Cash Flow from Financing Activities (CFF): Formula and Calculations

Chris B. Murphy is an editor and financial writer with more than 15 years of experience covering banking and the financial markets.

Ryan Eichler holds a B.S.B.A with a concentration in Finance from Boston University. He has held positions in, and has deep experience with, expense auditing, personal finance, real estate, as well as fact checking & editing.

What Is Cash Flow from Financing Activities?

Cash flow from financing activities (CFF) is a section of a company’s cash flow statement that shows the net flows of cash that are used to fund the company. Financing activities include transactions involving debt, equity, and dividends.

Cash flow from financing activities provides investors with insight into a company’s financial strength and how well a company’s capital structure is managed.

Key Takeaways

• Cash flow from financing activities is a section of a company’s cash flow statement that shows the net flows of cash that are used to fund the company.
• Financing activities include transactions involving debt, equity, and dividends.
• Debt and equity financing are reflected in the cash flow from financing section, which varies with the different capital structures, dividend policies, or debt terms that companies may have.

Formula and Calculation for CFF

Investors and analysts will use the following formula and calculation to determine if a business is on sound financial footing:

CFF = CED − (CD + RP) where: CED = Cash in flows from issuing equity or debt CD = Cash paid as dividends RP = Repurchase of debt and equity \begin &\text-\text< (CD + RP)>\\ &\textbf\\ &\text\\ &\text\\ &\text\\ \end ​ CFF = CED − (CD + RP) where: CED = Cash in flows from issuing equity or debt CD = Cash paid as dividends RP = Repurchase of debt and equity ​

1. Add cash inflows from the issuing of debt or equity.
2. Add all cash outflows from stock repurchases, dividend payments, and repayment of debt.
3. Subtract the cash outflows from the inflows to arrive at the cash flow from financing activities for the period.

As an example, let’s say a company has the following information in the financing activities section of its cash flow statement:

• Repurchase stock: $1,000,000 (cash outflow)
• Proceeds from long-term debt: $3,000,000 (cash inflow)
• Payments to long-term debt: $500,000 (cash outflow)
• Payments of dividends: $400,000 (cash outflow)

Thus, CFF would be as follows:

$3,000,000 - ($1,000,000 + $500,000 + $400,000), or $1,100,000

Cash Flow in the Financial Statement

The cash flow statement is one of the three main financial statements that show the state of a company’s financial health. The other two important statements are the balance sheet and the income statement.

The balance sheet shows the assets and liabilities as well as shareholder equity at a particular date. The income statement, also known as the profit and loss statement, focuses on business income and expenses. The cash flow statement measures the cash generated or used by a company during a given period.

The cash flow statement has three sections:

1. Cash flow from operating activities (CFO) indicates the amount of cash that a company brings in from its regular business activities or operations. This section includes accounts receivable, accounts payable, amortization, depreciation, and other items.
2. Cash flow from investing (CFI) reflects a company’s purchases and sales of capital assets. CFI reports the aggregate change in the business cash position as a result of profits and losses from investments in items like plant and equipment. These items are considered long-term investments in the business.
3. Cash flow from financing activities (CFF) measures the movement of cash between a firm and its owners, investors, and creditors. This report shows the net flow of funds used to run the company, including debt, equity, and dividends.

Investors can also get information about CFF activities from the balance sheet’s equity and long-term debt sections and possibly the footnotes.

Capital from Debt or Equity

CFF indicates the means through which a company raises cash to maintain or grow its operations. A company’s source of capital can be from either debt or equity. When a company takes on debt, it typically does so by issuing bonds or taking a loan from the bank. Either way, it must make interest payments to its bondholders and creditors to compensate them for loaning their money.

When a company goes through the equity route, it issues stock to investors who purchase the stock for a share in the company. Some companies make dividend payments to shareholders, which represents a cost of equity for the firm.

Positive and Negative CFF

Debt and equity financing are reflected in the cash flow from financing section, which varies with the different capital structures, dividend policies, or debt terms that companies may have.

Transactions That Cause Positive Cash Flow from Financing Activities

• Issuing equity or stock, which is sold to investors
• Borrowing debt from a creditor or bank
• Issuing bonds, which is debt that investors purchase

A positive number for cash flow from financing activities means more money is flowing into the company than flowing out, which increases the company’s assets.

Transactions That Cause Negative Cash Flow from Financing Activities

• Stock repurchases
• Dividends
• Paying down debt

Negative CFF numbers can mean the company is servicing debt, but can also mean the company is retiring debt or making dividend payments and stock repurchases, which investors might be glad to see.

Investor Warnings From CFF

A company that frequently turns to new debt or equity for cash might show positive cash flow from financing activities. However, it might be a sign that the company is not generating enough earnings. Also, as interest rates rise, debt servicing costs rise as well.

It is important that investors dig deeper into the numbers, because a positive cash flow might not be a good thing for a company already saddled with a large amount of debt.

Conversely, if a company is repurchasing stock and issuing dividends while the company’s earnings are underperforming, it may be a warning sign. The company’s management might be attempting to prop up its stock price, keeping investors happy, but their actions may not be in the long-term best interest of the company.

Any significant changes in cash flow from financing activities should prompt investors to investigate the transactions. When analyzing a company’s cash flow statement, it is important to consider each of the various sections that contribute to the overall change in its cash position.

Real-World Example of CFF

Companies report cash flow from financing activities in their annual 10-K reports to shareholders. For example, for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2022, Walmart’s cash flow from financing activities resulted in a net cash flow of -$22.83 billion. The components of its financing activities for the year are listed in the table below.

We can see that the majority of Walmart’s cash outflows were due to repayments of long-term debt of $13.010 billion, the purchase of company stock for $9.787 billion, and dividends paid for $6.152 billion. Although the net cash flow total is negative for the period, the transactions would be viewed as positive by investors and the market.

Who Looks at the Cash Flow from Financing Activities (CFF) Section?

Investors and analysts look at a company’s cash flow statement, including its cash flow from financing activities (CFF) section, to determine if that business is on sound financial footing.

Which Companies Are Generating High Cash Flow?

Companies generating high cash flow as of 2023 include Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp., and Bank of America Corp.

Which Statements Best Show a Company’s Financial Health?

Three main financial statements show the state of a company’s financial health. They are the balance sheet, the cash flow statement, and the income statement.

The Bottom Line

Cash flow from financing activities (CFF) is a section of a company’s cash flow statement that shows the net flows of cash used to fund the company. These activities include debt, equity, and dividend transactions. The section provides investors with insight into a company’s financial strength and how well a company’s capital structure is managed.