Cash Flow From Financing Activities (CFF) Formula & Calculations (2024)

What Is Cash Flow From Financing Activities?

Cash flow from financing activities (CFF) is a section of a company’s cash flow statement, which shows the net flows of cash that are used to fund the company. Financing activities include transactions involving debt, equity, and dividends.

Cash flow from financing activities provides investors with insight into a company’s financial strength and how well a company's capital structure is managed.

Formula and Calculation for CFF

Investors and analyst will use the following formula and calculation to determine if a business is on sound financial footing.

CFF=CED(CD+RP)where:CED=CashinflowsfromissuingequityordebtCD=CashpaidasdividendsRP=Repurchaseofdebtandequity\begin{aligned} &\text{CFF = CED }-\text{ (CD + RP)}\\ &\textbf{where:}\\ &\text{CED = Cash in flows from issuing equity or debt}\\ &\text{CD = Cash paid as dividends}\\ &\text{RP = Repurchase of debt and equity}\\ \end{aligned}CFF=CED(CD+RP)where:CED=CashinflowsfromissuingequityordebtCD=CashpaidasdividendsRP=Repurchaseofdebtandequity

  1. Add cash inflows from the issuing of debt or equity.
  2. Add all cash outflows from stock repurchases, dividend payments, and repayment of debt.
  3. Subtract the cash outflows from the inflows to arrive at the cash flow from financing activities for the period.

As an example, let's say a company has the following information in the financing activities section of its cash flow statement:

  • Repurchase stock: $1,000,000 (cash outflow)
  • Proceeds from long-term debt: $3,000,000 (cash inflow)
  • Payments to long-term debt: $500,000 (cash outflow)
  • Payments of dividends: $400,000 (cash outflow)

Thus, CFF would be as follows:

  • $3,000,000 - ($1,000,000 + $500,000 + $400,000), or $1,100,000

Key Takeaways

  • Cash flow from financing activities is a section of a company’s cash flow statement, which shows the net flows of cash that are used to fund the company.
  • Financing activities include transactions involving debt, equity, and dividends.
  • Debt and equity financing are reflected in the cash flow from financing section, which varies with the different capital structures, dividend policies, or debt terms that companies may have.

Cash Flow in the Financial Statement

The cash flow statement is one of the three main financial statements that show the state of a company's financial health. The other two important statements are the balance sheet and income statement. The balance sheet shows the assets and liabilities as well as shareholder equity at a particular date. Also known as the profit and loss statement, the income statement focuses on business income and expenses. The cash flow statement measures the cash generated or used by a company during a given period. The cash flow statement has three sections:

  1. Cash flow from operating (CFO) indicates the amount of cash that a company brings in from its regular business activities or operations. This section includes accounts receivable, accounts payable, amortization, depreciation, and other items.
  2. Cash flow from investing (CFI) reflects a company's purchases and sales of capital assets. CFI reports the aggregate change in the business cash position as a result of profits and losses from investments in items like plant and equipment. These items are considered long-term investments in the business.
  3. Cash flow from financing activities (CFF) measures the movement of cash between a firm and its owners, investors, and creditors. This report shows the net flow of funds used to run the company including debt, equity, and dividends.

Investors can also get information about CFF activities from the balance sheet’s equity and long-term debt sections and possibly the footnotes.

Capital From Debt or Equity

CFF indicates the means through which a company raises cash to maintain or grow its operations. A company's source of capital can be from either debt or equity. When a company takes on debt, it typically does so by issuing bonds or taking a loan from the bank. Either way, it must make interest payments to its bondholders and creditors to compensate them for loaning their money.

When a company goes through the equity route, it issues stock to investors who purchase the stock for a share in the company. Some companies make dividend payments to shareholders, which represents a cost of equity for the firm.

Positive and Negative CFF

Debt and equity financing are reflected in the cash flow from financing section, which varies with the different capital structures, dividend policies, or debt terms that companies may have.

Transactions That Cause Positive Cash Flow From Financing Activities

  • Issuing equity or stock, which is sold to investors
  • Borrowing debt from a creditor or bank
  • Issuing bonds, which is debt that investors purchase

A positive number for cash flow from financing activities means more money is flowing into the company than flowing out, which increases the company’s assets.

Transactions That Cause Negative Cash Flow From Financing Activities

  • Stock repurchases
  • Dividends
  • Paying down debt

Negative CFF numbers can mean the company is servicing debt, but can also mean the company is retiring debt or making dividend payments and stock repurchases, which investors might be glad to see.

