Free Cash Flow Yield Definition Formula and How to Calculate

Free Cash Flow Yield: Definition, Formula, and Calculation

Free Cash Flow Yield: Definition, Formula, and Calculation

In the world of finance, free cash flow yield is an important metric that investors use to evaluate the profitability and financial health of a company. It provides insight into how much cash a company generates relative to its market value. By calculating the free cash flow yield, investors can assess the attractiveness of an investment opportunity and compare it to other companies in the same industry.

The free cash flow yield is calculated by dividing a company’s free cash flow by its market capitalization and expressing the result as a percentage. The formula for calculating free cash flow yield is as follows:

Free Cash Flow Yield = Free Cash Flow / Market Capitalization * 100

Free cash flow is the cash generated by a company after deducting capital expenditures necessary to maintain and expand its business operations. It represents the cash available to the company for distribution to investors, debt repayment, or reinvestment in the business.

Market capitalization, on the other hand, is the total value of a company’s outstanding shares of stock. It is calculated by multiplying the current share price by the number of outstanding shares.

By dividing the free cash flow by the market capitalization and multiplying the result by 100, the free cash flow yield provides a percentage that indicates how much cash a company generates relative to its market value.

Investors use the free cash flow yield to determine the attractiveness of an investment opportunity. A higher free cash flow yield suggests that a company is generating more cash relative to its market value, which can be seen as a positive sign. On the other hand, a lower free cash flow yield may indicate that a company is generating less cash compared to its market value, which can be seen as a negative sign.

Free Cash Flow Yield is a financial metric that is used to assess the profitability and investment potential of a company. It is calculated by dividing the free cash flow of a company by its market capitalization.

What is Free Cash Flow?

Free cash flow is the cash generated by a company after deducting its operating expenses, capital expenditures, and taxes. It represents the amount of cash that is available to be distributed to shareholders, reinvested in the business, or used to pay off debt.

Why is Free Cash Flow Yield important?

Free Cash Flow Yield is an important metric for investors because it provides insight into a company’s ability to generate cash and return value to shareholders. A high free cash flow yield indicates that a company is generating a significant amount of cash relative to its market value, which can be an attractive investment opportunity.

How to calculate Free Cash Flow Yield?

To calculate Free Cash Flow Yield, you need to know the free cash flow of a company and its market capitalization. The formula is as follows:

Free Cash Flow Yield = Free Cash Flow / Market Capitalization

Free Cash Flow is typically found in a company’s financial statements, such as its cash flow statement or annual report. Market capitalization can be calculated by multiplying the company’s share price by its number of outstanding shares.

Interpreting Free Cash Flow Yield