Operating cash flow
The money the core business actually delivered to the bank account over the period.
How to read the number
Profit is an accountant's opinion; cash flow is a bank statement. Any gap between the two deserves an explanation.
When the metric lies
Cash flow can be flattered temporarily by delaying payments to suppliers. One good quarter driven by working capital says nothing about the business.
Where it is used
The metric is calculated across every security in the catalogue and appears on the instrument card, in the multiples table and in the screener.
Also known as: operating cash flow, ocf, cash flow from operations