Understand cash generation quality and how management allocates capital.
Free cash flow was $4.54B in the latest quarter (24.9% decrease YoY). FCF margin is 3.6%. Shares outstanding declined by 4.4% year-over-year, indicating buybacks (returning capital to shareholders). Free cash flow is the lifeblood of a business — it funds dividends, buybacks, debt reduction, and reinvestment without relying on external capital.
Free cash flow, earnings quality, and capital allocation