Companies With Consistent Growth in Generating Free Cash Flow

Calculating the Free Cash Flow

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 

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 priceto- 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.