JoePonziosFWallStreet

OwnerEarningsvs.
FreeCashFlow

In his 1986 Letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, Warren
Buffettlaidoutadefinitionandequationforownerearningsa
numberthathesaidistherelevantitemforvaluationpurposes
both for investors in buying stocks and for managers in buying
entirebusinesses.
Managers
thinking
about
accounting issues should never
forget one of Abraham Lincolns
favorite riddles: How many legs
doesadoghaveifyoucallhistail
aleg?Theanswer:Four,because
callingatailalegdoesnotmakeit
aleg.WarrenBuffett
   
    
      

   
   







    
 

Whatisownerearnings?Beforewegetintoafullexplanation,lets
layforthBuffettsformula,aswrittenintheaforementionedletter:
[Owner earnings] represent (a) reported earnings plus (b)
depreciation, depletion, amortization, and certain other noncash
charges...less (c) the average annual amount of capitalized
expenditures for plant and equipment, etc. that the business
requirestofullymaintainitslongtermcompetitivepositionandits
unitvolume.
Itsamouthful;hence,theneedforthediscussioncontainedherein.
Ofcourse,investorsasagrouptendtohaveaneedforimmediate
gratificationandtendtoseekoutasingle,simple,quickformulafor
investing. Because of those needs, free cash flow was born as the
armchairinvestorsownerearnings.
Thoughattimesfreecashflowandownerearningsaresubstantially
thesame,therearetimesthattheydiffergreatlywhichcanhavea
verysignificantimpactonaninvestorsestimationofintrinsicvalue.
This report will outline the major differences between owner
earningsandfreecashflow.Itassumesthatthereaderhas,atthe
very least, a rudimentary understanding of financial terms and
financialstatements.
For additional information and more examples, visit Joe Ponzios
www.FWallStreet.com.

Page 1 of 20

TheStartUp
XWidgetIncorporated
Forthisdiscussionoffreecashflowversusownerearnings,wellstartbyanalyzingafictionalcompany:
XWidget Incorporated. In doing so, the reader should end up with a strong grasp of how the income
statement,balancesheet,andstatementofcashflowsaretiedtogethertogiveaclearpictureofthe
financialhealthandperformanceofabusiness.
XWidgetInc.isastartupcompanyinthebusinessofsellingwidgets.TostartXWidgetInc.,theowner
BobdecidestobearthecostsofincorporatingsothatXWidgetstartswithacleanslate.Hisattorney
creates 10,000 shares of stock and gives Bob 1,000 shares, each with a par value of $1.00. Bob then
invests$50,000.Thus,beforeanysalesandbeforeanyotherbusinessisconducted,XWidgetsincome
statementiszeronoincomeorexpensesanditsday1(inthiscase,January1)balancesheetisas
follows:
January 1, 2006
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash & Cash Equivalents
Accounts Receivable
Inventory
Total Current Assets
Total Assets

Liabilities & Stockholders Equity

Current Liabilities:
Accounts Payable
Accrued Expenses
Total Current Liabilities
Stockholders Equity:
Common Stock, 10,000 shares authorized,
1,000 issued and outstanding
Additional Paid-In Capital
Total Stockholders Equity
Total Liabilities & Stockholders Equity

50,000

50,000
50,000

1,000
49,000
50,000
50,000

Following this balance sheet is pretty straightforward. Bob put $50,000 into his business checking
account; hence, $50,000 in Cash & Cash Equivalents. It wasnt a loan to the company; rather, Bob
investedinhiscompany.His1,000sharesofstockhaveaparvalueof$1.00pershareor,$1,000.
Whenheinvested$50,000intohiscompany,$1,000ofthatwenttocoverthe$1,000parvalueofstock
and the rest went in as Additional PaidIn Capital  money Bob invested above and beyond the par
valueofthestock.

