Valuation-relevant cash flows represent the actual cash a business is expected to generate and make available either for reinvestment or distribution to shareholders. These cash flows are crucial in determining the intrinsic value of a company, as they form the foundation for business valuation.
Key Cash Flow Components:
Net Sales
The total revenue generated from the sale of goods or services during a specific time period, before any deductions.
EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization)
A measure of a company's overall financial performance, often used as an alternative to earnings or net income in some contexts.
Depreciation & Amortization (D&A)
Non-cash expenses that reduce the value of a company’s assets over time due to usage or obsolescence.
EBIT (Operating Income)
The profit a company generates from its operations, excluding interest and taxes.
Tax
The amount of taxes the company is expected to pay on its earnings.
NOPAT (Net Operating Profit After Tax)
Calculated by subtracting taxes from operating income. NOPAT represents potential cash earnings if the company had no debt.
Depreciation & Amortization (D&A)
Although D&A are non-cash expenses, they are added back to NOPAT in cash flow calculations since they don’t involve actual cash outflows.
Capex (Capital Expenditures)
The company’s spending on physical assets like property, industrial buildings, or equipment.
Change in NWC (Net Working Capital)
The change in current assets minus current liabilities between periods, indicating the cash invested in or released from operations.
Changes in Non-Interest Bearing Assets/Liabilities
Refers to changes in assets or liabilities that do not bear interest and can impact cash flow.
Tax Shield on Interest
The tax savings derived from interest payments on debt, as these payments are deductible from taxable income.
Interest Expense (Net)
The net amount of interest paid on debts.
Change in Net Debt
Reflects the change in a company’s debt level, indicating either a cash inflow from taking on more debt or a cash outflow from repaying debt.
Change in Investments
Represents the cash spent or received from changes in investment levels.
Flow to Equity
The cash flow available to shareholders after all expenses, debts, and reinvestments have been accounted for.
Other Effects
Any other items that can influence cash flow but don’t fit into the categories above.
Net Income
The final amount of cash expected to be generated after all adjustments, representing the "bottom line" of the cash flow statement.