Free cash flow: The ultimate measure of financial health

Free cash flow stands as the most reliable indicator of a company's true financial strength. It reveals what accounting profits often obscure—the actual cash a business generates after funding operations and investments. While net income can be manipulated through accounting choices, cash either exists or it doesn't. This makes FCF the metric that professional investors prioritise when valuing businesses.
In 2024, the Magnificent 7 tech giants generated approximately $413 billion in combined FCF. This amount nearly equals what the remaining 493 S&P 500 companies produced together. Understanding this metric is essential for modern investors who want to separate genuine wealth creators from accounting illusions.
The FCF formula reveals what accounting hides.
At its core, free cash flow measures the cash remaining after a company funds its operations and maintains or expands its asset base. The primary free cash flow calculation is elegantly simple:
Free Cash Flow = Operating Cash Flow − Capital Expenditures
Both components appear directly on the Statement of Cash Flows. Operating Cash Flow sits at the bottom of "Cash Flows from Operating Activities." Capital expenditures appear under "Cash Flows from Investing Activities" as "Purchases of property, plant, and equipment."
The alternative FCF formula starting from net income reveals the underlying mechanics:
FCF = Net Income + Depreciation/Amortisation − Changes in Working Capital − Capital Expenditures
This version illustrates how non-cash expenses, such as depreciation, are added back to net income. No cash left the building when accountants recorded depreciation. Meanwhile, actual money spent on equipment is subtracted regardless of how accountants spread the cost over time.
Consider Apple's fiscal year 2024 as a real-world example. Apple reported Operating Cash Flow of $118.3 billion and Capital Expenditures of $9.4 billion. This yields Free Cash Flow of $108.8 billion—notably exceeding its net income of $93.7 billion. This pattern characterises high-quality businesses with significant depreciation charges and efficient working capital management.
Two important variations serve different analytical purposes. Free Cash Flow to Firm (FCFF), also called unlevered FCF, represents cash available to all capital providers before interest payments. Analysts use this when comparing companies with different capital structures or performing DCF valuations. Free Cash Flow to Equity (FCFE) shows cash available specifically to shareholders after debt obligations. This metric reveals dividend-paying capacity and guides equity valuations.
Why professional investors trust cash over earnings
The financial world operates on a fundamental truth: "Earnings are an opinion; cash flow is a fact." Net income emerges from accrual accounting, where management exercises considerable discretion. They choose depreciation methods, recognise revenue timing, adjust inventory valuations, and take restructuring charges. Free cash flow, by contrast, tracks actual cash movements that bank statements verify.
Warren Buffett articulated this distinction through his concept of "owner earnings" in Berkshire Hathaway's 1986 letter. He described it as reported earnings plus depreciation and amortisation, minus capital expenditures necessary to maintain a competitive position. He later emphasised that common yardsticks such as dividend yields, price-to-earnings ratios, and growth rates have nothing to do with valuation. They only provide clues to the amount and timing of cash flows.
His famous dismissal of EBITDA asked whether management thinks the tooth fairy pays for capital expenditures. This underscores his cash-focused philosophy.
History validates this scepticism toward accounting earnings. WorldCom's 2002 fraud capitalised $11 billion in operating expenses as capital expenditures. This transformed losses into reported profits—a scheme that a free cash flow analysis would have detected since cash wasn't matching earnings. Enron's mark-to-market accounting recognised future estimated revenue immediately. They recorded income from projects that might never have received the money.
The manipulation opportunity creates systematic differences between business types. Capital-intensive companies like airlines convert roughly 50% of net income into FCF. Depreciation spreads equipment costs over time while actual purchases drain cash upfront. Asset-light software companies often convert 100% or more of earnings into FCF. R&D expenses reduce accounting profits immediately, even though development created future value. These structural differences make cross-industry P/E comparisons misleading while FCF-based metrics enable apples-to-apples assessment.
