Free cash flow
IQVIA Free cash flow decreased by 12.5% to $491.00M in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 15.3%, from $426.00M to $491.00M. 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 | $394.00M | $682.00M | $508.00M | $331.00M | $168.00M | $698.00M | $389.00M | $253.00M | $242.00M | $437.00M | $568.00M | $377.00M | $445.00M | $571.00M | $721.00M | $426.00M | $292.00M | $772.00M | $561.00M | $491.00M |
| QoQ Change | — | +73.1% | -25.5% | -34.8% | -49.2% | +315.5% | -44.3% | -35.0% | -4.3% | +80.6% | +30.0% | -33.6% | +18.0% | +28.3% | +26.3% | -40.9% | -31.5% | +164.4% | -27.3% | -12.5% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | -57.4% | +2.3% | -23.4% | -23.6% | +44.0% | -37.4% | +46.0% | +49.0% | +83.9% | +30.7% | +26.9% | +13.0% | -34.4% | +35.2% | -22.2% | +15.3% |
Free cash flow at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is IQVIA's free cash flow?
- IQVIA (IQV) reported free cash flow of $491.00M in Q1 2026.
- How has IQVIA's free cash flow changed year-over-year?
- IQVIA's free cash flow increased by 15.3% year-over-year, from $426.00M to $491.00M.
- What is the long-term trend for IQVIA's free cash flow?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), IQVIA's free cash flow has grown at a -2.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $2.30B to $2.05B.
- What does free cash flow mean?
- The cash remaining after a company pays for its operating expenses and capital investments.