Plug Power (XSWX:PLUG) Free Cash Flow: CHF-534.5 Mil (TTM As of Mar. 2026)

Author: Vera Yuan Vera Yuan
Vera Yuan
Vera Yuan
Director of Data and Quant Analytics at GuruFocus
Focused on building reliable datasets, financial models, and research tools for value-minded investors. Committed to turning complex data into practical guidance for value-investing and long-term wealth.
Reviewed by: Charlie Tian Charlie Tian
Charlie Tian
Charlie Tian
Founder & CEO of GuruFocus
Dr. Charlie Tian is the founder and CEO of GuruFocus.com, a leading global investment research platform established in 2004. With a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Tian transitioned from science to finance, applying a data-driven, disciplined approach to value investing.

XSWX:PLUG Plug Power Inc XSWX:PLUG
46 GF Score
Price CHF1.65
GF Value CHF1.22
! 6 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is Plug Power Free Cash Flow?

Plug Power XSWX:PLUG +0.81% 46 Free Cash Flow is CHF-534.5 Mil as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus rates XSWX:PLUG with a GF Score™ of 46/100 and a GF Value™ of CHF1.22. The stock has 6 warning signs investors should review.

Plug Power's total free cash flow for the months ended in Mar. 2026 was CHF-124.5 Mil. Its total free cash flow for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 was CHF-534.5 Mil.

Plug Power's Free Cash Flow per Share for the months ended in Mar. 2026 was CHF-0.09. Its free cash flow per share for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 was CHF-0.43.

During the past 3 years, the average Free Cash Flow per Share Growth Rate was 36.30% per year. During the past 5 years, the average Free Cash Flow per Share Growth Rate was -3.60% per year. During the past 10 years, the average Free Cash Flow per Share Growth Rate was -17.80% per year. Please click Growth Rate Calculation Example (GuruFocus) to see how GuruFocus calculates Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT)'s revenue growth rate. You can apply the same method to get the Free Cash Flow Growth Rate using Free Cash Flow per Share data.

During the past 13 years, Plug Power's highest 3-Year average Free Cash Flow per Share Growth Rate was 52.80% per year. The lowest was -98.30% per year. And the median was 11.60% per year.


Plug Power  (XSWX:PLUG) Free Cash Flow Explanation

Free Cash Flow is very close to Warren Buffett's definition of Owner's Earnings, except that in Warren Buffett's Owner's Earnings, the spending for Property, Plant, and Equipment is only for maintenance (replacement), while in the Free Cash Flow calculation, the cost of new Property, Plant, and Equipment due to business expansion is also deducted. There, Free Cash Flow is more conservative than Owner's Earnings.

In Don Yacktman's calculation of forward rate of return, he uses Free Cash Flow for the calculation. Yacktman explained the forward rate of return concept in detail in his interview with GuruFocus. Yacktman defines forward rate of return as the normalized free cash flow yield plus real growth plus inflation.

This is what Yacktman said in his March 2012 interview - when the S&P 500 was at 1400:

If the business is stable, this calculation is fairly straightforward. For instance, on the S&P 500 we would normalize earnings. We would then calculate what percentage of those earnings are not reinvested in the underlying businesses and are therefore free. Historically, for the S&P 500, this has been just under 50% of earnings. Currently, we expect the S&P to earn about 70 on a normalized basis, a number which is far below reported earnings due to our adjusting for record high profit margins. $70 X ½ / 1400 gives you a normalized free cash flow yield of approximately 2.5%.

The historical real growth rate of the S&P 500 (companies) is about 1.5%. Assuming an inflation rate of 2.5%, the forward rate of return on an investment in the S&P 500 is about 6.5% today (2.5% free cash flow yield plus 1.5% real growth plus 2.5% inflation).

For the growth part of the Forward Rate of Return calculation, GuruFocus uses the 5-year average growth rate of EBITDA per share as the growth rate, and the growth rate is always capped at 20%. For the Free Cash Flow we use per share data averaged over five years. The reason we use five years is because research shows that five years is the length of the typical business cycle.

Therefore, as of Mar26, Plug Power's Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % is

Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) % (Mar26)=Normalized Free Cash Flow/Price+5-Year EBITDA Growth Rate
=0/1.74+0
=0.00 %

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.


Be Aware

Free Cash Flow within a report period can be affected by management's decisions of capital spending. Therefore, it is important to look at long term when it comes to Free Cash Flow.