The Magnificent 7 dominate cash generation ability
The concentration of cash flow generation among technology giants has reached unprecedented levels. Based on 2024 fiscal year data, these companies demonstrate extraordinary cash generation ability:
| Company | FCF | FCF Yield | FCF Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | $108.8B | 2.44% | 25-28% |
| Microsoft | $74.1B | ~2.5% | ~37% |
| Alphabet | $72.8B | 1.88% | ~22% |
| Nvidia | $60.9B | 1.66% | 28-45% |
| Meta | $54.1B | ~3.2% | ~35% |
| Amazon | $38.2B | ~1.5% | ~4-6% |
| Tesla | $3.6B | ~0.5% | 2-3% |
NVIDIA's trajectory exemplifies explosive FCF growth. It surged from $3.8 billion in fiscal 2023 to $27 billion in fiscal 2024 to $60.9 billion in fiscal 2025. This represents a staggering 1,500% increase over two years as AI chip demand exploded.
Amazon's turnaround story proved equally dramatic.
The company went from a negative FCF of $14.6 billion in 2021 to a positive FCF of $38.2 billion in 2024. This $53 billion swing demonstrates how massive infrastructure investments eventually generate returns.
Berkshire Hathaway achieved record operating earnings of $47.4 billion in 2024. The company maintained a record $334 billion cash position, representing Warren Buffett's patience waiting for attractive deployment opportunities.
Free cash flow yield reveals value that the P/E ratio misses
Free cash flow yield—calculated as Free Cash Flow divided by Market Capitalisation—represents the theoretical cash return an investor would receive if a company distributed all excess cash. A 5% FCF yield means the company generates 5 cents of free cash for every dollar of market value annually.
General benchmarks guide interpretation. Yields between 4-7% indicate healthy valuations for most industries. Yields of 7-10% appear attractive for quality companies. Yields above 9-10% suggest potential undervaluation. However, yields exceeding 15% often signal value traps where the market expects cash flows to collapse.
The S&P 500 has historically averaged approximately 5-6% FCF yield. This compressed to around 3.3% by early 2024 as valuations rose.
The Magnificent 7's low FCF yields—ranging from 0.5% for Tesla to 3.2% for Meta—reflect premium valuations rather than poor cash generation. These companies trade well below their five-year average yields. Apple's current 2.44% yield compares to its 3.40% historical average. This indicates investors pay more per dollar of cash flow for expected growth.
Comparing FCF yield to earnings yield reveals quality differences that accounting can obscure. Two companies with identical 5% earnings yields might show dramatically different FCF yields. One might be at 5% with genuine cash generation. Another might be at 2% because capital intensity absorbs accounting profits. The FCF-based metric captures the economic reality that P/E misses.
Understanding P/E ratio valuation methods alongside FCF yield gives investors multiple lenses to assess whether stocks are reasonably priced.
Discounted Cash Flow analysis puts FCF at the centre of valuationplaces.
DCF modelling—the gold standard for intrinsic value calculation—rests entirely on FCF projections. Warren Buffett summarised the approach: "Intrinsic value can be defined simply: It is the discounted value of the cash that can be taken out of a business during its remaining life."
The DCF formula captures this principle. It calculates the present value of projected free cash flows over an explicit forecast period of 5-10 years. Then it adds the present value of the terminal value representing all subsequent cash flows. Terminal value typically accounts for 60-80% of total DCF value, making its calculation critical.
Two terminal value methods predominate. The Gordon Growth Model calculates Terminal Value as Final Year FCF multiplied by (1 + growth rate) divided by (WACC minus growth rate). The perpetual growth rate typically runs 2-3% and never exceeds long-term GDP growth. The Exit Multiple Method applies an EV/EBITDA multiple to the final-year EBITDA based on comparable-company transactions.
The discount rate—usually Weighted Average Cost of Capital—reflects required returns. Typical WACC ranges from 8-10% for stable companies, 10-12% for average companies, and 12-15% or higher for riskier enterprises. Small changes in the discount rate can dramatically affect valuations.
Research validates FCF's predictive power. Academic studies find that high FCF yield portfolios substantially increase returns. One study showed returns of 248.7% to 755% relative to the broader market over equivalent periods. A trading strategy based on FCF generates monthly risk-adjusted returns of approximately 0.62%. Researchers concluded that investors fixate on earnings, thereby underpricing cash flows.
Sector characteristics determine FCF potential.
Structural differences in business models create vast FCF margin disparities across industries. Software companies achieve 20-35% FCF margins due to near-zero marginal costs and minimal inventory. Microsoft maintains a remarkable 37% FCF margin, ranking better than 92% of software companies. NVIDIA reached 48.5% FCF margin at its peak as AI demand concentrated pricing power.