Page 2 of 20

In this simple startup example, the balance sheet tells just about the whole story to this point. In a
morecomplexexample,investorswoulddefinitelywanttoseeastatementofcashflows.Letslookat
thecashflowsforthisperiod,andthengetintobusiness:
For the period ended
January 1, 2006
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net Income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
Inventory
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Net cash provided by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchases of property and equipment
Net cash flows from investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from issuance of treasury stock
Changes in additional paid-in capital
Net cash flows from financing activities

1,000
49,000
50,000

Cash & Cash equivalents, beginning

Cash & Cash equivalents, ending

50,000

Asyoucanseefromthisstatementofcashflows,nothingwasgeneratedfromtheincomestatement
(thenetincome)andyousawthattherewerenochangesininventories,accountspayable/receivable,
etc.Thatis,therewasabsolutelynocashflowfromoperatingactivitiesbecausethebusinessdidnot
startoperating.Nopropertyorequipmentwaspurchased;so,therewasnocashflowfrominvesting
activities.Thebalancesheetshowed$50,000ofcash$50,000morethanithadbeforeBobinvested.
Hisinvestmentisreflectedinthecashflowsfromfinancingactivities.

TheFirstSale(andQuarter)
NowthatXWidgetInc.hasbeenfunded,itisreadytohitthegroundrunning.Bobbuysawidgetstamp
 the $20,000 machine he desperately needs to start making widgets. He spends $1,000 on business
cards, brochures, and other marketing materials. In addition, his new business phone is going to cost
him$50amonth.
Readytomakehisfirstmillions,Bobhiresacommissiononlysalesreptopoundthestreetsanddrum
up business. Bob estimates that the cost of manufacturing a widget is $5,000. If he sells them for
$10,000andgivesthesalesrepa25%commission($2,500),Bobwillturnanoperatingprofitof25%,or

Page 3 of 20

$2,500 for each widget sold ($10,000 minus $2,500 in commissions minus $5,000 cost to produce =
$2,500).
Bytheway:Tokeepthingssimple,Bobwillbeoperatingoutofhisgarageandwontbepayinganyrent
ortakinganyhomewriteoffs.
OnFebruary15,2006,thesalesrepbringsinanorderforfivewidgetsatotalorderof$50,000.Bob
recordsthesaleinhisaccountingsoftwareandgetstomakingtheproduct.Ittakessixweekstomake
thewidgets,includingdelivery,andthecustomerhasthirtydaystopayuponacceptance.Assumingthe
customerholdspaymentuntilthelastpossiblemoment,Bobshouldcollectacheckfor$50,000around
theendofApril.
ThefirstquartercomestoacloseonMarch31,2006,andBobprepareshisfinancialstatements:
January 1, 2006 to
March 31, 2006
Income Statement
Gross Revenues
Cost of goods sold
Gross Operating Profit

Expenses
Marketing
Telephone
Commissions
Depreciation
Total Expenses

50,000
(25,000)
25,000

(1,000)
(150)
(12,500)
(500)
(14,150)

Earnings, before taxes

Provision for taxes
Net Income

Net Income per Share

10,850
(1,628)
9,222
9.22

Notmanybusinessesturnaprofittheirveryfirstquarter.Bytraditionalmeasures(particularlythoseon
WallStreet),Bobsbusinessisdoingextremelywell.Wenowturntocheckouthisbalancesheet:
[nextpage]






Page 4 of 20

March 31, 2006

Assets
Current Assets:
Cash & Cash Equivalents
Accounts Receivable
Inventory
Total Current Assets
Plant, Property, & Equipment, net
Total Assets

272
50,000

50,272
19,500
69,772

Liabilities & Stockholders Equity

Current Liabilities:
Accounts Payable
Accrued Expenses
Total Current Liabilities

50
10,500
10,550

Stockholders Equity:
Common Stock, 10,000 shares authorized,
1,000 issued and outstanding
Additional Paid-In Capital
Retained Earnings
Total Stockholders Equity
Total Liabilities & Stockholders Equity

