Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow is the amount of cash generated by a business that is available for distribution among its security holders. Security holders include debt holders, equity holders, preferred stock holders, and convertible security holders. Specifically, free cash flow is used to pay dividends, make acquisitions, develop new products, invest in new property, plant and equipment, pay interest expenses, and reduce debt.

According to many investors, free cash flow is the best indication of a company's ability to generate cash.

Free Cash Flow = Net Income + Depreciation/Amortization + (Interest Expense - Interest Income) * (1 - Tax Rate) - Changes in Working Capital - Capital expenditure

Note: YCharts uses the formula Free Cash Flow = Net Cash From Operating Activities - Capital Expenditures.

This is a good approximation that fails to take into account the value of debt tax shields. For companies which report interest paid on debt in the Operating Activities section of the Cash Flows statement, YCharts Free Cash Flow = Standard Free Cash Flow - Interest Expense Paid on Debt

“Free Cash Flow” will be the TTM or the trailing twelve months of a firm's cash flow. We also capture Free Cash Flow (Quarterly) and Free Cash Flow (Annual) taken from a company's financial statements.