Free cash flow
Nordson Free cash flow increased by 38.7% to $170.49M in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 65.3%, from $103.13M to $170.49M. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Free cash flow shows an upward trend with a 6.8% CAGR. This is a positive signal — higher values indicate stronger performance for this metric.
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 | Q2 '26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $93.60M | $118.41M | $160.24M | $105.60M | $84.13M | $110.59M | $161.39M | $114.04M | $158.52M | $181.27M | $152.87M | $164.83M | $108.23M | $142.97M | $75.76M | $137.72M | $103.13M | $226.41M | $193.85M | $122.92M | $170.49M |
| QoQ Change | — | +26.5% | +35.3% | -34.1% | -20.3% | +31.5% | +45.9% | -29.3% | +39.0% | +14.4% | -15.7% | +7.8% | -34.3% | +32.1% | -47.0% | +81.8% | -25.1% | +119.5% | -14.4% | -36.6% | +38.7% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | -10.1% | -6.6% | +0.7% | +8.0% | +88.4% | +63.9% | -5.3% | +44.5% | -31.7% | -21.1% | -50.4% | -16.4% | -4.7% | +58.4% | +155.9% | -10.8% | +65.3% |
Free cash flow at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Nordson's free cash flow?
- Nordson (NDSN) reported free cash flow of $170.49M in Q1 2026.
- How has Nordson's free cash flow changed year-over-year?
- Nordson's free cash flow increased by 65.3% year-over-year, from $103.13M to $170.49M.
- What is the long-term trend for Nordson's free cash flow?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Nordson's free cash flow has grown at a 6.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $507.62M to $661.12M.
- What does free cash flow mean?
- The cash remaining after a company pays for its operating expenses and capital investments.