1,000
49,000
9,222
59,222
69,772

Thingsseemtobeinorder.Shareholderequityisup$9,222or18%fromwhenXWidgetstartedjust
three months earlier. We see the $50,000 order under Accounts Receivable. That is the sale that is
outstandingwiththecustomer.XWidgetjustmadedeliveryoftheproductyesterdayandthecustomer
hasthirtydaystopaythe$50,000.
Weseecashofjust$272.Wellgettothatinthestatementofcashflows.
Thecompanyhassomephysicalassetsintheformofa$20,000widgetstamp.Inthiscase,XWidgetInc.
isdepreciatingitovertenyears,attherateof$2,000ayear,or$500aquarter.So,Plant,Property,&
Equipment(PPE)showsthe$20,000widgetstampminus$500indepreciationfortheperiod.
AccountsPayableis$50.Thephonebillis$50amonth.AsofMarch31,2006,XWidgethadreceived
three $50 phone bills for a total phone expense of $150. We saw that on the income statement. The
phonebillisdueonthetenthdayofthemonthfollowingtheendofthebillingcycle;so,XWidgetInc.
hasreceivedthreebills,buthasonlypaidtwoofthem.Themostrecentbill(for$50)forthemonthof
MarchisdueonApril10th.Thus,thecompanyhasanAccountsPayablebalanceof$50.
XWidgetInc.rackedup$10,500inAccruedExpenses.Wellgettothatinthestatementofcashflows.
Finally,thecompanyhad$9,222ofnetincome,whichtranslatesinto$9,222ofRetainedEarningsunder
ShareholderEquity.

Page 5 of 20

If,atthispoint,youarethinkingaboutthe$10,500ofAccruedExpensesortheanemic$272ofcashin
thebank,youarestartingtoseetheabsurdityoflookingsolelyattheincomestatement.Letsmoveon
tothecompanysstatementofcashflows:
January 1, 2006 to
March 31, 2006
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net Income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
Inventory
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Net cash provided by operating activities

9,222

500
(50,000)

50
10,500
(29,728)

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchases of property and equipment
Net cash flows from investing activities

(20,000)
(20,000)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from issuance of treasury stock
Changes in additional paid-in capital
Net cash flows from financing activities

1,000
49,000
50,000

Cash & Cash equivalents, beginning

Cash & Cash equivalents, ending

272

Forillustrativepurposes,wellbeginfromthebottomandworkbackwards.Weknowthatthecompany
hadabsolutelynocashatthebeginningofthequarter(justbeforeBobinvestedhis$50,000).Lookingat
the balance sheet, we also know that the company has just $272 in the bank. That takes care of the
beginningandendinglinesofCash&Cashequivalents.
Movinguptofinancingactivities:Bobinvested$50,000intohiscompanyonJanuary1,2006.Wewent
throughthatbefore.SufficeittosaythatBobdidnotinvestorwithdrawanymoneyduringthisquarter.
Movinguptoinvestingactivities:Bobspent$20,000onawidgetstamptheequipmentheneedsto
makethewidgetsthathissalesrepwillsell.Thewidgetstamprequiredacashoutlayof$20,000;thus,
thisfigureisnegative.XWidgetInc.didnothaveanyotherinvestingactivity.
Finally,wemoveuptooperatingactivities:Weneedtoreconcilethe$9,222ofnetincomeXWidget
reportedonitsincomestatementtotheactualcashconsumedorgeneratedbytheoperationsofthe
business.Inthiscase,westartwiththe$9,222ofnetincome,becausethatwasthereportedamount.
Now, we add and subtract operating items that required or generated cash that was not otherwise
reflectedintheincomestatement.

