A Cash flow statement shows inflow and outflow of cash and cash equivalents from various activities of a company during a particular period.
The net cash flow at the end of the year tells us about the movement of cash on the balance sheet.
The net cash flow at the end of the year tells us about the movement of cash on the balance sheet.
Why is cash flow important? โคต๏ธ
Companies maintain books of accounts as per accrual principle, that means we book revenue or expense as and when it is incurred.
Companies maintain books of accounts as per accrual principle, that means we book revenue or expense as and when it is incurred.
Let's say we make sales of 10,000 so we will record it as when sale is completed and prepare P&L accordingly, here it doesn't matter whether cash is received or not.
Cash flow helps us in knowing whether that 10,000 has been received in cash or not.
Cash flow helps us in knowing whether that 10,000 has been received in cash or not.
For Example:- There are 2 companies selling T-shirts and doing the following transactions:
1โฃ Company A did Sales of 100 units of a product at Rs. 50 per unit. All sales are in cash so they recorded the sales of Rs. 5000 and cash received is Rs. 5000.
Assuming the expenses are of Rs. 20 per unit so Company A recorded the profit of 3000 and A has this 3000 in cash.
Assuming the expenses are of Rs. 20 per unit so Company A recorded the profit of 3000 and A has this 3000 in cash.
2โฃCompany B did Sales of 100 units of the same product at Rs. 50 per unit but out of this 100 only 40 units are sold in cash and other 60 units are sold on credit (you can give me money later).
So they recorded the sales of Rs. 5,000 here.
So they recorded the sales of Rs. 5,000 here.
The cost is 20 per unit so the total cost is 2,000. Now in P&L company has done the profit of 3,000 but when we look at its cash flow they have 0 cash profits when compared to Company A.
A cash flow statement can be broken down into three types:-
1โฃCash Flow from Operating Activities
2โฃCash Flow from Investing Activities
3โฃCash Flow from Financing Activities
1โฃCash Flow from Operating Activities
2โฃCash Flow from Investing Activities
3โฃCash Flow from Financing Activities
Cash Flow from operating activities: As the name suggests CFO gives us the details about cash generated by the company from its core business activities.
A simple way to remember this is, that whatever is to do with operations of the business is included in CFO.
A simple way to remember this is, that whatever is to do with operations of the business is included in CFO.
Whatever cash that isnโt earned from the operational activities is excluded or subtracted out.
So as we can see it starts with profit before tax and after that we have to do some adjustments in that, letโs find the reasons for such adjustments:
1โฃFinance cost: Finance cost means interest paid on borrowings during the year. You will think why is it added back?
1โฃFinance cost: Finance cost means interest paid on borrowings during the year. You will think why is it added back?
Since this is not part of the day-to-day business activities, so it will be added back and will be covered in cash flow from financing activity.
2โฃDepreciation and Amortisation cost:
Depreciation means cost of Physical assets divided in years when assets will be used.
2โฃDepreciation and Amortisation cost:
Depreciation means cost of Physical assets divided in years when assets will be used.
For example, you bought an asset of Rs. 1 lakh which you will use for next 5 years so here depreciation amount will be Rs. 20,000 (Rs. 1,00,000 / 5 yrs). Now you will charge this 20k per year in P&L as Depreciation.
(Assuming Salvage value is 0)
Why is this added back?
(Assuming Salvage value is 0)
Why is this added back?
As my cash outflow is -100,000 in Year 1 to purchase the asset, so the 20,000 per year is non cash expense so it will be added back.
This is why Depreciation is known as a Non cash expense and is added back to PBT while calculating Cash flow from operations.
This is why Depreciation is known as a Non cash expense and is added back to PBT while calculating Cash flow from operations.
3โฃProfit/ loss on sale of Assets or Investment:
Since these are not part of my core business activities it will be adjusted here, if sold at a gain then we will reduce it from PBT or if at a loss then we will add it back.
Eg:- Selling Excess Land the business has at a gain.
Since these are not part of my core business activities it will be adjusted here, if sold at a gain then we will reduce it from PBT or if at a loss then we will add it back.
Eg:- Selling Excess Land the business has at a gain.
4โฃDividend Income: Dividend income is also not part of business activities so it will be subtracted while calculating Cash from operations. This is included under Cash Flow from Investing activities.
(More on that later)
(More on that later)
After these adjustments we reach to Operating profit before working capital changes.
Now we will be required to adjust working capital changes, but before going to that lets understand the meaning of working capital.
Now we will be required to adjust working capital changes, but before going to that lets understand the meaning of working capital.
Working capital means the capital of a business which is used in its day-to-day trading operations.
Working capital adjustments:
When assets increase we deduct it from operating profit and when assets decrease we add it into operating profit.
Working capital adjustments:
When assets increase we deduct it from operating profit and when assets decrease we add it into operating profit.
So there is an inverse relationship in working capital changes.
When liabilities increase we add it in operating profit before working capital changes because it is fund inflow whereas if liabilities decreases we deduct it from operating profits because it is fund outflow.
When liabilities increase we add it in operating profit before working capital changes because it is fund inflow whereas if liabilities decreases we deduct it from operating profits because it is fund outflow.
For Example:- when a company buys more inventory, current assets increase. This positive change in inventory is subtracted because it is seen as a cash outflow.
Itโs the same case for accounts receivable. When it increases, it means the company sold their goods on credit.
Itโs the same case for accounts receivable. When it increases, it means the company sold their goods on credit.
On the other hand, if a current liability item such as accounts payable increases, this is considered a cash inflow because the company has more cash to keep in its business, so this is then added back.
Thus, Always remember these 4 things when it comes to working capital movement:-
1. When current assets increase๐ผ, your cash flow decreases๐ฝ.
2. When Current assets Decrease๐ฝ, your cash flow increases๐ผ.
3. When current Liabilities increase๐ผ, your cash flow Increases๐ผ.
1. When current assets increase๐ผ, your cash flow decreases๐ฝ.
2. When Current assets Decrease๐ฝ, your cash flow increases๐ผ.
3. When current Liabilities increase๐ผ, your cash flow Increases๐ผ.
Income Tax paid: In the last adjustment of CFO we deduct the income tax paid.
Here income tax will be deducted which is actually paid during the year. These are also known as cash taxes paid.
Here income tax will be deducted which is actually paid during the year. These are also known as cash taxes paid.
Now we look into the key ratio which needs to be tracked with respect to CFO:
CFO to EBITDA: CFO to EBITDA (Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization) will reflect whether operating profit is converting into cash or not.
CFO to EBITDA: CFO to EBITDA (Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization) will reflect whether operating profit is converting into cash or not.
Thus,
1โฃ Whenever a business purchases a Fixed asset. It is shown as a cash outflow under CFI. Shown as negative.
2โฃ Whenever a business sells assets, it is shown as positive cash inflow. Thus, cash flowing in under CFI.
1โฃ Whenever a business purchases a Fixed asset. It is shown as a cash outflow under CFI. Shown as negative.
2โฃ Whenever a business sells assets, it is shown as positive cash inflow. Thus, cash flowing in under CFI.
How all the three interact?
Coming to the important concept of Net cash flow.
If you add Cash flow from operations+Cash flow from Investing activities+Net cash flow from Financing activities.
You get to the net cash generated by the the business in a given period :)
Coming to the important concept of Net cash flow.
If you add Cash flow from operations+Cash flow from Investing activities+Net cash flow from Financing activities.
You get to the net cash generated by the the business in a given period :)
Everything about Free Cash Flow:-
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