Healthcare varies dramatically by subsector. Big pharma achieves FCF margins of 15%+ through patent protection and high gross margins. Hospitals struggle with a 5-7% given capital intensity. Consumer staples generate stable 10-15% FCF margins—predictable but unspectacular. Retail remains challenging with single-digit margins. However, leaders like Walmart and Home Depot reach 11-13% through scale advantages.
Financial sector companies don't fit traditional FCF frameworks because they lack conventional revenue. Analysts evaluate banks using ROE, book value, and net interest margin instead. Energy companies exhibit high FCF variability, which is directly tied to commodity prices. Improved capital discipline has transformed the sector from FCF destroyer to FCF generator.
When negative FCF signals opportunity versus danger
Negative FCF doesn't automatically indicate problems—context determines interpretation. Michael Mauboussin noted: "Negative free cash flow is not only fine but desirable when the return on invested capital is attractive."
Growth-phase companies legitimately burn cash building competitive advantages. Amazon maintained negative FCF throughout 2011-2014, averaging negative $3.1 billion annually. During this time, they built the fulfilment and cloud infrastructure that enables today's cash generation. Tesla burned cash through 2018—at one point $7,430 per minute—before production scale delivered positive FCF starting in 2019.
Netflix sustained eight consecutive years of increasing cash burn. It reached negative $3.5 billion in 2019, before password-sharing crackdowns and advertising tiers drove FCF to positive $6.9 billion by 2023.
Home Depot provides perhaps the most striking example. The company had negative FCF in 15 of 16 years from 198 to -2000 while generating returns of 20x the market. This occurred because ROIC never fell below 10% and gross investment grew 20%+ annually. Notably, FCF turning positive in 2001 coincided with growth slowing.
Red flags emerge when mature companies exhibit declining FCF without a corresponding investment rationale. Warning signs include negative FCF accompanying falling revenue or market share. Rising debt that finances cash burn without growth returns raises concerns—management's lack of transparency about cash usage warrants investigation.
Practical FCF vs net income analysis separates quality from accounting fiction.
Practical free cash flow analysis requires distinguishing maintenance CapEx from growth CapEx. Maintenance CapEx sustains current operations while growth CapEx expands capacity. The Bruce Greenwald method calculates the historical PP&E/Sales ratio, multiplies it by the current sales growth, and subtracts the result from total CapEx to isolate maintenance spending. This reveals whether management is deferring necessary investment to inflate near-term FCF.
Working capital movements deserve scrutiny. Amazon's negative cash conversion cycle—collecting from customers before paying suppliers—generates cash during growth. Operations essentially finance expansion interest-free. But this benefit disappears if growth stops. Sudden improvements in Days Payable Outstanding or Days Sales Outstanding can artificially inflate FCF temporarily.
FCF quality indicators include consistency across multiple years rather than one-time spikes. The conversion ratio of FCF to net income should approach or exceed 1.0. Alignment between FCF and revenue growth trends matters. Sustainability should not depend on asset sales or unusual working capital releases.
The S&P 500 Quality FCF Aristocrats Index requires 10+ consecutive years of positive FCF with high FCF margins and high FCF ROIC. This provides a rigorous quality screen.
For a comprehensive overview of fundamental analysis tools for evaluating stocks, explore additional metrics that complement FCF analysis in your investment research.
Red flags warrant investigation. These include declining FCF while earnings rise, FCF conversion below 50% for non-capital-intensive businesses, and CapEx/Sales ratio dropping below historical averages. Significant gaps between GAAP and non-GAAP FCF presentations may indicate management is excluding real costs.
Free cash flow earned its status as the ultimate financial health measure because it answers the question accounting profits cannot: how much actual cash did this business generate that owners could withdraw without impairing future operations? Professional investors anchor valuations to FCF because cash flows resist the manipulation that afflicts earnings metrics.
DCF analysis—discounting projected FCF at appropriate rates—remains the gold standard for intrinsic value despite sensitivity to assumptions. FCF yield enables cross-company comparison that P/E ratios distort. Understanding sector norms provides essential context. Expect 20-35% FCF margins from SofRecognisepanies. Accept 5-10% from retailers and industrials. Recognise that negative FCF signals an opportunity for growth companies maintaining high ROIC, while indicating danger for mature businesses without an investment rationale.
Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or brokerage companies, and not of Winvesta. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Ready to earn on every trade?
