Free cash flow
Xylem Free cash flow decreased by 96.1% to $18.00M in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 147.4%, from -$38.00M to $18.00M. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Free cash flow shows an upward trend with a 28.9% 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 | $191.00M | $65.00M | $139.00M | -$130.00M | $67.00M | $149.00M | $302.00M | -$68.00M | -$26.00M | $299.00M | $361.00M | $15.00M | $215.00M | $237.00M | $475.00M | -$38.00M | $207.00M | $281.00M | $460.00M | $18.00M |
| QoQ Change | — | -66.0% | +113.8% | -193.5% | +151.5% | +122.4% | +102.7% | -122.5% | +61.8% | >999% | +20.7% | -95.8% | >999% | +10.2% | +100.4% | -108.0% | +644.7% | +35.7% | +63.7% | -96.1% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | -64.9% | +129.2% | +117.3% | +47.7% | -138.8% | +100.7% | +19.5% | +122.1% | +926.9% | -20.7% | +31.6% | -353.3% | -3.7% | +18.6% | -3.2% | +147.4% |
Free cash flow at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Xylem's free cash flow?
- Xylem (XYL) reported free cash flow of $18.00M in Q1 2026.
- How has Xylem's free cash flow changed year-over-year?
- Xylem's free cash flow increased by 147.4% year-over-year, from -$38.00M to $18.00M.
- What is the long-term trend for Xylem's free cash flow?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Xylem's free cash flow has grown at a 28.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $330.00M to $910.00M.
- What does free cash flow mean?
- The cash remaining after a company pays for its operating expenses and capital investments.