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.
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31).
Analysis of the quarterly cash flow data from March 2018 through September 2023 reveals a significant expansion in profitability and operating cash generation, coupled with a strategic approach to capital allocation through periodic acquisitions and consistent shareholder returns.
- Operating Cash Flow and Profitability Trends
- Net income from continuing operations exhibited a strong upward trajectory, particularly starting in 2022. While quarterly earnings generally ranged between 60 million and 130 million US dollars from 2018 to 2021, they surged to a higher plateau in 2023, frequently exceeding 200 million US dollars. Net cash provided by operating activities followed a similar growth pattern, though it was characterized by periodic volatility. A notable exception occurred in the first quarter of 2022, where operating cash flow turned negative due to substantial increases in accounts receivable and inventories, indicating a period of intense working capital absorption.
- Investment Strategy and Capital Expenditures
- Capital expenditures remained relatively stable, typically fluctuating between 17 million and 36 million US dollars per quarter, with a peak outflow of 62.1 million US dollars in the fourth quarter of 2022. The company engaged in several large-scale acquisitions, most notably a significant investment of 1.1 billion US dollars in early 2018 and a 237.6 million US dollar acquisition in late 2020. These outflows were partially offset by strategic divestitures, including a substantial cash inflow of 348.6 million US dollars from the disposal of a business in the first quarter of 2022.
- Financing Activities and Shareholder Returns
- A disciplined approach to shareholder returns is evident in the steady growth of dividend payments, which increased from approximately 42 million US dollars per quarter in 2018 to 60 million US dollars per quarter by 2023. Financing activities were marked by strategic debt management, including a large issuance of long-term debt in early 2018 and periodic repayments throughout the period. Share repurchases were executed sporadically, with a significant acquisition of common shares totaling 144 million US dollars in the first quarter of 2022, coinciding with the cash inflow from business disposals.
- Liquidity and Cash Position
- The overall change in cash and cash equivalents fluctuated considerably due to the timing of major investing and financing events. However, the underlying growth in operating cash flow has provided a robust foundation for funding both organic growth via capital expenditures and inorganic growth through acquisitions, while maintaining an increasing dividend payout.
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