Cash Flow Statement
Quarterly Data

The cash flow statement provides information about a company cash receipts and cash payments during an accounting period, showing how these cash flows link the ending cash balance to the beginning balance shown on the company balance sheet.

The cash flow statement consists of three parts: cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities, and cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities.

Express Scripts Holding Co., consolidated cash flow statement (quarterly data)

US$ in thousands

3 months ended:	Sep 30, 2018	Jun 30, 2018	Mar 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Sep 30, 2017	Jun 30, 2017	Mar 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Sep 30, 2016	Jun 30, 2016	Mar 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Sep 30, 2015	Jun 30, 2015	Mar 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014	Sep 30, 2014	Jun 30, 2014	Mar 31, 2014	Dec 31, 2013	Sep 30, 2013	Jun 30, 2013	Mar 31, 2013
Net income	1,073,800)	879,400)	625,900)	2,330,900)	845,000)	805,500)	550,300)	1,439,800)	728,500)	727,100)	532,200)	778,900)	667,400)	606,100)	447,100)	588,700)	589,100)	522,700)	334,500)	506,000)	438,100)	550,500)	378,100)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	12,300)	15,500)	23,900)	1,900)
Net income from continuing operations	1,073,800)	879,400)	625,900)	2,330,900)	845,000)	805,500)	550,300)	1,439,800)	728,500)	727,100)	532,200)	778,900)	667,400)	606,100)	447,100)	588,700)	589,100)	522,700)	334,500)	518,300)	453,600)	574,400)	380,000)
Depreciation and amortization	497,700)	503,700)	498,800)	457,800)	449,400)	449,200)	445,600)	543,400)	537,700)	548,200)	525,300)	631,400)	582,800)	588,200)	556,700)	584,700)	547,000)	558,100)	553,100)	623,000)	614,300)	609,400)	600,300)
Deferred income taxes	(80,200)	(61,500)	(65,600)	(1,431,400)	(71,900)	(122,300)	(53,300)	(163,400)	(121,700)	(99,500)	(112,800)	(191,600)	(76,500)	(79,800)	(114,200)	(157,600)	(60,700)	(176,500)	(35,700)	(197,500)	(113,600)	(123,900)	(138,700)
Employee stock-based compensation expense	29,000)	28,400)	32,300)	21,600)	25,900)	25,000)	27,100)	25,100)	27,200)	26,800)	27,900)	30,300)	32,400)	27,500)	26,900)	28,700)	27,900)	26,400)	28,000)	33,500)	44,200)	34,700)	52,300)
Other, net	13,900)	6,700)	100)	19,100)	3,800)	1,800)	18,600)	(17,100)	(14,600)	(800)	(3,700)	(1,000)	(5,300)	(7,800)	(32,200)	8,800)	18,000)	5,000)	(40,100)	3,400)	74,900)	(47,100)	(2,000)
Receivables	(494,400)	(553,900)	255,800)	(105,300)	187,400)	(129,100)	102,900)	(103,300)	399,900)	(625,200)	(45,400)	698,400)	(923,800)	(674,700)	129,800)	377,900)	(1,257,300)	(1,287,600)	124,600)	1,059,500)	(673,200)	(306,000)	1,173,700)
Inventories	124,200)	(265,300)	97,000)	(72,900)	(134,100)	(163,300)	203,600)	(281,600)	38,300)	17,700)	289,700)	(292,600)	(80,400)	235,900)	227,200)	(323,400)	(22,800)	(39,700)	143,800)	(227,500)	20,600)	(16,600)	4,600)
Other current and noncurrent assets	(61,900)	(254,300)	129,100)	(83,700)	(65,200)	(53,000)	29,400)	(94,000)	31,000)	(66,400)	(8,100)	218,000)	(15,900)	(247,600)	123,800)	(23,700)	(101,500)	(42,200)	(2,600)	56,900)	21,800)	5,800)	9,700)
Claims and rebates payable	298,700)	(77,800)	(221,300)	472,300)	402,400)	290,800)	(50,600)	119,900)	81,100)	(320,400)	(441,400)	659,100)	525,000)	285,300)	(559,900)	673,200)	246,000)	1,220,100)	(418,900)	308,100)	636,300)	(822,300)	(794,300)
Accounts payable	(378,900)	843,700)	215,300)	(602,200)	—)	755,400)	(280,000)	88,400)	(403,100)	522,100)	229,000)	146,100)	(35,700)	280,200)	(72,300)	178,600)	27,900)	123,200)	(58,000)	336,400)	(55,400)	67,000)	(332,100)
Accrued expenses	(284,600)	(326,100)	(140,200)	417,600)	158,700)	(807,500)	(10,500)	731,600)	125,200)	(220,400)	(232,200)	282,300)	175,500)	(133,300)	(467,200)	908,800)	398,300)	(176,800)	(181,400)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Other current and noncurrent liabilities	22,100)	(5,700)	84,400)	(54,000)	98,500)	28,700)	17,300)	(39,900)	50,900)	(70,300)	(9,300)	(85,300)	(52,500)	19,900)	15,700)	79,700)	23,200)	2,800)	6,700)	411,700)	11,700)	(131,500)	10,500)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	(774,800)	(639,400)	420,100)	(28,200)	647,700)	(78,000)	12,100)	421,100)	323,300)	(762,900)	(217,700)	1,626,000)	(407,800)	(234,300)	(602,900)	1,871,100)	(686,200)	(200,200)	(385,800)	1,945,100)	(38,200)	(1,203,600)	72,100)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities	(314,400)	(162,100)	885,700)	(961,100)	1,054,900)	275,700)	450,100)	809,100)	751,900)	(288,200)	219,000)	2,095,100)	125,600)	293,800)	(165,700)	2,335,700)	(154,000)	212,800)	119,500)	2,407,500)	581,600)	(730,500)	584,000)
