WS
WST
Latest · Mar 31, 2026
Quarter ended Mar 31, 2026 · FY2026 Q1

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. stock research

West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) Free Cash Flow & Quarterly History

Explore West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (WST) 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.

Revenue increased compared to both the prior quarter and the same quarter last year, but operating cash flow, free cash flow, and free cash flow margin all declined. The fall in free cash flow margin was notable, driven by a lower operating cash flow conversion despite reduced capital expenditure.

  • Revenue was higher than both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter, but operating cash flow was substantially lower, leading to a lower free cash flow and a weakened free cash flow margin. Capital expenditure was reduced, yet the decline in operating cash flow outweighed the benefit of lower spending.
  • Sequentially, revenue improved while operating cash flow dropped sharply, resulting in a much lower free cash flow and margin. Year-over-year, revenue was higher, but operating cash flow decreased, and free cash flow was slightly lower than the same quarter last year, with capital expenditure also lower.

FCF snapshot

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

TTM free cash flow

$458.0M

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$47.2M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$89.9M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$42.7M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

5.6%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

1.8%

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$89.9MCash generated by operations before capital spending.
Capital expenditures$42.7MCapital spending used to bridge CFO to FCF.
Free cash flow$47.2MOperating 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
2022-06-30$771.3M$173.1M$66.1M$107.0M13.9%
2022-09-30$686.9M$168.9M$57.8M$111.1M16.2%
2022-12-31$708.7M$230.8M$94.9M$135.9M19.2%
2023-03-31$716.6M$138.1M$82.1M$56.0M7.8%
2023-06-30$753.8M$169.2M$75.4M$93.8M12.4%
2023-09-30$747.4M$230.1M$95.8M$134.3M18.0%
2023-12-31$732.0M$239.1M$108.7M$130.4M17.8%
2024-03-31$695.4M$118.2M$90.6M$27.6M4.0%
2024-06-30$702.1M$165.0M$100.2M$64.8M9.2%
2024-09-30$746.9M$180.1M$81.3M$98.8M13.2%
2024-12-31$748.8M$190.1M$104.9M$85.2M11.4%
2025-03-31$698.0M$129.4M$71.3M$58.1M8.3%
2025-06-30$766.5M$177.1M$75.2M$101.9M13.3%
2025-09-30$804.6M$197.2M$63.3M$133.9M16.6%
2025-12-31$805.0M$251.1M$76.1M$175.0M21.7%
2026-03-31$844.9M$89.9M$42.7M$47.2M5.6%

Cash conversion quality

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

FCF / net income34.0%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue5.1%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cash$318.6MCash 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 decreased compared to both the prior quarter and the same quarter last year, primarily due to working capital fluctuations and increased incentive payments, as noted in the filing. This decline occurred despite higher revenue.

The lower operating cash flow directly reduced free cash flow and compressed the free cash flow margin, even as capital expenditure was lower.

What the cash flow says

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

Revenue was higher than both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter, but operating cash flow was substantially lower, leading to a lower free cash flow and a weakened free cash flow margin. Capital expenditure was reduced, yet the decline in operating cash flow outweighed the benefit of lower spending.

Sequentially, revenue improved while operating cash flow dropped sharply, resulting in a much lower free cash flow and margin. Year-over-year, revenue was higher, but operating cash flow decreased, and free cash flow was slightly lower than the same quarter last year, with capital expenditure also lower.

Monitor working capital fluctuations and incentive payment patterns, as these were cited in the filing as primary factors behind the operating cash flow 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$25.4BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield1.8%TTM free cash flow divided by market capitalization.
EV / TTM FCF54.7xA quick valuation bridge, not a full DCF.

Peer context

Free cash flow quality is easier to read against related public companies.

WS
WST

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

FCF margin

5.6%

FCF yield

1.8%

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.