Free cash flow
Global Payments Free cash flow decreased by 258.5% to -$550.16M in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric declined by 228.7%, from $427.55M to -$550.16M. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Free cash flow shows a downward trend with a -2.8% 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 | $376.82M | $786.80M | $610.74M | $473.90M | $400.21M | $197.05M | $557.24M | $437.33M | $396.15M | $257.02M | $801.17M | $384.14M | $629.62M | $669.48M | $699.43M | $427.55M | $665.36M | $598.92M | $347.00M | -$550.16M |
| QoQ Change | — | +108.8% | -22.4% | -22.4% | -15.5% | -50.8% | +182.8% | -21.5% | -9.4% | -35.1% | +211.7% | -52.1% | +63.9% | +6.3% | +4.5% | -38.9% | +55.6% | -10.0% | -42.1% | -258.5% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | +6.2% | -75.0% | -8.8% | -7.7% | -1.0% | +30.4% | +43.8% | -12.2% | +58.9% | +160.5% | -12.7% | +11.3% | +5.7% | -10.5% | -50.4% | -228.7% |
Free cash flow at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Global Payments's free cash flow?
- Global Payments (GPN) reported free cash flow of -$550.16M in Q1 2026.
- How has Global Payments's free cash flow changed year-over-year?
- Global Payments's free cash flow decreased by 228.7% year-over-year, from $427.55M to -$550.16M.
- What is the long-term trend for Global Payments's free cash flow?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Global Payments's free cash flow has grown at a -2.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $2.29B to $2.04B.
- What does free cash flow mean?
- The cash remaining after a company pays for its operating expenses and capital investments.