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	759,400)	717,300)	1,511,600)	1,369,800)	1,899,900)	1,081,200)	1,000,400)	2,248,900)	1,480,400)	438,900)	751,200)	2,874,000)	793,000)	899,900)	281,400)	2,924,400)	435,100)	735,500)	454,000)	2,925,800)	1,035,200)	(156,100)	964,000)
Capital expenditures for property and equipment and computer software	(65,500)	(75,400)	(100,400)	(90,100)	(72,000)	(59,500)	(45,800)	(92,800)	(79,100)	(75,900)	(82,600)	(118,800)	(70,000)	(58,800)	(48,300)	(109,600)	(118,200)	(91,700)	(117,100)	(148,400)	(79,700)	(86,100)	(108,800)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	—)	(3,300)	(23,100)	(3,378,400)	—)	(122,700)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Proceeds from sale of business	—)	—)	—)	85,300)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	43,900)	235,100)	77,900)	—)
Other, net	(3,600)	(18,700)	(6,000)	3,900)	(3,800)	(5,200)	(2,300)	(13,900)	(4,200)	(6,200)	2,800)	8,200)	17,000)	21,900)	(19,700)	17,000)	1,000)	4,700)	2,000)	22,400)	(27,600)	5,700)	(4,400)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(69,100)	(97,400)	(129,500)	(3,379,300)	(75,800)	(187,400)	(48,100)	(106,700)	(83,300)	(82,100)	(79,800)	(110,600)	(53,000)	(36,900)	(68,000)	(92,600)	(117,200)	(87,000)	(115,100)	(82,100)	127,800)	(2,500)	(113,200)
Proceeds from long-term debt, net of discounts	—)	—)	—)	1,398,900)	—)	—)	—)	—)	3,995,800)	—)	1,991,000)	—)	—)	5,500,000)	—)	—)	—)	2,490,100)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Repayment of long-term debt	—)	—)	(831,400)	(475,000)	(75,000)	(537,500)	(37,500)	(537,500)	(3,820,000)	(602,800)	(972,200)	(37,500)	(1,037,500)	(1,105,300)	(1,210,500)	(1,110,600)	(1,407,900)	(157,800)	(158,000)	(157,900)	(157,900)	(157,900)	(1,457,900)
Treasury stock acquired	—)	—)	(420,700)	(202,300)	(715,700)	(1,182,600)	(837,400)	(854,200)	(572,500)	(211,000)	(3,109,200)	—)	—)	(5,500,000)	—)	(819,500)	(1,013,600)	(2,041,700)	(618,200)	(2,502,700)	(751,500)	(501,000)	(300,000)
Net proceeds from employee stock plans	92,700)	23,900)	82,300)	29,700)	13,800)	23,000)	14,500)	31,200)	20,100)	24,800)	11,100)	28,100)	25,500)	80,700)	48,800)	91,100)	107,300)	61,800)	250,300)	82,400)	112,600)	165,100)	105,900)
Commercial paper borrowings (repayments), net	—)	—)	(195,000)	194,800)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Excess tax benefit relating to employee stock-based compensation	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	1,900)	1,400)	1,500)	8,200)	5,200)	4,700)	14,500)	33,800)	18,600)	9,500)	13,000)	52,900)	19,500)	8,400)	12,600)	2,200)
Other, net	(23,600)	(12,600)	(7,200)	(22,400)	(6,200)	(10,200)	(6,100)	(9,700)	(40,300)	(16,100)	(19,300)	(8,700)	(11,100)	(39,100)	(8,600)	(10,800)	(10,400)	(31,400)	(4,400)	(14,100)	4,500)	(4,800)	(2,300)
Net cash used in financing activities	69,100)	11,300)	(1,372,000)	923,700)	(783,100)	(1,707,300)	(866,500)	(1,368,300)	(415,500)	(803,600)	(2,090,400)	(12,900)	(1,018,400)	(1,049,200)	(1,136,500)	(1,831,200)	(2,315,100)	334,000)	(477,400)	(2,572,800)	(783,900)	(486,000)	(1,652,100)
Net cash used in operating activities, discontinued operations	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	9,300)	4,700)	(24,800)	(600)
Net cash used in investing activities, discontinued operations	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	(1,400)	(700)
Net cash used in discontinued operations	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	9,300)	4,700)	(26,200)	(1,300)
Effect of foreign currency translation adjustment	4,000)	(6,500)	(2,100)	(500)	2,400)	2,200)	800)	(1,400)	(1,300)	100)	3,800)	(2,400)	(4,400)	1,400)	(3,700)	(2,800)	(3,200)	2,300)	(2,500)	(1,200)	700)	(3,700)	(1,500)
Cash (increase) decrease attributable to discontinued operations	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	(9,900)	(4,100)	26,900)	500)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	763,400)	624,700)	8,000)	(1,086,300)	1,043,400)	(811,300)	86,600)	772,500)	980,300)	(446,700)	(1,415,200)	2,748,100)	(282,800)	(184,800)	(926,800)	997,800)	(2,000,400)	984,800)	(141,000)	269,100)	380,400)	(647,600)	(803,600)

