Free cash flow takeaway
A quick read on the company's cash generation and what it means for investors.
Cash conversion strengthened significantly this quarter as operating cash flow rose sharply while capital expenditure increased modestly, resulting in a much higher free cash flow margin. Compared to the prior quarter, free cash flow improved markedly, and versus the same quarter last year, both operating cash flow and free cash flow were higher.
- Revenue was slightly higher than the prior quarter and above the year-ago level. Operating cash flow increased substantially from both comparison periods, while capital expenditure was higher than both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter. The resulting free cash flow and free cash flow margin improved markedly versus the prior quarter and were higher than the same quarter last year.
- Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, free cash flow was higher and the free cash flow margin improved, driven by a much larger increase in operating cash flow relative to the rise in capital expenditure. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, free cash flow was higher and the margin strengthened, as operating cash flow growth outpaced the increase in capital expenditure.
FCF snapshot
Quarterly and TTM cash-flow metrics with the minimum valuation context.
TTM free cash flow
$5.6B
Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.
Quarter free cash flow
$1.7B
Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.
Operating cash flow
$2.0B
Cash generated by operations before capital spending.
CapEx
$256.0M
Capital spending and related asset purchases.
FCF margin
20.4%
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.
| Period | Revenue | Operating CF | CapEx | FCF | FCF margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-12-31 | $8.4B | $2.4B | $203.0M | $2.2B | 26.2% |
| 2025-03-31 | $7.8B | $1.2B | $196.0M | $964.0M | 12.4% |
| 2025-06-30 | $8.3B | $898.0M | $206.0M | $692.0M | 8.3% |
| 2025-09-30 | $8.4B | $2.0B | $256.0M | $1.7B | 20.4% |
Cash conversion quality
Checks that separate high-quality free cash flow from accounting noise or working-capital timing.
| FCF / net income | 137.7% | Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash. |
| CapEx / revenue | 3.0% | Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin. |
| Net cash | n/a | 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 Strength
Operating cash flow increased substantially from both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter, far exceeding the growth in revenue and capital expenditure. This was the primary factor behind the improvement in free cash flow and free cash flow margin.
The strong operating cash flow drove free cash flow to a higher level and expanded the free cash flow margin compared to both prior periods.
What the cash flow says
How to interpret the company's free cash flow beyond the headline number.
Revenue was slightly higher than the prior quarter and above the year-ago level. Operating cash flow increased substantially from both comparison periods, while capital expenditure was higher than both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter. The resulting free cash flow and free cash flow margin improved markedly versus the prior quarter and were higher than the same quarter last year.
Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, free cash flow was higher and the free cash flow margin improved, driven by a much larger increase in operating cash flow relative to the rise in capital expenditure. Versus the same quarter one year earlier, free cash flow was higher and the margin strengthened, as operating cash flow growth outpaced the increase in capital expenditure.
Monitor whether operating cash flow can sustain its elevated level relative to revenue in future periods.