Cash flow ratios
/What are Cash Flow Ratios?
Cash flow ratios compare cash flows to other elements of an entity’s financial statements. A higher level of cash flow indicates a better ability to withstand declines in operating performance, as well as a better ability to pay dividends to investors. They are an essential element of any analysis that seeks to understand the liquidity of a business. These ratios are especially important when evaluating companies whose cash flows diverge substantially from their reported profits. Some of the more common cash flow ratios are noted below.
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Cash Flow Coverage Ratio
The cash flow coverage ratio is calculated as operating cash flows divided by total debt. This ratio should be as high as possible, which indicates that an organization has sufficient cash flow to pay for scheduled principal and interest payments on its debt. The formula is:
Operating cash flows ÷ Total debt = Cash flow coverage ratio
Cash Flow Margin Ratio
The cash flow margin ratio is calculated as cash flow from operations divided by sales. This is a more reliable metric than net profit, since it gives a clear picture of the amount of cash generated per dollar of sales. The formula is:
Cash flow from operations ÷ Net sales = Cash flow margin ratio
Current Liability Coverage Ratio
The current liability coverage ratio is calculated as cash flows from operations divided by current liabilities. If this ratio is less than 1:1, a business is not generating enough cash to pay for its immediate obligations, and so may be at significant risk of bankruptcy. The formula is:
Cash flow from operations ÷ Current liabilities = Current liability coverage ratio
Price to Cash Flow Ratio
The price to cash flow ratio is calculated as the share price divided by the operating cash flow per share. This ratio is qualitatively better than the price/earnings ratio, since it uses cash flows instead of reported earnings, which is harder for a management team to falsify. The formula is:
Current share price ÷ Operating cash flow per share = Price to cash flow ratio
Cash Flow to Net Income
A cash flow to net income proportion close to 1:1 indicates that an organization is not engaging in any accounting trickery intended to inflate earnings above cash flows. This ratio is mostly useful for an analysis by an outside analyst of a reporting entity’s performance.