Free cash flow
Markel Free cash flow decreased by 105.2% to -$31.35M in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric declined by 109.3%, from $335.48M to -$31.35M. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Free cash flow shows an upward trend with a 4.7% 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 | $469.96M | $784.25M | $587.13M | $363.18M | $447.27M | $860.55M | $783.74M | $247.00M | $682.18M | $880.01M | $719.00M | $558.70M | $521.43M | $838.89M | $419.99M | $335.48M | $453.76M | $1.17B | $599.07M | -$31.35M |
| QoQ Change | — | +66.9% | -25.1% | -38.1% | +23.2% | +92.4% | -8.9% | -68.5% | +176.2% | +29.0% | -18.3% | -22.3% | -6.7% | +60.9% | -49.9% | -20.1% | +35.3% | +157.0% | -48.6% | -105.2% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | -4.8% | +9.7% | +33.5% | -32.0% | +52.5% | +2.3% | -8.3% | +126.2% | -23.6% | -4.7% | -41.6% | -40.0% | -13.0% | +39.0% | +42.6% | -109.3% |
Free cash flow at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Markel's free cash flow?
- Markel (MKL) reported free cash flow of -$31.35M in Q1 2026.
- How has Markel's free cash flow changed year-over-year?
- Markel's free cash flow decreased by 109.3% year-over-year, from $335.48M to -$31.35M.
- What is the long-term trend for Markel's free cash flow?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Markel's free cash flow has grown at a 4.7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $2.13B to $2.55B.
- What does free cash flow mean?
- The cash remaining after a company pays for its operating expenses and capital investments.