Page 6 of 20

First, depreciation of $500. Rather than taking a $20,000 deduction on the companys income
statement,Bobisabletowriteoffapieceofthewidgetstampforeachofthenexttenyears.Inthis
case, Bob is writing $500 off his tax return each quarter for the next forty quarters. Although it is a
perfectly legal writeoff, the depreciation does notrequire a cash outlay; so,we add the depreciation
backintothe$9,222aswereconcilenetincometonetcashfromoperations.
Next, Accounts Receivable of $50,000. XWidget Inc. recorded $50,000 of revenue, but has not yet
collectedthatrevenue;so,itisachargethataffectednetincomefromoperations,butdidnotactually
provide (or require) cash from operations. So, we have to back out the $50,000 from net income by
showinganegativenumberfortheincreaseinAccountsReceivable.
Inventory.Bobhasnotmanufacturedanyinventorythathasyettobesold;so,thisisunchanged.
AccountsPayable.XWidgetInc.showeda$150expenseforthephonebill,butitonlypaidout$100.
(See the Accounts Payable discussion above.) The company wrote off $150, but only used $100 of
cash;so,AccountsPayableincreasedby$50andweneedtoaddthatincreaseintofurtherreconcilenet
incometonetcashfromoperations.
Finally,AccruedExpenses.Hereswhereitgetshairy.RecallthatBobofferedhissalesassociatea25%
commission for selling widgets. With a $50,000 order in hand, the sales associate earned a $12,500
commission. Afterspending$20,000onthewidgetstamp,spendinganother$25,000onthe products
neededtomanufacturethewidgets,havingpaid$100ofphonebills,havingspent$1,000onmarketing
materials,andhavingwrittenUncleSamacheckfor$1,628intaxes,Bobdidnothaveenoughcashleft
to pay the full commission. Bob had spent $47,728 of the $50,000 in the bank leaving him with just
$2,272; so, he gave his sales associate$2,000 upfront and promised him the other $10,500 when the
customerpaidinfull.
So, XWidget has to carry a $10,500 Accrued Expense  $12,500 in commission deducted from net
incomeminus$2,000ofcashthatwaspaidtothesalesassociate.Thatis,$12,500affectednetincome,
butonly$2,000affectedcash,leavingabalanceof$10,500.
Andthatshowthisprofitablebusinesswentfrom$50,000inthebanktojust$272.

Bobvs.TheGovernment
GAAPEarningsvs.FreeCashFlowvs.OwnerEarnings
AsfarasUncleSamisconcerned,Bobsbusinessisthriving.With$10,850ofpretaxearnings,UncleSam
wantshis$1,628pieceofthepie.WallStreetwouldalsorejoiceinBobssuccess.Withamodestprice
toearningsratioof10,Bobsstockwouldbetradingat$92.22($9.22persharex10).Hedbeableto
sellhisbusinessinthestockmarketfor$92,220his1,000sharestimes$92.22ashare.
Andperhapsheshould.

Page 7 of 20

Lets take a look at XWidget from Bobs perspective  an owners perspective  by calculating owner
earningsandfreecashflow.
Freecashflowissimplycalculatedas:



 Netcashprovidedbyoperatingactivities
+ Purchasesofpropertyandequipment(CapitalExpenditures,rememberthisisnegative)

InthecaseofXWidget,thiswouldcomeoutto:




 $(29,728) Netcashprovidedbyoperatingactivities
+ $(20,000)  Purchasesofpropertyandequipment
 $(49,728) FreeCashFlow

Inthiscase,weseethatthebusinessoperationsafterspendingthemoneytobuythewidgetstamp,
without which there would be no operations  required $49,728 in cash. Now, lets get owners
earnings:






+
+
+

ReportedEarnings
Depreciation,Depletion,andAmortization
CertainOtherNonCashCharges(thatis,changesinworkingcapital)
AverageAnnualCapitalExpenditures(whenexpressedasanegativenumber)

Wellgolinebyline:









+
+
+
+
+


$
$
$
$
$
$
$

9,222
500
(50,000)
50
10,500
(913) 
(30,641)

NetIncome
Depreciation
AccountsReceivable
AccountsPayable
AccruedExpenses
AverageAnnual(inthiscase,Quarterly)CapitalExpenditures
OwnerEarnings

If you are thinking, Everything makes sense until the $ (913) of capital expenditures. You lost me
there,dontworry.Heresthefirstdiscrepancybetweenfreecashflowandownerearnings:
Free cash flow generally assumes that all capital expenditures are average annual capital
expenditures. Though it is entirely possible that XWidget Inc. would have to spend $20,000 each
quartertomaintainitsunitoutput,itstotallyimpracticalandimprobable.Ifthewidgetstampisonly
goodforfivewidgets,andthenithastobereplacedfor$20,000,XWidgetcouldnotpossiblysellthem
forjust$10,000apiece.
Ownerearningsrequiresabitmoreinsightandthought.Inthiscase,XWidgetexpectstorunthewidget
stampfortenyears,afterwhichitwillsellitforscrapforabout$2,000.Inthefirstyear,itwontrequire
$3,000.
any maintenance; in the second year, Bob will have to invest $500 for regular maintenance of the

