Cash Flow From Investing: Definition and Examples (2024)

Cash flow from investing is listed on a company's cash flow statement. Cash flow from investing activities includes any inflows or outflows of cash from a company's long-term investments.

The cash flow statement reports the amount of cash and cash equivalents leaving and entering a company.

The sections of the cash flow statement are:

The cash flow statement is useful in measuring how effectively a company manages its cash from operating activities, or day-to-day operating expenses, and its financing activities, how debt and equity is managed.

Cash flow from investing activities involves long-term uses of cash. The purchase or sale of a fixed asset like property, plant, or equipment would be an investing activity. Also, proceeds from the sale of a division or cash out as a result of a merger or acquisition would fall under investing activities.

Any changes in the cash position of a company that involves assets, investments, or equipment would be listed under investing activities.

Companies look to generatepositive cash flow. However,companies can have negative cash flow, even profitable companies. For example, a company might be investing heavily in plant and equipment to grow the business. These long-term purchases would be cash-flow negative, but a positive in the long-term.

For more on cash flow and how companies utilize the cash flow statement, please read What Is A Cash Flow Statement?

Cash Flow From Investing: Definition and Examples (2024)

FAQs

Cash Flow From Investing: Definition and Examples? ›

Cash flow from investing activities involves long-term uses of cash. The purchase or sale of a fixed asset like property, plant, or equipment would be an investing activity. Also, proceeds from the sale of a division or cash out as a result of a merger or acquisition would fall under investing activities.

What is an example of a cash flow from an investing activity? ›

Cash inflows (proceeds) from investing activities include:

Cash receipts from collections of loans (except for program loans) and sales of other agencies' debt instruments. Cash receipts from sales of equity instruments and returns from investments in those instruments.

What is the meaning of cash flow from investing? ›

Cash flow from investing activities is a section of the cash flow statement that shows the cash generated or spent relating to investment activities. Investing activities include purchases of physical assets, investments in securities, or the sale of securities or assets.

How to calculate cash flow from investing? ›

Cash flow from investing activities formula:

There isn't a singular agreed-upon formula, but the following formula is generally accepted: Cash flow from investing activities = CapEx/purchase of non-current assets + marketable securities + business acquisitions - divestitures.

What is a good example of cash flow? ›

Examples of operating cash flows include sales of goods and services, salary payments, rent payments, and income tax payments.

Which of the following is an example of a cash outflow from investing? ›

Investing activities – cash outflow relating to investment activities covers those expenses related to non-current assets, as listed on the balance sheet. Examples include costs for the purchase of assets or loans to other parties.

What does positive cash flow from investing activities mean? ›

A positive investing cash flow means that a company generates more cash from its investments than it is spending. This can be good or bad, based on how the company uses the extra cash. It can be good if a company reinvests its positive investing cash flow into growth opportunities.

What is the cash flow investing strategy? ›

Cash flow investing is a strategy that focuses on investing in assets that generate consistent income, such as dividend stocks, real estate, and high-yield savings accounts.

What are investing activities? ›

Investing activities are one of the main categories of net cash activities that businesses report on the cash flow statement. Investing activities in accounting refers to the purchase and sale of long-term assets and other business investments, within a specific reporting period.

What does net cash flows from investing activities mean? ›

Net cash provided by Investing activities measures the cash inflows and outflows related to investment activities during a given period, such as purchases and sales of fixed assets, investments in securities, and acquisitions.

How do you generate cash flow investments? ›

Investors who prioritize cash flow, often referred to as income investors, make deliberate choices to include assets such as dividend-yielding stocks, bonds, and real estate. These selections are characterized by their ability to generate recurring cash, crucial for a stable investment approach.

What does a negative investing cash flow mean? ›

A negative investing cash flow ratio means that a company spends more of its operating cash flow on its investing activities than it receives from them. A positive investing cash flow ratio means that a company receives more of its operating cash flow from its investing activities than it spends on them.

What is the formula for cash flow return on investment? ›

CFROI = (Gross Cash Flow / Gross Investment) x 100%

Gross Cash Flow is the cash generated by the company's operations before interest expenses and taxes. It is calculated by adding back non-cash expenses (like depreciation and amortization) to net income. Gross Investment is the total capital invested in the company.

Which is an example of investing cash flow *? ›

Cash flow from investing activities involves long-term uses of cash. The purchase or sale of a fixed asset like property, plant, or equipment would be an investing activity. Also, proceeds from the sale of a division or cash out as a result of a merger or acquisition would fall under investing activities.

What is cash flow formula with example? ›

The formula for operating cash flow is: Operating cash flow = operating income + non-cash expenses – taxes + changes in working capital The restaurant's operating cash flow therefore equals $20,000 + $1,500 – $4,000 – $6,000, giving it a positive operating cash flow of $11,500.

What is a cash flow statement in simple words? ›

A cash flow statement is a financial statement that shows how cash entered and exited a company during an accounting period. Cash coming in and out of a business is referred to as cash flows, and accountants use these statements to record, track, and report these transactions.

Which of the following statements represent an example of cash flow from investing activities? ›

An example of cash flow from investing activity is sale of investment by non-financial enterprise.

What is an example of an investing activity on a statement of cash flows quizlet? ›

The receipt of loan repayments is an investing activity on the statement of cash flows.

What is an example of a cash inflow from a financial activity? ›

Examples of common cash flow items stemming from a firm's financing activities are: Receiving cash from issuing stock or spending cash to repurchase shares. Receiving cash from issuing debt or paying down debt. Paying cash dividends to shareholders.

What is an example of cash flow from an operating activity? ›

Cash flow example from an operating activity is Interest Paid on Term Deposits by a Bank. Explanation: When producing a Cash Flow Statement, interest paid on term deposits by a bank is considered an operating activity.

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