How to perform a Cash Flow Analysis (With examples) (2024)

1 June, 2023

10 mins

In today’s ever-evolving finance world, the long-term growth and stability of a business are dependent on good financial management. Among many tools and strategies, cash flow analysis stands out as a critical tool for unlocking a company’s potential.

Cash flow analysis can be considered the heartbeat of an organization, providing the vital resources needed to operate smoothly, expand, and handle economic challenges effectively.

In this blog, we will explore cash flow analysis with examples, understand its importance, and discuss the importance of the cash flow statement for the analysis.

Cash flow analysis is the process of examining and interpreting the inflows and outflows of cash within a business over a specific period of time. This analysis provides insights into how well a company manages its cash position, enabling stakeholders to assess the company’s liquidity, solvency, and financial flexibility.

The formula for cash flow is:

Net Cash Flow = Total Cash Inflows – Total Cash Outflows

Cash flow analysis begins with a company generating cash flow statements for operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each component:

1. Cash flow from operating activities

Cash flow from operating activities indicates the cash earned or used in the company’s main business activities. This includes cash payments, revenue generation, paying expenses, and funding working capital. It measures the ability of a company to generate cash from its core business operations.

2. Cash flow from investing activities

Cash flow from investing activities measures the cash generated or spent on investments in assets such as property, equipment, or technology. It reflects the changes in a company’s long-term investments and capital expenditures, providing insights into its growth and strategic decisions.

3. Cash flow from financing activities

Cash flow from financing activities measures the cash inflows and outflows related to a company’s financing activities. Financing activities may include borrowing, repaying debt, issuing or repurchasing stock, and paying dividends. It provides insights into how a company raises capital and manages its financial structure.

Below, we can see Hershey’s consolidated cash flow statement for 2023 which lays down its cash flow from operating, investing, and financing activities.

Let’s take a look at a cash flow example. Here’s a snapshot of a cash flow analysis between two hypothetical firms – Monsters Inc. and Gusteau’s- showcasing identical net income of $500,000. Furthermore, their year-end cash stands at $600,000, with an equal alteration in cash ($550,000) over the year.

Key insights from the cash flow analysis:

• Monsters Inc. exhibits:
• A negative operating cash flow of -$50,000, indicating less cash generated from its primary operations.
• Dependent on a singular asset sale gain of $600,000 to bolster their overall cash position.

• Gusteau’s, in contrast, exhibits:
• A robust operational cash flow of $600,000 indicates a healthy cash generation from its core business activities.
• Strategic use of cash for property acquisition $27,500 and debt repayment ($30,000), indicates growth-oriented and financially judicious decisions.

The analysis underlines that Monsters Inc. may face cash flow pressures due to low operational income and reliance on non-recurring items for cash generation. Conversely, Gusteau demonstrates a robust cash flow position, reflecting financial stability and efficient operational performance. This comparative study underscores the importance of cash flow analysis in comprehending a company’s financial wellness and pinpointing areas of concern or strength.

Cash flow analysis is crucial for several reasons, impacting various aspects of a company’s financial health and strategic decision-making. Here’s why it’s important:

As discussed above, the cash flow statement is divided into three main sections: cash flow from operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities. Here’s what goes into each section:

Preparing a cash flow statement involves several key steps, including collecting financial data, categorizing cash flows, and presenting the information in a structured format. Here’s a detailed guide on how to prepare a cash flow statement:

1. Collect financial data

• Gather the income statement for the period, which provides information about revenue and expenses.
• Obtain the balance sheets at the beginning and end of the period to identify changes in assets, liabilities, and equity.
• Collect any other relevant financial documents, such as loan agreements or investment records.

2. Choose the right method

• The cash flow direct method lists all major operating cash receipts and payments. It provides a clear view of cash flows but may require detailed records.
• The cash flow indirect method starts with net income and adjusts for changes in non-cash items, working capital, and other activities. It’s widely used because it’s simpler and aligns with the income statement.

3. Categorize cash flows

• Operating activities: Include cash transactions related to the core business operations, such as cash receipts from sales and cash payments to suppliers and employees.
• Investing activities: Record cash flows from the purchase and sale of long-term assets, such as equipment or investments.
• Financing activities: Document cash flows related to borrowing, repaying debt, issuing equity, and paying dividends.

4. Cash flow from operations

• Start with net income/profit from the income statement.
• Adjust for non-cash items like depreciation and amortization.
• Consider changes in working capital (A/R, A/P, and inventory).
• Include other operating cash flows like interest received or paid and income taxes paid.

5. Cash flow from investing

• Account for cash inflows and outflows from investments in long-term assets.
• Include cash received from asset sales and cash paid for asset purchases.
• Consider loans made to or received from others.

6. Cash flow from financing

• Include cash inflows and outflows related to financing.
• Account for cash received from issuing equity or obtaining loans.
• Include cash paid for dividends, loan repayments, or share buybacks.

7. Compile the cash flow statement

• Organize the statement into three main sections: operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities.
• Sum the net cash flows from all three sections to determine the total change in cash for the period.
• Add the beginning cash balance (from the start of the period) to the total cash flow to find the ending cash balance.