Invest in 11,000+ US stocks & ETFs

Table of Contents

Free cash flow stands as the most reliable indicator of a company's true financial strength. It reveals what accounting profits often obscure—the actual cash a business generates after funding operations and investments. While net income can be manipulated through accounting choices, cash either exists or it doesn't. This makes FCF the metric that professional investors prioritise when valuing businesses.
In 2024, the Magnificent 7 tech giants generated approximately $413 billion in combined FCF. This amount nearly equals what the remaining 493 S&P 500 companies produced together. Understanding this metric is essential for modern investors who want to separate genuine wealth creators from accounting illusions.
The FCF formula reveals what accounting hides.
At its core, free cash flow measures the cash remaining after a company funds its operations and maintains or expands its asset base. The primary free cash flow calculation is elegantly simple:
Free Cash Flow = Operating Cash Flow − Capital Expenditures
Both components appear directly on the Statement of Cash Flows. Operating Cash Flow sits at the bottom of "Cash Flows from Operating Activities." Capital expenditures appear under "Cash Flows from Investing Activities" as "Purchases of property, plant, and equipment."
The alternative FCF formula starting from net income reveals the underlying mechanics:
FCF = Net Income + Depreciation/Amortisation − Changes in Working Capital − Capital Expenditures
This version illustrates how non-cash expenses, such as depreciation, are added back to net income. No cash left the building when accountants recorded depreciation. Meanwhile, actual money spent on equipment is subtracted regardless of how accountants spread the cost over time.
Consider Apple's fiscal year 2024 as a real-world example. Apple reported Operating Cash Flow of $118.3 billion and Capital Expenditures of $9.4 billion. This yields Free Cash Flow of $108.8 billion—notably exceeding its net income of $93.7 billion. This pattern characterises high-quality businesses with significant depreciation charges and efficient working capital management.
Two important variations serve different analytical purposes. Free Cash Flow to Firm (FCFF), also called unlevered FCF, represents cash available to all capital providers before interest payments. Analysts use this when comparing companies with different capital structures or performing DCF valuations. Free Cash Flow to Equity (FCFE) shows cash available specifically to shareholders after debt obligations. This metric reveals dividend-paying capacity and guides equity valuations.
Why professional investors trust cash over earnings
The financial world operates on a fundamental truth: "Earnings are an opinion; cash flow is a fact." Net income emerges from accrual accounting, where management exercises considerable discretion. They choose depreciation methods, recognise revenue timing, adjust inventory valuations, and take restructuring charges. Free cash flow, by contrast, tracks actual cash movements that bank statements verify.
Warren Buffett articulated this distinction through his concept of "owner earnings" in Berkshire Hathaway's 1986 letter. He described it as reported earnings plus depreciation and amortisation, minus capital expenditures necessary to maintain a competitive position. He later emphasised that common yardsticks such as dividend yields, price-to-earnings ratios, and growth rates have nothing to do with valuation. They only provide clues to the amount and timing of cash flows.
His famous dismissal of EBITDA asked whether management thinks the tooth fairy pays for capital expenditures. This underscores his cash-focused philosophy.
History validates this scepticism toward accounting earnings. WorldCom's 2002 fraud capitalised $11 billion in operating expenses as capital expenditures. This transformed losses into reported profits—a scheme that a free cash flow analysis would have detected since cash wasn't matching earnings. Enron's mark-to-market accounting recognised future estimated revenue immediately. They recorded income from projects that might never have received the money.
The manipulation opportunity creates systematic differences between business types. Capital-intensive companies like airlines convert roughly 50% of net income into FCF. Depreciation spreads equipment costs over time while actual purchases drain cash upfront. Asset-light software companies often convert 100% or more of earnings into FCF. R&D expenses reduce accounting profits immediately, even though development created future value. These structural differences make cross-industry P/E comparisons misleading while FCF-based metrics enable apples-to-apples assessment.
The Magnificent 7 dominate cash generation ability
The concentration of cash flow generation among technology giants has reached unprecedented levels. Based on 2024 fiscal year data, these companies demonstrate extraordinary cash generation ability:
| Company | FCF | FCF Yield | FCF Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | $108.8B | 2.44% | 25-28% |
| Microsoft | $74.1B | ~2.5% | ~37% |
| Alphabet | $72.8B | 1.88% | ~22% |
| Nvidia | $60.9B | 1.66% | 28-45% |
| Meta | $54.1B | ~3.2% | ~35% |
| Amazon | $38.2B | ~1.5% | ~4-6% |
| Tesla | $3.6B | ~0.5% | 2-3% |
NVIDIA's trajectory exemplifies explosive FCF growth. It surged from $3.8 billion in fiscal 2023 to $27 billion in fiscal 2024 to $60.9 billion in fiscal 2025. This represents a staggering 1,500% increase over two years as AI chip demand exploded.
