UH
UHS
Latest · Mar 31, 2026
Quarter ended Mar 31, 2026 · FY2026 Q1

Universal Health Services, Inc. stock research

Universal Health Services (UHS) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Mar 31, 2026

Free cash flow was lower sequentially despite stable revenue, as operating cash flow declined and capital spending narrowed. Compared to the same quarter last year, both operating cash flow and free cash flow improved while the margin expanded modestly.

Free cash flow takeaway

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

Free cash flow was lower sequentially despite stable revenue, as operating cash flow declined and capital spending narrowed. Compared to the same quarter last year, both operating cash flow and free cash flow improved while the margin expanded modestly.

  • Revenue was unchanged from the prior quarter, but operating cash flow decreased and capital expenditure was lower, resulting in a lower free cash flow and a weakened free cash flow margin. Compared to the same quarter one year earlier, revenue was higher, operating cash flow improved, and capital expenditure was lower, producing higher free cash flow and an improved margin.
  • Sequentially, free cash flow decreased as operating cash flow weakened more than the reduction in capital spending. Year over year, free cash flow increased due to higher operating cash flow and lower capital expenditure.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$912.7M

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$184.5M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$401.6M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$217.2M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

4.1%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

n/a

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$4.3B$549.0M$266.0M$283.0M6.6%
2025-09-30$4.5B$380.7M$228.9M$151.8M3.4%
2025-12-31$4.5B$574.7M$281.2M$293.5M6.5%
2026-03-31$4.5B$401.6M$217.2M$184.5M4.1%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income52.9%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue4.8%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cash-$4.6BCash and equivalents minus total debt.

Recent events shaping cash flow

Near-term business events that help explain the free cash flow result.

Supportive

Year-over-year cash flow improvement

Compared to the same quarter one year earlier, operating cash flow was higher and capital expenditure was lower, leading to stronger free cash flow and a wider free cash flow margin.

The year-over-year improvement in free cash flow was the strongest observable driver this quarter.

What the cash flow says

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

Revenue was unchanged from the prior quarter, but operating cash flow decreased and capital expenditure was lower, resulting in a lower free cash flow and a weakened free cash flow margin. Compared to the same quarter one year earlier, revenue was higher, operating cash flow improved, and capital expenditure was lower, producing higher free cash flow and an improved margin.

Sequentially, free cash flow decreased as operating cash flow weakened more than the reduction in capital spending. Year over year, free cash flow increased due to higher operating cash flow and lower capital expenditure.

Monitor whether operating cash flow can sustain its year-over-year improvement after the 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 capitalizationn/aUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yieldn/aTTM 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.

UH
UHS

Universal Health Services, Inc.

FCF margin

4.1%

FCF yield

n/a

UHS Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Mar 31, 2026