Free cash flow
Curtiss-Wright Free cash flow decreased by 105.5% to -$17.49M in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 67.9%, from -$54.54M to -$17.49M. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Free cash flow shows an upward trend with a 12.4% CAGR. This decline may warrant attention — for this metric, higher values are generally preferred.
Analysis
How to read this metric
An increase suggests improved operational efficiency or reduced capital intensity, providing more flexibility for capital allocation. A decrease may indicate higher investment in R&D or infrastructure, or potential challenges in converting earnings into cash.
Detailed definition
Free cash flow represents the cash generated by a company after accounting for cash outflows to support operations and m...
Peer comparison
Large-cap medical device and pharmaceutical peers typically maintain strong, positive free cash flow, though levels vary based on the intensity of R&D spending and the lifecycle stage of major product lines.
free_cash_flowHistorical Data
| Q2 '21 | Q3 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q4 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | Q1 '26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $65.85M | $97.20M | $218.66M | -$135.21M | $22.45M | $86.36M | $282.96M | -$102.26M | $98.95M | $136.99M | $269.74M | -$57.69M | $100.27M | $162.69M | $278.03M | -$54.54M | $117.20M | $175.94M | $315.11M | -$17.49M |
| QoQ Change | — | +47.6% | +125.0% | -161.8% | +116.6% | +284.7% | +227.6% | -136.1% | +196.8% | +38.4% | +96.9% | -121.4% | +273.8% | +62.3% | +70.9% | -119.6% | +314.9% | +50.1% | +79.1% | -105.5% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | -65.9% | -11.1% | +29.4% | +24.4% | +340.8% | +58.6% | -4.7% | +43.6% | +1.3% | +18.8% | +3.1% | +5.5% | +16.9% | +8.1% | +13.3% | +67.9% |
Free cash flow at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Curtiss-Wright's free cash flow?
- Curtiss-Wright (CW) reported free cash flow of -$17.49M in Q1 2026.
- How has Curtiss-Wright's free cash flow changed year-over-year?
- Curtiss-Wright's free cash flow increased by 67.9% year-over-year, from -$54.54M to -$17.49M.
- What is the long-term trend for Curtiss-Wright's free cash flow?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Curtiss-Wright's free cash flow has grown at a 12.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $346.56M to $553.71M.
- What does free cash flow mean?
- The cash remaining after a company pays for its operating expenses and capital investments.