Southwest Airlines Co.LUV
NYSE•Industrials•Airlines
Understand cash generation quality and how management allocates capital.
Free cash flow was $788.00M in the latest quarter (119.5% increase YoY). FCF margin is 2.7%. Shares outstanding declined by 13.9% 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