Amazon's turnaround story proved equally dramatic.
The company went from a negative FCF of $14.6 billion in 2021 to a positive FCF of $38.2 billion in 2024. This $53 billion swing demonstrates how massive infrastructure investments eventually generate returns.
Berkshire Hathaway achieved record operating earnings of $47.4 billion in 2024. The company maintained a record $334 billion cash position, representing Warren Buffett's patience waiting for attractive deployment opportunities.
Free cash flow yield reveals value that the P/E ratio misses
Free cash flow yield—calculated as Free Cash Flow divided by Market Capitalisation—represents the theoretical cash return an investor would receive if a company distributed all excess cash. A 5% FCF yield means the company generates 5 cents of free cash for every dollar of market value annually.
General benchmarks guide interpretation. Yields between 4-7% indicate healthy valuations for most industries. Yields of 7-10% appear attractive for quality companies. Yields above 9-10% suggest potential undervaluation. However, yields exceeding 15% often signal value traps where the market expects cash flows to collapse.
The S&P 500 has historically averaged approximately 5-6% FCF yield. This compressed to around 3.3% by early 2024 as valuations rose.
The Magnificent 7's low FCF yields—ranging from 0.5% for Tesla to 3.2% for Meta—reflect premium valuations rather than poor cash generation. These companies trade well below their five-year average yields. Apple's current 2.44% yield compares to its 3.40% historical average. This indicates investors pay more per dollar of cash flow for expected growth.
Comparing FCF yield to earnings yield reveals quality differences that accounting can obscure. Two companies with identical 5% earnings yields might show dramatically different FCF yields. One might be at 5% with genuine cash generation. Another might be at 2% because capital intensity absorbs accounting profits. The FCF-based metric captures the economic reality that P/E misses.
Understanding P/E ratio valuation methods alongside FCF yield gives investors multiple lenses to assess whether stocks are reasonably priced.
Discounted Cash Flow analysis puts FCF at the centre of valuationplaces.
DCF modelling—the gold standard for intrinsic value calculation—rests entirely on FCF projections. Warren Buffett summarised the approach: "Intrinsic value can be defined simply: It is the discounted value of the cash that can be taken out of a business during its remaining life."
The DCF formula captures this principle. It calculates the present value of projected free cash flows over an explicit forecast period of 5-10 years. Then it adds the present value of the terminal value representing all subsequent cash flows. Terminal value typically accounts for 60-80% of total DCF value, making its calculation critical.
Two terminal value methods predominate. The Gordon Growth Model calculates Terminal Value as Final Year FCF multiplied by (1 + growth rate) divided by (WACC minus growth rate). The perpetual growth rate typically runs 2-3% and never exceeds long-term GDP growth. The Exit Multiple Method applies an EV/EBITDA multiple to the final-year EBITDA based on comparable-company transactions.
The discount rate—usually Weighted Average Cost of Capital—reflects required returns. Typical WACC ranges from 8-10% for stable companies, 10-12% for average companies, and 12-15% or higher for riskier enterprises. Small changes in the discount rate can dramatically affect valuations.
Research validates FCF's predictive power. Academic studies find that high FCF yield portfolios substantially increase returns. One study showed returns of 248.7% to 755% relative to the broader market over equivalent periods. A trading strategy based on FCF generates monthly risk-adjusted returns of approximately 0.62%. Researchers concluded that investors fixate on earnings, thereby underpricing cash flows.
Sector characteristics determine FCF potential.
Structural differences in business models create vast FCF margin disparities across industries. Software companies achieve 20-35% FCF margins due to near-zero marginal costs and minimal inventory. Microsoft maintains a remarkable 37% FCF margin, ranking better than 92% of software companies. NVIDIA reached 48.5% FCF margin at its peak as AI demand concentrated pricing power.
