Free cash flow
Illumina Free cash flow decreased by 5.6% to $251.00M in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 20.7%, from $208.00M to $251.00M. Over 2 years (FY 2023 to FY 2025), Free cash flow shows an upward trend with a 81.4% 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 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '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 | $209.00M | $212.00M | $111.00M | $54.00M | $59.00M | -$42.00M | $58.00M | $94.00M | $173.00M | $41.00M | $49.00M | $284.00M | $335.00M | $208.00M | $204.00M | $253.00M | $266.00M | $251.00M |
| QoQ Change | — | +1.4% | -47.6% | -51.4% | +9.3% | -171.2% | +238.1% | +62.1% | +84.0% | -76.3% | +19.5% | +479.6% | +18.0% | -37.9% | -1.9% | +24.0% | +5.1% | -5.6% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | -74.2% | -72.2% | -137.8% | +7.4% | — | +193.2% | +197.6% | -15.5% | +202.1% | +93.6% | +407.3% | +316.3% | -10.9% | -20.6% | +20.7% |
Free cash flow at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Illumina's free cash flow?
- Illumina (ILMN) reported free cash flow of $251.00M in Q1 2026.
- How has Illumina's free cash flow changed year-over-year?
- Illumina's free cash flow increased by 20.7% year-over-year, from $208.00M to $251.00M.
- What is the long-term trend for Illumina's free cash flow?
- Over 2 years (2023 to 2025), Illumina's free cash flow has grown at a 81.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $283.00M to $931.00M.
- What does free cash flow mean?
- The cash remaining after a company pays for its operating expenses and capital investments.