When performing cash flow analysis, it’s important to consider a variety of factors to gain a comprehensive understanding of a company’s financial health. Here are the key factors to consider:

1. Operating cash flow trends

• Analyzing the operating cash flow trend over time can indicate the business’s ability to generate consistent cash from its core operations.
• Positive operating cash flow demonstrates that the business generates more cash than spending, while negative cash flow may suggest financial challenges.

2. Working capital management

• Monitoring changes in working capital, such as accounts receivable, inventory, and accounts payable, provides insights into the efficiency of cash conversion cycles.
• Increasing receivables or inventory levels without a corresponding rise in payables can indicate potential liquidity issues.

3. Cash flow adequacy

• Evaluating whether the cash flow is adequate to cover debt payments, dividends, and planned investments helps assess the company’s financial stability.
• Insufficient cash flow to meet obligations may lead to negative cash flow and the need for external financing.

4. Cash flow ratios

• Calculating key cash flow ratios, such as the operating cash flow ratio or cash flow margin, can provide a comparative analysis against industry benchmarks.
• Deviations from industry norms may indicate strengths or weaknesses in managing cash flow.

Cash flow analysis has a significant impact on business success by providing valuable insights into a company’s financial health, operational efficiency, and strategic direction. Here are several key ways in which cash flow analysis influences business success:

1. Improved liquidity management

Cash flow analysis is crucial for maintaining adequate liquidity and ensuring that a business can meet its short-term obligations. By regularly monitoring cash inflows and outflows, companies can anticipate periods of cash shortage or surplus and take proactive measures to manage their cash reserves effectively.

2. Enhanced decision-making

Effective decision-making relies heavily on understanding a company’s cash position. Cash flow analysis provides valuable insights into the availability of funds for various purposes, such as investing in new projects, purchasing equipment, or expanding operations. By analyzing cash flows, management can make informed decisions about where to allocate resources, prioritize expenditures, and implement cost-cutting measures if necessary.

3. Increased creditworthiness

A strong cash flow position enhances a company’s creditworthiness, making it more attractive to investors and lenders. Demonstrating stable and positive cash flows signals financial health and operational efficiency, which are key factors in securing funding. Investors and creditors are more likely to provide favorable terms to businesses that can show consistent cash generation and effective cash management.

4. Operational efficiency

Cash flow analysis helps businesses monitor and improve operational efficiency by highlighting how effectively they manage receivables, payables, and inventory. By analyzing cash flow data, companies can identify inefficiencies in their operations, such as delayed collections or excess inventory, and implement strategies to optimize these areas. Effective cash management reduces operational costs and enhances profitability by ensuring that resources are used efficiently and cash is not tied up unnecessarily.

Most businesses are still dependent on Excel for cash flow analysis, with limited scalability. Due to the lack of automation and robust tracking mechanisms, treasury professionals often spend considerable time tracking cash transactions. They do so by manually reconciling the expected cash transactions with the bank statements, which often leads to inaccurate results, a lack of cash visibility, and decreased productivity.

HighRadius cash management software automates this manual cash-to-bank reconciliation. It auto-generates and posts general ledger entries for bank transactions, enables customized rule creation, and provides real-time visibility into cash flows. It enables businesses to reconcile the prior day's planned cash transactions with bank transactions at the click of a button. It also identifies discrepancies between actuals vs expected and handles unmatched bank transactions or cash transactions using an easy-to-use interface.

Leveraging our solutions, businesses can automate critical cash flow processes, improve efficiency, and gain better visibility into their daily cash positions. By streamlining cash-related activities and utilizing advanced features, businesses are able to accelerate cash inflows, enhance cash management productivity, and optimize cash utilization.

1. What are the steps in cash flow analysis?

Cash flow analysis involves collecting financial statements, understanding the cash flow statement structure, calculating key metrics, analyzing operating, investing, and financing cash flows, identifying cash flow drivers, performing ratio analysis, and regularly reviewing and updating the analysis.

2. How to analyze cash flow?

To analyze cash flow, examine the cash flow statement, focusing on operating, investing, and financing activities. Calculate key metrics like free cash flow, assess changes in working capital, perform ratio analysis, compare with industry benchmarks, and review trends to identify strengths and weaknesses.

3. How to calculate annual cash flow?

To calculate annual cash flow, start with net income from the income statement. Add non-cash expenses like depreciation, adjust for changes in working capital (current assets and liabilities), and include cash flows from investing and financing activities. This results in the annual cash flow.

4. Which technique is used for cash flow analysis?

The primary technique for cash flow analysis is the examination of the cash flow statement using the direct or indirect method. This involves analyzing operating, investing, and financing activities, calculating key metrics like free cash flow, and performing ratio analysis to assess financial health and liquidity.

5. What are the three types of cash flow analysis?

The three types of cash flow analysis are operating cash flow analysis, investing cash flow analysis, and financing cash flow analysis. Operating focuses on day-to-day activities, investing activities focus on asset purchases and sales, and financing activities focus on debt, equity, and dividend transactions.