Healthcare varies dramatically by subsector. Big pharma achieves FCF margins of 15%+ through patent protection and high gross margins. Hospitals struggle with a 5-7% given capital intensity. Consumer staples generate stable 10-15% FCF margins—predictable but unspectacular. Retail remains challenging with single-digit margins. However, leaders like Walmart and Home Depot reach 11-13% through scale advantages.
Financial sector companies don't fit traditional FCF frameworks because they lack conventional revenue. Analysts evaluate banks using ROE, book value, and net interest margin instead. Energy companies exhibit high FCF variability, which is directly tied to commodity prices. Improved capital discipline has transformed the sector from FCF destroyer to FCF generator.
When negative FCF signals opportunity versus danger
Negative FCF doesn't automatically indicate problems—context determines interpretation. Michael Mauboussin noted: "Negative free cash flow is not only fine but desirable when the return on invested capital is attractive."
Growth-phase companies legitimately burn cash building competitive advantages. Amazon maintained negative FCF throughout 2011-2014, averaging negative $3.1 billion annually. During this time, they built the fulfilment and cloud infrastructure that enables today's cash generation. Tesla burned cash through 2018—at one point $7,430 per minute—before production scale delivered positive FCF starting in 2019.
Netflix sustained eight consecutive years of increasing cash burn. It reached negative $3.5 billion in 2019, before password-sharing crackdowns and advertising tiers drove FCF to positive $6.9 billion by 2023.
Home Depot provides perhaps the most striking example. The company had negative FCF in 15 of 16 years from 198 to -2000 while generating returns of 20x the market. This occurred because ROIC never fell below 10% and gross investment grew 20%+ annually. Notably, FCF turning positive in 2001 coincided with growth slowing.
Red flags emerge when mature companies exhibit declining FCF without a corresponding investment rationale. Warning signs include negative FCF accompanying falling revenue or market share. Rising debt that finances cash burn without growth returns raises concerns—management's lack of transparency about cash usage warrants investigation.
Practical FCF vs net income analysis separates quality from accounting fiction.
Practical free cash flow analysis requires distinguishing maintenance CapEx from growth CapEx. Maintenance CapEx sustains current operations while growth CapEx expands capacity. The Bruce Greenwald method calculates the historical PP&E/Sales ratio, multiplies it by the current sales growth, and subtracts the result from total CapEx to isolate maintenance spending. This reveals whether management is deferring necessary investment to inflate near-term FCF.
Working capital movements deserve scrutiny. Amazon's negative cash conversion cycle—collecting from customers before paying suppliers—generates cash during growth. Operations essentially finance expansion interest-free. But this benefit disappears if growth stops. Sudden improvements in Days Payable Outstanding or Days Sales Outstanding can artificially inflate FCF temporarily.
FCF quality indicators include consistency across multiple years rather than one-time spikes. The conversion ratio of FCF to net income should approach or exceed 1.0. Alignment between FCF and revenue growth trends matters. Sustainability should not depend on asset sales or unusual working capital releases.
The S&P 500 Quality FCF Aristocrats Index requires 10+ consecutive years of positive FCF with high FCF margins and high FCF ROIC. This provides a rigorous quality screen.
For a comprehensive overview of fundamental analysis tools for evaluating stocks, explore additional metrics that complement FCF analysis in your investment research.
Red flags warrant investigation. These include declining FCF while earnings rise, FCF conversion below 50% for non-capital-intensive businesses, and CapEx/Sales ratio dropping below historical averages. Significant gaps between GAAP and non-GAAP FCF presentations may indicate management is excluding real costs.
Free cash flow earned its status as the ultimate financial health measure because it answers the question accounting profits cannot: how much actual cash did this business generate that owners could withdraw without impairing future operations? Professional investors anchor valuations to FCF because cash flows resist the manipulation that afflicts earnings metrics.
DCF analysis—discounting projected FCF at appropriate rates—remains the gold standard for intrinsic value despite sensitivity to assumptions. FCF yield enables cross-company comparison that P/E ratios distort. Understanding sector norms provides essential context. Expect 20-35% FCF margins from SofRecognisepanies. Accept 5-10% from retailers and industrials. Recognise that negative FCF signals an opportunity for growth companies maintaining high ROIC, while indicating danger for mature businesses without an investment rationale.
Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or brokerage companies, and not of Winvesta. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Ready to earn on every trade?
Invest in 11,000+ US stocks & ETFs