Plug Power Free Cash Flow Related Terms


Plug Power Free Cash Flow Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for Plug Power's Free Cash Flow can be seen below:

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

Plug Power Free Cash Flow Chart

Plug Power Annual Data
Trend Dec16 Dec17 Dec18 Dec19 Dec20 Dec21 Dec22 Dec23 Dec24 Dec25
Free Cash Flow
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -507.88 -1,204.09 -1,558.97 -947.67 -527.13

Plug Power Quarterly Data
Jun21 Sep21 Dec21 Mar22 Jun22 Sep22 Dec22 Mar23 Jun23 Sep23 Dec23 Mar24 Jun24 Sep24 Dec24 Mar25 Jun25 Sep25 Dec25 Mar26
Free Cash Flow Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -133.98 -188.85 -95.46 -125.68 -124.52
XSWX:PLUG
46GF Score
Plug Power Inc XSWX:PLUG
Free Cash Flow is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

Plug Power Free Cash Flow Calculation

Free Cash Flow is considered one of the most important parameters to measure a company's earnings power by value investors because it is not subject to estimates of Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (DDA). However, when we look at the Free Cash Flow, we should look from a long term perspective, because any year's Free Cash Flow can be drastically affected by the spending on Property, Plant, & Equipment (PPE) of the business in that year. Over the long term, Free Cash Flow should give pretty good picture on the real earnings power of the company.

Plug Power's Free Cash Flow for the fiscal year that ended in Dec. 2025 is calculated as

Free Cash Flow (A: Dec. 2025 )=Cash Flow from Operations+Capital Expenditure
=-427.007+-100.123
=-527.1

Plug Power's Free Cash Flow for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 is calculated as

Free Cash Flow (Q: Mar. 2026 )=Cash Flow from Operations+Capital Expenditure
=-118.127+-6.388
=-124.5

Free Cash Flow for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 adds up the quarterly data reported by the company within the most recent 12 months, which was CHF-534.5 Mil.

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Free Cash Flow →
What does a Free Cash Flow of CHF-534.5 Mil mean?
Plug Power (XSWX:PLUG) has a Free Cash Flow of CHF-534.5 Mil as of Mar. 2026. Free cash flow represents the total amount of cash a company has on hand following operating and capital expenditures. View historial data for Plug Power and its competitors.
Is Plug Power's Free Cash Flow too high?
Plug Power's current Free Cash Flow is CHF-534.5 Mil. Overall, Plug Power has a GF Score™ of 46/100, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Plug Power's Free Cash Flow compare to HAYW and ATKR?
Plug Power's Free Cash Flow of CHF-534.5 Mil can be compared against companies in the Industrial Products industry. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Free Cash Flow for an Industrial Products company?
A good Free Cash Flow depends on the Industrial Products industry context. However, Free Cash Flow should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Free Cash Flow mean?
A high Free Cash Flow can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Free cash flow represents the total amount of cash a company has on hand following operating and capital expenditures. View historial data for Plug Power and its competitors. Plug Power's current Free Cash Flow is CHF-534.5 Mil. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Plug Power stock overvalued right now?
Plug Power (XSWX:PLUG) has a current Free Cash Flow of CHF-534.5 Mil. The stock's GF Value™ is CHF1.22, compared to a current price of CHF1.65 — trading 35.1% above its estimated fair value. The current Free Cash Flow is CHF-534.5 Mil. Plug Power's overall GF Score™ is 46/100 with 6 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Free Cash Flow calculated?
Free Cash Flow is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Plug Power (XSWX:PLUG), the current Free Cash Flow is CHF-534.5 Mil as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Plug Power (XSWX:PLUG) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Plug Power stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of CHF1.65 is trading 35.1% above its estimated GF Value™ of CHF1.22.

Key valuation signals for XSWX:PLUG:

  • Free Cash Flow: CHF-534.5 Mil
  • GF Value™: CHF1.22 vs. price of CHF1.65 (35.1% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 46/100 with 6 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the XSWX:PLUG stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Plug Power Business Description

Address 125 Vista Boulevard, Slingerlands, NY, USA, 12159
Plug Power Inc is building an end-to-end green hydrogen ecosystem, from production, storage, and delivery to energy generation. The company plans to build and operate green hydrogen highways across North America and Europe. Plug will deliver its green hydrogen solutions directly to its customers and through joint venture partners into multiple end markets, including material handling, e-mobility, power generation, and industrial applications.
46GF Score

Get the complete analysis for XSWX:PLUG

Free Cash Flow is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

CHF1.65
Price
CHF1.22
GF Value