Statement of Cash Flows Page 138 Chapter 5
ACTIVITY 43 UNDERSTANDING THE STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Purpose: • Understand positive amounts indicate cash inflows and negative amounts
indicate cash outflows.
• Identify operating, investing, and financing activities.
The ongoing operation of any business depends on its ability to generate cash from operations. It is cash
that an organization needs to pay employees, suppliers, creditors, and investors … not profits. Therefore,
the real issue is cash. The statement of cash flows organizes cash inflows and cash outflows as operating
activities, investing activities, and financing activities because …
MANAGEMENT uses accounting information to make decisions regarding
Financing —> Investing —> Operating —>
FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Creditors lend and owners contribute $$$ to finance a company.
INVESTING ACTIVITIES: The $$$ obtained through financing is used to purchase revenue–
generating assets such as property, plant, and equipment (PPE) and
investment securities.
OPERATING ACTIVITIES: PPE and other revenue-producing assets are used to manufacture
goods, offer services, and generate dividends and interest, that in turn
result in $$$ profits.
FINANCING ACTIVITIES: $$$ profits are reinvested to internally finance the company.
INVESTING ACTIVITIES: $$$ obtained through financing are used to purchase revenue–
producing assets … and the cycle continues.
TRANSACTIONS REPORTED ON THE STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
OPERATING ACTIVITIES (Direct Method)
CASH INFLOWS
Cash from customers
Cash from interest and dividends
Other operating cash receipts
CASH OUTFLOWS
Cash paid to suppliers
Cash paid to employees
Interest paid
Other operating cash payments
CASH INFLOWS
Sell property, plant, equipment
Sell investment securities
Receive loan repayments
CASH OUTFLOWS
Purchase property, plant, equipment
Purchase securities
Make loans
CASH INFLOWS
Borrow cash from creditors
Issue debt securities (bonds)
Issue equity securities (capital stock)
CASH OUTFLOWS
Repay amounts borrowed (debt principal)
Repurchase equity shares (treasury stock)
Pay cash dividends