Page 8 of 20

widgetstamp.Asthemachineages,Bobwillhavetospendmoreandmoretokeepitrunning,untilit
makessensetoscrapthemachineandbuyanewone.
Totofullymaintainitslongtermcompetitivepositionanditsunitvolume,XWidgetwillreplacethe
machine every ten years, and will invest a total of $19,500 over those ten years to keep it running
smoothtomaintainitsunitvolume.
So,XWidgetscapitalexpendituresforthenexttenyearswouldlooklikethis:















Year1:
Year2:
Year3:
Year4:
Year5:
Year6:
Year7:
Year8:
Year9:
Year10:
Year10:
Total:
Annual:
Quarterly:

$ (20,000)
$
(500)
$ (1,000)
$ (1,500)
$ (2,000)
$ (2,500)
$ (3,000)
$ (3,000)
$ (3,000)
$ (3,000)
$
3,000 
$ (36,500)
$ (3,650)
$ (912.50)

Buythewidgetstamp
Regularmaintenance
Regularmaintenance
Regularmaintenance
Regularmaintenance
Regularmaintenance
Regularmaintenance
Regularmaintenance
Regularmaintenance
Regularmaintenance
Saleofwidgetstampatendofyear10
TotalCapitalExpendituresovertenyears
AverageAnnualCapitalExpenditures
AverageQuarterlyCapitalExpenditures

AfterYear10,XWidgetwouldshelloutanother$20,000orthegoingrate atthattime foranew

widgetstampandstartthecycleagain.
Andso,lookingatthreedifferentmeasures,weseethreeverydifferentstories.GAAPearningstellus
BobsbusinessisveryprofitableandthatBobismakingmoneyhandoverfist.Wecertainlyknowthats
not the case because Bob shelled out $50,000 and still cant afford to pay his sales associate a
commission(norcanhepayhimselfadime!)
Looking at Free Cash Flow, we see a business that is operating at a $49,728 deficit. Though that was
absolutely the case for the first quarter, we shouldnt expect that to be the case going forward,
assumingitsbusinessasusual.Bobwillnotneedtospend$20,000aquarteroncapitalexpenditures.
WithOwnerEarnings,weseeabusinessthatrequired$30,641ofcashforitsoperationsinthisquarter.
WhileFreeCashFlowgivesamoreaccurateportrayaloftheparticularquartersperformance,Owner
Earningstakesastepbackandlooksatthebusinessasanongoingconcernovermanyyears.
Atthispoint,youmaybethinking,Well,Iliketoplayitsafe;so,IthinkFreeCashFlowisbetter.Lets
lookatafewmorequartersbeforeyoujumptoanyconclusions.Laterinthisdiscussion,welltalkabout
afewothercaveatsofFreeCashFlowthatcanmakeitasomewhatlessattractivethanownerearnings
particularlywhenthereismoretothecashflowstatementthaninthefollowing,simplifiedexample.

Page 9 of 20

XWidgetPerformance
ThreeYearsofFinancialPerformance
IncomeStatement,forthefiscalyearsendedDecember31,
2008
Gross Revenues
Cost of goods sold
Gross Operating Profit
Gross Margin

Expenses
Marketing
Telephone
Commission
Depreciation
Salaries
Total Expenses
Earnings, before taxes
Provision for taxes
Net Income

340,000
(163,200)
176,800
52%

2007
$

260,000
(128,700)
131,300
51%

2006
$

170,000
(85,000)
85,000
50%

(4,000)
(600)
(85,000)
(2,150)
(76,000)
(167,750)

(3,200)
(600)
(65,000)
(2,050)
(58,000)
(128,850)

(1,800)
(600)
(42,500)
(2,000)
(36,000)
(82,900)

9,050
(1,358)

2,450
(368)

2,100
(315)

