating cash flow drove the improvement in free cash flow and margin.

What the cash flow says

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

Revenue rose from both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter. Operating cash flow increased more than proportionally, and capital expenditure declined sequentially, resulting in a higher free cash flow margin.

Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, free cash flow and margin were higher, with operating cash flow improving and capital expenditure lower. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, free cash flow and margin were also higher, though capital expenditure was slightly higher.

Monitor the trend in capital expenditure, which decreased sharply from the prior quarter but increased relative to the year-ago 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$291.8BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield1.3%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.

PA
PANW

Palo Alto Networks, Inc.

FCF margin

26.2%

FCF yield

1.3%

Risks and tripwires

Observable signals that would weaken the free cash flow thesis.

RiskTripwireWhy it matters
FCF margin compressionFCF margin falls for two consecutive quarters.Cash conversion may be weakening before earnings show it.
Capital intensity risesCapEx/revenue moves materially above the recent run rate.More operating cash flow would be consumed before becoming FCF.
Working capital dragInventory or receivables grow faster than revenue.Reported growth may not translate into cash.