What Is a Cash Flow Statement? How to Read and Understand It

Understanding how money flows in a business is essential for making informed financial decisions. The cash flow statement is one of the three key financial statements, alongside the income statement and balance sheet. It tracks actual cash transactions to help businesses, investors, and lenders assess liquidity, operational efficiency, and financial stability.

This article will break down a cash flow statement, its importance, how to read it, and what it tells us about a company's financial health.

What Is a Cash Flow Statement?

A cash flow statement is a financial report that shows the cash generated and used by a company over a specific period. It categorises cash movements into three activities:

1. Operating Activities: Cash flow from daily business operations, such as revenue from sales and payments for expenses.

Example: A retail store receiving cash from customers for sold products.

1. Investing Activities: Cash flows related to buying or selling long-term assets, such as property, equipment, or securities.

Example: A company purchasing new machinery for production.

1. Financing Activities: Cash transactions related to debt, equity, and dividends, such as borrowing funds or repaying loans.

Example: A business taking out a loan to expand operations.

Why Is the Cash Flow Statement Important?

The cash flow statement is crucial because it provides a clear picture of a company’s liquidity. Even if a business is profitable on paper, it can still face cash shortages if customers delay payments or expenses exceed revenue.

Key benefits of analysing a cash flow statement include:

• Assessing Liquidity: Helps determine whether a company can pay short-term obligations.
• Identifying Cash Flow Trends: These trends reveal whether a company generates a consistent cash flow or relies on external funding.
• Aiding Investment Decisions: Helps investors evaluate a company's financial health.
• Ensuring Business Stability: This helps business owners plan for future expenses, investments, and debt repayments.

Key Terminologies Related to Cash Flow

Before diving into the details, it's important to understand some key terms:

• Cash Flow: The actual movement of money in and out of a business.
• Cash Balance: The amount of money available at a given time.
• Cash Equivalents: Short-term investments that can be easily converted into cash (e.g., treasury bills).
• Net Cash Flow: The difference between total cash inflows and outflows.

Important Sections in a Cash Flow Statement

1. Operating Cash Flow

Operating cash flow represents the money generated from a company’s core business activities, such as revenue from sales and payments for operating expenses. It indicates whether a company can sustain its operations using its main income sources.

Presentation Methods:

• Direct Method: Lists actual cash transactions, such as cash received from customers and cash paid to suppliers.
• Indirect Method: Adjusts net income for non-cash expenses like depreciation and amortisation (D&A).

Impact on Working Capital:

• An increase in accounts receivable reduces cash flow.
• An increase in accounts payable improves cash flow, as payments are delayed.

A simple example:
A retail store earns INR 1,00,000 in sales but only receives INR 80,000 in cash while INR 20,000 remains unpaid by customers.

The INR 80,000 counts as positive cash flow, while the INR 20,000 is still pending and does not contribute to immediate liquidity.

2. Investing Cash Flow

Investing cash flow tracks money spent on or earned from long-term assets and investments. It reflects a company’s investment in growth and expansion.

Key transactions for investments include:

• Capital Expenditures (CapEx): Spending on assets like property, machinery, or equipment reduces cash flow but supports business expansion.
• Asset Sales: Selling buildings or equipment generates cash inflows.
• Investment Purchases and Sales: Buying securities or investing in other businesses impacts cash availability.

A simple example:
A manufacturing company purchases new machinery for INR 50,00,000. This is recorded as a negative cash flow under investing activities.

If the company later sells old machinery for INR 10,00,000, this amount is recorded as an inflow, reducing the net cash outflow.

3. Financing Cash Flow

Financing cash flow tracks money raised or spent on funding activities, including loans, bonds, and equity. It shows how a company manages its financial structure.

Its key components include:

• Borrowing Funds: Loans or bond issuances increase cash inflow.
• Debt Repayment: Paying off loans or interest reduces cash.
• Equity Transactions: Issuing new shares raises capital, while share buybacks reduce cash reserves.
• Dividend Payments: Paying dividends to shareholders decreases cash availability.

Positive financing cash flow means a company is raising funds, while negative cash flow may indicate debt repayment or shareholder returns.

A simple example:
A company secures an INR 1,00,00,000 loan from a bank, which increases its cash flow.

If the company repays INR 20,00,000 of the loan later in the year, this is recorded as a cash outflow under financing activities.

4. Cash Balance

At the end of the period, the net cash flow from these activities is added to the opening cash balance to determine the closing balance, which is reported in the balance sheet. This statement helps businesses assess liquidity, sustainability, and financial health.

Statement of Cash Flows Example

Here’s a cash flow statement example, for Company ABC:

Company ABC Cash Flow Statement (for January 2025)

This means Company ABC started with INR 10,000, generated INR 20,000 from operations, spent INR 5,000 on investments, borrowed INR 10,000, and ended the month with INR 35,000 in cash.

Indirect Method Presentation

The indirect method starts with net income and adjusts for non-cash items like depreciation and changes in working capital. The formula for calculating Operating Cash Flow (OCF) using this method can be:

OCF = P + D + A + IE + Δ WC + Δ P - I - T

Where:

• P = Profit
• D = Depreciation
• A = Amortisation
• IE = Impairment expense
• ΔWC = Change in working capital
• ΔP = Change in provisions
• I = Interest tax
• T = Tax

Most companies use the indirect method because it connects the cash flow statement with the income statement and balance sheet. Please note that the exact formula may vary based on the company’s reporting practices.

Differences Between the Direct and Indirect Methods

Potential Cash Flow Statement Differences

• Under IFRS: Companies may classify interest paid or received as either operating or financing activities.
• Non-Cash Items: Some companies adjust for stock-based compensation, asset impairments, or changes in working capital.

How to Build a Statement of Cash Flows in a Financial Model

When building a cash flow statement in Excel, follow these steps:

1. Start with Net Income: Use the income statement as a reference.
2. Adjust for Non-Cash Expenses: Add back depreciation and amortisation.
3. Account for Working Capital Changes: Adjust for inventory, receivables, and payables.
4. Include Investing and Financing Activities: Record capital expenditures, loans, and share issuances.
5. Calculate Closing Cash Balance: Sum up all cash flow activities.

What Can the Statement of Cash Flows Tell Us?

A cash flow statement helps businesses and investors understand:

• Whether the company can generate enough cash to sustain operations.
• If the company relies on external financing to cover short-term expenses.
• How efficiently the business converts revenue into actual cash.
• The overall health and stability of the business.

Generally, a company with consistent positive operating cash flow is considered financially stable, while prolonged negative cash flow may signal potential issues.

Conclusion

The cash flow statement provides a comprehensive view of a company’s cash movement, helping assess liquidity, operational efficiency, and overall financial health. Whether you're an investor evaluating opportunities or a business owner managing finances, understanding this statement is crucial for sustainable growth.

If you’re looking for financial support to manage cash flow efficiently, SMFG India Credit offers unsecured business loans of up to INR 75 lakhs* at competitive interest rates. Use our eligibility calculator to estimate the maximum loan amount you may be able to borrow and apply online today!