Free cash flow
RBC Bearings Free cash flow decreased by 31.9% to $67.50M in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 22.7%, from $55.00M to $67.50M. Over 4 years (FY 2022 to FY 2026), Free cash flow shows an upward trend with a 22.8% 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
| 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 | Q3 '26 | Q4 '26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $49.93M | $36.67M | $25.07M | $38.84M | $51.14M | $14.16M | $54.40M | $58.90M | $55.00M | $45.60M | $70.90M | $70.00M | $88.40M | $26.80M | $73.60M | $55.00M | $104.30M | $71.70M | $99.10M | $67.50M |
| QoQ Change | — | -26.6% | -31.6% | +54.9% | +31.7% | -72.3% | +284.3% | +8.3% | -6.6% | -17.1% | +55.5% | -1.3% | +26.3% | -69.7% | +174.6% | -25.3% | +89.6% | -31.3% | +38.2% | -31.9% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | +2.4% | -61.4% | +117.0% | +51.7% | +7.5% | +222.1% | +30.3% | +18.8% | +60.7% | -41.2% | +3.8% | -21.4% | +18.0% | +167.5% | +34.6% | +22.7% |
Free cash flow at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is RBC Bearings's free cash flow?
- RBC Bearings (RBC) reported free cash flow of $67.50M in Q1 2026.
- How has RBC Bearings's free cash flow changed year-over-year?
- RBC Bearings's free cash flow increased by 22.7% year-over-year, from $55.00M to $67.50M.
- What is the long-term trend for RBC Bearings's free cash flow?
- Over 4 years (2022 to 2026), RBC Bearings's free cash flow has grown at a 22.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $150.50M to $342.60M.
- What does free cash flow mean?
- The cash remaining after a company pays for its operating expenses and capital investments.