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STE
Latest · Mar 31, 2026
Quarter ended Mar 31, 2026 · FY2026 Q4

STERIS plc stock research

STERIS (STE) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Mar 31, 2026

Revenue was higher compared to both the prior quarter and the same quarter last year. Free cash flow margin improved sequentially and year over year, driven by higher operating cash flow and lower capital expenditure relative to the prior quarter.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

Revenue was higher compared to both the prior quarter and the same quarter last year. Free cash flow margin improved sequentially and year over year, driven by higher operating cash flow and lower capital expenditure relative to the prior quarter.

  • Operating cash flow increased while capital expenditure decreased sequentially, leading to higher free cash flow. The free cash flow margin widened.
  • Compared to the prior quarter, revenue and operating cash flow were higher with lower capital expenditure, resulting in improved free cash flow margin. Year over year, revenue and operating cash flow also increased, though capital expenditure was higher.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$972.4M

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$245.2M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$335.4M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$90.2M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

15.4%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

4.7%

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$1.4B$420.0M$93.6M$326.4M23.5%
2025-09-30$1.5B$287.8M$86.5M$201.3M13.8%
2025-12-31$1.5B$298.2M$98.7M$199.5M13.3%
2026-03-31$1.6B$335.4M$90.2M$245.2M15.4%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income111.4%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue5.7%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 growth

Operating cash flow increased both sequentially and year over year, outpacing revenue growth and supporting free cash flow expansion.

Higher operating cash flow was the primary factor behind the improved 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 increased while capital expenditure decreased sequentially, leading to higher free cash flow. The free cash flow margin widened.

Compared to the prior quarter, revenue and operating cash flow were higher with lower capital expenditure, resulting in improved free cash flow margin. Year over year, revenue and operating cash flow also increased, though capital expenditure was higher.

Monitor capital expenditure trends as they increased compared to the same quarter last year despite a sequential decline.

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$20.6BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield4.7%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.

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STERIS plc

FCF margin

15.4%

FCF yield

4.7%