7,693

2,083

1,785

Earnings Per Share

$
7.69
$
2.08
$
1.79

Ataquickglance,youcanseethatXWidgethasbeenincreasingitsgrossmargin.Itscostinglessand
lesstomakemoreandmorewidgets.Thiscouldbeafunctionoflowermaterialcosts;or,itcouldbe
thatXWidgetisgettingbetterpricingbecauseofthevolumeofbusinessitisdoingwithitssuppliers.
(Youdhavetochecktheannualreportstofindout.)
The company has been increasing its marketing efforts which can be a good thing if the marketing is
effective. Depreciation has been creeping up  a result of the ongoing regular maintenance
expenditureslaidoutpreviously.
Bobbegantakingasalaryin2006,andhasbeenincreasingthatovertimefrom$36,000to$76,000.
Letsturntothebalancesheetsonthenextpage.




Page 10 of 20

XWidgetPerformance
ThreeYearsofFinancialPerformance
BalanceSheet,asofDecember31,
2008
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash & Cash Equivalents $
Accounts Receivable
Inventories
Total Current Assets
PPE, net
TOTAL ASSETS

1,311
30,000
15,000
46,311
15,300
61,611

LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY

Current Liabilities
Accounts Payable
50
Accrued Expenses

Total Current Liabilities

50
Stockholders Equity
Common Stock,
10,000 shares
authorized, 1,000
issued and
outstanding
Addl Paid-In Capital
Retained Earnings
Total Equity
TOTAL LIABILITIES &
STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY

2007

2006

7,468
25,000
5,000
37,468
16,450
53,918

3,835
20,000
10,000
33,835
18,000
51,835

50

50

50

50

1,000
49,000
11,561
61,561

1,000
49,000
3,868
53,868

1,000
49,000
1,785
51,785

61,661

53,918

51,835

Summary:Eachyear,XWidgetshasendedtheyearwithmoresalesoutstandingthantheprioryear
notacauseforjoyorconcern;itiswhatitis.Wellseeifitsproblematicinownerearnings.Wealsosee
thatthecompanybuiltaninventoryof$10,000in2006,depleteditabitin2007,andbuiltitbackupin
2008.PPEshowstheongoingdepreciationofthewidgetstampasitbecomeslessandlessvaluable.
Ontheliabilitiesside,weseethatthecompanyendseachyearwith$50ofAccountsPayable.Thatisthe
$50DecemberphonebillthatisdueonJanuary10thofthefollowingyear.
Finally,weseethatretainedearningshasgrownasthecompanycontinuestoshowprofitseachyear.
Letsmoveontothestatementofcashflows.

Page 11 of 20

XWidgetPerformance
ThreeYearsofFinancialPerformance
StatementofCashFlows,forthefiscalyearsendedDecember31,
2008
Operating Activities:
Net Income
$
Adjustments to reconcile
net income to net cash
provided by operating
activities:
Depreciation
Changes in operating
assets and liabilities:
Accounts Receivable
Inventories
Accounts Payable
Accrued Expenses
Net cash provided by
Operating activities:
Investing Activities:
Capital Expenditures
Net cash provided by
Investing activities:
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance
of treasury stock
Changes in additional
Paid-in capital
Net cash provided by
Financing activities:
Cash, beginning
Cash, ending

2007

7,693

2,150

2006

2,083

2,050

1,785

2,000

(5,000)
(10,000)

(5,000)
5,000

(20,000)
(10,000)
50

(5,157)

4,133

(26,165)

(1,000)

(500)

(20,000)

(1,000)

(500)

(20,000)

1,000

49,000

50,000

7,468
1,311

3,835
7,468

3,835

AndnowwecanpiecetogetherthewholestoryandcomeupwithFreeCashFlowandOwnerEarnings.
Inthiscase,weseethatthecompanyhad$20,000moreinAccountsReceivableattheendof2006than
ithadinthebeginningoftheyear.In2007,ithad$5,000morethanattheendof2006;in2008,ithad
$5,000morethanin2007.(Thisisconfirmedonthebalancesheet.)

