Free cash flow is one of those metrics that can panic investors fast—especially when it trends down for several years. Using six well-known stocks, we show you how to read a declining free cash flow chart with context: when it’s a temporary byproduct of heavy investment, and when it’s a sign the business model is getting squeezed. Download the Dividend Rock Stars List! You'll Learn Why Free Cash Flow Isn’t a First-Layer Filter Free cash flow (FCF) can be a …
Why Cash Flow from Operations Isn’t My First Screen—and Where It Wins Big
Cash flow is powerful—but as a first screen, it’s too volatile. I start with the Dividend Triangle—multi-year trends in revenue, EPS, and dividends—to find steady compounders across cycles. Then I bring in cash flow to confirm my thesis and verify the safety of the dividend. If you want CFO mechanics and the BCE visuals, see Part 1: Operating Cash Flow vs Free Cash Flow: Follow the Cash (Case Study). The Dividend Triangle Comes First Your first pass should be fast, comparable, …
Continue Reading about Why Cash Flow from Operations Isn’t My First Screen—and Where It Wins Big
Operating Cash Flow vs Free Cash Flow: Follow the Cash (Case Study)
Cash is king—and operating cash flow (OCF or CFO) is the clearest look at how much cash the business actually generates from day-to-day operations. It’s the money that hits the bank after customers pay and the company covers the costs of running the business, before financing and investing decisions. Many investors watch cash flow because it’s harder to “polish” than earnings. When margins are stable, CFO tends to follow revenue trends. That’s why management often talks about revenues and …
Continue Reading about Operating Cash Flow vs Free Cash Flow: Follow the Cash (Case Study)
More about the Importance of Cash from Operations
Continuing last week’s article, learn more about the importance of cash from operations. Here I provide examples of when this metric helps to clarify the real situation and explain how we use it in our stock analysis at DSR. BCE.TO / BCE Below you see the cash from operations, total dividends paid and free cash flow over the past 5 years for BCE (BCE.TO / BCE). As of September 2023, BCE’s dividend payout ratio is at 126.95%, but its cash payout ratio is at 171.05%. Do you think the dividend is …
Continue Reading about More about the Importance of Cash from Operations
Importance of Cash from Operations
Learn about the importance of the cash from operations metric and its trend when analyzing a company. It’s often more revealing than the good old earnings per share (EPS). First off, you might have heard cash from operations, cash flow from operations, and operating cash flow. Any difference? No, they all mean the same thing. Cash from operations is comparable to how much you have in your bank account on the first of the month vs. the last of the month. If the amount continuously …