Operational cash flow exhibits a strong positive correlation with net income, characterized by significant quarterly seasonality. Net income from continuing operations shows a general upward trajectory over the analyzed period, with pronounced peaks consistently occurring in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. This pattern is most evident in December 2017, where net income reached a peak of $2.33 billion.

Operating Cash Flow and Working Capital Dynamics: Net cash provided by operating activities fluctuates significantly due to the volatility of working capital. Changes in operating assets and liabilities, specifically "Claims and rebates payable" and "Receivables," act as the primary drivers of these swings. Large inflows in the fourth quarters often offset smaller or negative flows in earlier quarters, suggesting a cyclical reconciliation of claims and rebates. For instance, the substantial increase in operating cash flow in December 2013 and December 2014 was heavily influenced by positive adjustments in operating liabilities.
Investment Expenditure and Strategic Acquisitions: Investing activities are dominated by consistent capital expenditures for property, equipment, and software, which typically range between $45 million and $150 million per quarter. A major shift in investing behavior occurred in the first quarter of 2018, marked by a significant cash outflow of $3.38 billion for acquisitions, net of cash acquired. This outlier represents a strategic departure from the otherwise steady maintenance-level capital spending observed between 2013 and 2017.
Financing and Capital Allocation Strategy: The financing profile is characterized by aggressive shareholder returns and active debt management. Treasury stock acquisitions are a recurring feature, with substantial buybacks frequently exceeding $500 million per quarter, including a notable $5.5 billion outflow in June 2015. These buybacks are intermittently funded by the issuance of long-term debt, as seen in June 2015 ($5.5 billion) and September 2016 ($3.99 billion), followed by consistent quarterly repayments of long-term debt to manage leverage.
Liquidity and Net Cash Position: The net increase or decrease in cash and cash equivalents is highly volatile, reflecting the timing of large-scale financing activities and acquisition costs rather than operational instability. While operating cash flows provide a consistent foundation for liquidity, the net cash position is frequently impacted by the magnitude of debt repayments and share repurchases, leading to alternating quarters of significant cash accumulation and depletion.

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Express Scripts Holding Co. (NASDAQ:ESRX)

Cash Flow StatementQuarterly Data

Cash Flow Statement
Quarterly Data