Companies With Consistent Growth in Generating Free Cash Flow
Dalal Street Investment Journal|July 17, 2023
Although financial ratios and other factors are often considered to reflect the current earning potential while investing, can they also predict future prospects? This is where free cash flow of a company assumes importance. Mandar Wagh explains the concept of free cash flow, the benefits it delivers to the company, and why it is critical for investors to consider. Also, check out the leading companies that are consistently growing their free cash flow
Mandar Wagh
Companies With Consistent Growth in Generating Free Cash Flow

Interested in stock investing? If you answered yes and were asked what factors you would examine while investing in stocks, the most typical responses would surely be financial performance, return and valuation ratios, among others. Price-to-earnings (PE) and price-to-book value (PB) ratios are two valuation factors that any investor may consider. While they both reflect current earning potential, neither of these valuation metrics indicates future prospects. And here is where 'free cash flow' is important! Free cash flow takes into account the company's earnings as well as historical (depreciation) and present capital expenditures, capital inflows and working capital investments.

The following story will help you in comprehending the concept of free cash flows, its method of calculation, the benefits it brings for the company, as well as why it is crucial for investors to take these into account. We will also focus on the top companies that have consistently generated free cash flow year-on-year, demonstrating excellent growth. Let's start by understanding the concept. The cash a company has, after taking into account the cash payouts required to run its operations and to sustain its capital assets, is known as free cash flow (FCF).

A portion of a company's cash flow can be withdrawn and given to creditors and investors without having an adverse effect on operations. The more the free cash flows, the better for the company. It represents the surplus cash that is readily available for value generation, expansion and rewarding stakeholders. The capability of a company to make a healthy profit serves as an asset for presenting an optimistic perspective to its stakeholders. And hence, while evaluating a business's sustainability and growth potential, analysts and stakeholders always assess the company's free cash flow position.

Calculating the Free Cash Flow

This story is from the July 17, 2023 edition of Dalal Street Investment Journal.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the July 17, 2023 edition of Dalal Street Investment Journal.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM DALAL STREET INVESTMENT JOURNALView All
How To Invest In An Ageing Bull Market
Dalal Street Investment Journal

How To Invest In An Ageing Bull Market

Bull rallies (periods when stock prices rise) and bear declines (periods when stock prices fall) are natural parts of stock market cycles, but they don't follow a fixed timeline.

time-read
5 mins  |
July 29, 2024
Should You Entrust All Your Money To A Single AMC?
Dalal Street Investment Journal

Should You Entrust All Your Money To A Single AMC?

If you are a market participant, you have probably heard the quote 'don't put all your eggs in one basket', which suggests diversification. Investors often focus on diversifying across categories like large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap, but they may unintentionally overlook diversification across different AMCs. The question arises: is AMC-wise diversification really necessary? Rakesh Deshmukh takes a closer look at this scenario

time-read
7 mins  |
July 29, 2024
Wild Swings Engulf Global Equities
Dalal Street Investment Journal

Wild Swings Engulf Global Equities

U.S. stock markets experienced significant volatility. An early-week rally pushed the markets to new highs, but this momentum faded, primarily due to weaknesses in the tech sector. The major indices had a mixed finish with, S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed lower, while the Dow recorded a notable gain.

time-read
2 mins  |
July 29, 2024
U.S. Elections and China's Economy Hamper Commodities
Dalal Street Investment Journal

U.S. Elections and China's Economy Hamper Commodities

Commodity markets experienced selling pressure in the last fortnight, driven by uncertainties surrounding the upcoming U.S. presidential elections, concerns about the Chinese economy, and increased agricultural production in Brazil.

time-read
2 mins  |
July 29, 2024
Wealth Building For Retirement Through Mutual Funds
Dalal Street Investment Journal

Wealth Building For Retirement Through Mutual Funds

Retirement is one of the most crucial and lifechanging phases. It marks a period where maintaining your lifestyle becomes paramount even though your regular income stops.

time-read
3 mins  |
July 29, 2024
Mastering Investment with Information Ratio
Dalal Street Investment Journal

Mastering Investment with Information Ratio

Information Ratio helps in navigating the complexities of the investment landscape by assessing an active fund manager's performance. And though it has its limitations, it remains an essential part of the finance industry. The article explains what Information Ratio is and how investors can use it as another tool

time-read
6 mins  |
July 29, 2024
Plan To Be Financially Independent
Dalal Street Investment Journal

Plan To Be Financially Independent

Each of us aspires to be financially independent as it ensures having enough resources to be self-sufficient and control our finances.

time-read
2 mins  |
July 29, 2024
❝Technology is the new game-changer"
Dalal Street Investment Journal

❝Technology is the new game-changer"

With a new breed of young investors entering the financial markets, it is the use of technology that is increasingly playing a major role in how investments are done and tracked. Anand Radhakrishnan, Managing Director, Sundaram Mutual Fund, shares his opinion about how this factor is turning into a significant tool and how it will shape the strategies of his company

time-read
5 mins  |
July 29, 2024
What If Donald Trumps?
Dalal Street Investment Journal

What If Donald Trumps?

The potential election of Donald Trump as president in the U.S. carries significant implications for the Indian equity market. It could lead to changes in the global trade dynamics, in particular affecting the Indian IT sector while also raising inflation levels and leading to yet another revision in the visa programme for Indians who want to work in the US. The article takes a closer look at what may lie in store

time-read
6 mins  |
July 29, 2024
Sectoral Gains Make A Mark
Dalal Street Investment Journal

Sectoral Gains Make A Mark

Benchmark indices continued their uptrend, reaching new record highs, although the pace has slowed as the broader markets faced selling pressures

time-read
2 mins  |
July 29, 2024