Investor Warnings From CFF

A company that frequently turns to new debt or equity for cash might show positive cash flow from financing activities. However, it might be a sign that the company is not generating enough earnings. Also, as interest rates rise, debt servicing costs rise as well. It is important that investors dig deeper into the numbers because a positive cash flow might not be a good thing for a company already saddled with a large amount of debt.

Conversely, if a company is repurchasing stock and issuing dividends while the company's earnings are underperforming, it may be a warning sign. The company's management might be attempting to prop up its stock price, keeping investors happy, but their actions may not be in the long-term best interest of the company.

Any significant changes in cash flow from financing activities should prompt investors to investigate the transactions. When analyzing a company's cash flow statement, it is important to consider each of the various sections that contribute to the overall change in its cash position.

Real-World Example

Companies report cash flow from financing activities in their annual 10-K reports to shareholders. For example, for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2022, Walmart's cash flow from financing activities resulted in a net cash flow of -$22.83 billion. The components of its financing activities for the year are listed in the table below.

Cash flows from Financing Activities:(in USD millions)
Net change in short-term borrowings193
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt6,945
Repayments of long-term debt(13,010)
Premiums paid to extinguish debt(2,317)
Dividends paid(6,152)
Purchase of Company stock(9,787)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest(424)
Sale of subsidiary stock3,239
Other financing activities(1,515)
Net cash used in financing activities(22,828)

We can see that the majority of Walmart's cash outflows were due to repayments of long-term debt of $13.010 billion, the purchase of company stock for $9.787 billion, and dividends paid for $6.152 billion. Although the net cash flow total is negative for the period, the transactions would be viewed as positive by investors and the market.

Article Sources

Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in oureditorial policy.

  1. United States Securities and Exchange Commission. "Walmart Form 10-K, FY 2022," Page 57.

Open a New Bank Account

×

The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Investopedia receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where listings appear. Investopedia does not include all offers available in the marketplace.

Sponsor

Name

Description

I'm a financial expert with extensive knowledge in corporate finance and cash flow analysis. My expertise is backed by years of practical experience and a deep understanding of financial statements. Now, let's delve into the concepts covered in the provided article about Cash Flow From Financing Activities.

Cash Flow From Financing Activities (CFF): Cash Flow From Financing Activities is a crucial section in a company's cash flow statement, revealing the net cash flows used to fund the company. It encompasses transactions related to debt, equity, and dividends. This section provides investors with insights into a company's financial strength and how well its capital structure is managed.

Formula and Calculation for CFF: The formula for calculating CFF is CED - (CD + RP), where:

  • CED: Cash inflows from issuing equity or debt.
  • CD: Cash paid as dividends.
  • RP: Repurchase of debt and equity.

Cash Flow Statement: The cash flow statement is one of the three main financial statements, alongside the balance sheet and income statement. It measures the cash generated or used by a company during a specific period and has three sections:

  1. Cash Flow from Operating (CFO): Involves cash generated from regular business activities.
  2. Cash Flow from Investing (CFI): Reflects purchases and sales of capital assets.
  3. Cash Flow from Financing Activities (CFF): Measures cash movement between a firm and its owners, investors, and creditors.

Capital From Debt or Equity: CFF indicates how a company raises cash to maintain or expand its operations. Capital can be sourced from either debt or equity. Debt involves making interest payments to bondholders or creditors, while equity involves issuing stock and potentially making dividend payments.

Positive and Negative CFF:

  • Positive CFF: Indicates more money flowing into the company than out, potentially increasing assets.
  • Negative CFF: Can mean the company is servicing debt, making dividend payments, or repurchasing stock.

Investor Warnings From CFF:

  • Frequent reliance on new debt or equity might signal insufficient earnings.
  • Repurchasing stock and issuing dividends during underperforming earnings could be a warning sign.

Real-World Example: For the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2022, Walmart reported a net cash flow of -$22.83 billion from financing activities. The major outflows included repayments of long-term debt, stock repurchases, and dividends paid.

In conclusion, understanding Cash Flow From Financing Activities is essential for investors to gauge a company's financial health and decision-making. It provides valuable insights into how a company manages its capital structure and funding sources.

Cash Flow From Financing Activities (CFF) Formula & Calculations (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Duncan Muller

Last Updated:

Views: 5880

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (59 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Duncan Muller

Birthday: 1997-01-13

Address: Apt. 505 914 Phillip Crossroad, O'Konborough, NV 62411

Phone: +8555305800947

Job: Construction Agent

Hobby: Shopping, Table tennis, Snowboarding, Rafting, Motor sports, Homebrewing, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Duncan Muller, I am a enchanting, good, gentle, modern, tasty, nice, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.