Free cash flow
Southwest Airlines Free cash flow increased by 239.7% to $788.00M in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 136.6%, from $333.00M to $788.00M. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Free cash flow shows a downward trend with a -17.2% 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $1.91B | -$710.00M | $67.00M | $561.00M | $919.00M | -$838.00M | -$777.00M | -$340.00M | $491.00M | -$226.00M | -$283.00M | -$687.00M | -$517.00M | -$404.00M | $0.00 | $333.00M | -$234.00M | -$391.00M | -$564.00M | $788.00M |
| QoQ Change | — | -137.2% | +109.4% | +737.3% | +63.8% | -191.2% | +7.3% | +56.2% | +244.4% | -146.0% | -25.2% | -142.8% | +24.7% | +21.9% | +100.0% | — | -170.3% | -67.1% | -44.2% | +239.7% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | -51.9% | -18.0% | <-999% | -160.6% | -46.6% | +73.0% | +63.6% | -102.1% | -205.3% | -78.8% | +100.0% | +148.5% | +54.7% | +3.2% | — | +136.6% |
Free cash flow at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Southwest Airlines's free cash flow?
- Southwest Airlines (LUV) reported free cash flow of $788.00M in Q1 2026.
- How has Southwest Airlines's free cash flow changed year-over-year?
- Southwest Airlines's free cash flow increased by 136.6% year-over-year, from $333.00M to $788.00M.
- What is the long-term trend for Southwest Airlines's free cash flow?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Southwest Airlines's free cash flow has grown at a -17.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $1.82B to -$856.00M.
- What does free cash flow mean?
- The cash remaining after a company pays for its operating expenses and capital investments.