PN
PNR
Dec 31, 2024
Quarter ended Dec 31, 2024 · FY2024 Q4

Pentair plc stock research

Pentair (PNR) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Dec 31, 2024

Free cash flow and margin declined sharply from the prior quarter, while revenue was slightly lower. Compared to the same quarter last year, free cash flow and margin also decreased despite stable revenue.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

Free cash flow and margin declined sharply from the prior quarter, while revenue was slightly lower. Compared to the same quarter last year, free cash flow and margin also decreased despite stable revenue.

  • Operating cash flow decreased significantly relative to revenue, and capital expenditure increased, resulting in a lower free cash flow and margin than both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter.
  • Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, free cash flow and margin weakened substantially, with operating cash flow notably lower and capital expenditure higher. Year-over-year, free cash flow and margin also weakened, as operating cash flow fell while capital expenditure edged up.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$692.3M

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$63.8M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$86.5M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$22.7M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

6.6%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

Cash flow trend

A short quarterly history shows whether FCF is scaling with revenue or only spiking for one period.

PeriodRevenueOperating CFCapExFCFFCF margin
2024-03-31$1.0B-$107.6M$19.3M-$126.9M-12.5%
2024-06-30$1.1B$539.2M$17.0M$522.2M47.5%
2024-09-30$993.4M$248.6M$15.4M$233.2M23.5%
2024-12-31$972.9M$86.5M$22.7M$63.8M6.6%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income38.3%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue2.3%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cash-$1.5BCash 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 decline

Operating cash flow was substantially lower than both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter, despite revenue remaining relatively stable. This decline directly drove the reduction in free cash flow and margin.

Lower operating cash flow weakened cash conversion and reduced 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 decreased significantly relative to revenue, and capital expenditure increased, resulting in a lower free cash flow and margin than both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter.

Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, free cash flow and margin weakened substantially, with operating cash flow notably lower and capital expenditure higher. Year-over-year, free cash flow and margin also weakened, as operating cash flow fell while capital expenditure edged up.

Monitor the trajectory of operating cash flow relative to revenue in subsequent quarters.