Page 12 of 20

Wealsoseehowtheinventoriesaffectedcashtobuildthe$10,000inventoryreservein2006required
$10,000ofcash.In2007,thecompanyreduceditsinventoryby$5,000thatis,itsold$5,000worthof
widgetsitdidnothavetomanufacturethatyear,resultinginadditionalcashfromthenetincome(thus
thepositiveinventorychangein2007).
LetsgettotheFreeCashFlowversusOwnerEarningscalculations:
2008
Free Cash Flow:
Cash from Operations
Capital Expenditures
Total Free Cash Flow:
Owner Earnings:
Net Income
Depreciation
Accounts Receivable
Inventories
Accounts Payable
Capital Expenditures
Total Owner Earnings:

(5,157)
(1,000)
(6,157)

7,693
2,150
(5,000)
(10,000)

(3,650)
(8,807)

2007
$

4,133
(500)
3,633

2,083
2,050
(5,000)
5,000

(3,650)
483

2006
$

(26,165)
(20,000)
(46,165)

1,785
2,000
(20,000)
(10,000)
50
(3,650)
(29,815)

ThebigdifferencebetweenthesetwonumbersinthisverysimplifiedexampleisthatFreeCashFlow
doesnottakeintoaccountfuturecapitalspending,treatingitinsteadlikeaonetimeeventinthepast.
As Buffett explained, [Ignoring future capital expenditures implies] that the business being offered is
the commercial counterpart of the Pyramids  forever stateoftheart, never needing to be replaced,
improvedorrefurbished.
Withownerearnings,youareattemptingtofigureouthowmuchcashwouldbeleftoverforownersif
thebusinessbudgetedforfuturecapitalexpenditures.Somebusinessesdoplanandbudgetverywell,
thus helping assure investors that capital expenditures will remain fairly constant from year to year.
Such is not the case with XWidgets. For example, in 2009 XWidgets will need to spend $1,500 to
maintainitswidgetstampmachine.Thecompanyhasjust$1,311incash.
As sales come in, Bob will figure out how to budget for this years spending. What about next year?
What will happen in 2016 when the widget stamp will have to be entirely replaced for $20,000 (or
more)? In this example, Free Cash Flow shows a tough business; Owner Earnings shows a business
thatisheadedforcertaintroubleifitcontinuesonitspresentcourse.Come2016,Bobwillhavetoput
upmorecash,thushurtinghisreturnoninvestment.Inthepublicmarkets,thisistheequivalentofyour
companyissuingdebtorstock,therebydilutingyourownershipandhurtingyourreturnoninvestment
(viareducedintrinsicvalue).
ThedifferencebetweenFreeCashFlowandOwnerEarningsextendsfarbeyondtheprojectionofcapital
expenditures.Tobetterunderstand,letslookatamorecomplicatedexample.

Page 13 of 20

$ (7,542)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

Expenditures for Property

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$ 9,513
$
$
$ 1,547
$
$
$
$
$ 2,362
$ (3,751)
$ 1,694
$ 1,799
$
(937)
$
$
$
$ 36,977
$
663
$ (3,412)
$ 4,349
$ 7,507
$
224

Adjustments to reconcile loss from continuing operations to net cash provided by (used
in) continuing operating activities:
Depreciation, impairments and amortization expense
Mortgage servicing rights and premium amortization
Goodwill impairment GMAC
Delphi charge
Loss on sale of 51% interest in GMAC
Provision for credit financing losses
Net gains on sale of credit receivables
Net gains on sale of investment securities
Other postretirement employee benefit (OPEB) expense
OPEB payments
VEBA/401(h) withdrawals
Pension expense
Pension contributions
Retiree lump sum and vehicle voucher expense, net of payments
Net change in mortgage loans
Net change in mortgage securities
Provisions for deferred taxes
Change in other investments and miscellaneous assets
Change in other operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and disposals
Other
Net cash provided by (used in) continuing operating activities
Cash provided by discontinued operating activities
7,731

$(38,732)
$ 4,565
$
$(43,297)

2007

Cash flows from operating activities

Net loss
Less income from discontinued operations
Less cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle
Loss from continuing operations

ThreeYearsofFinancialPerformance
PartialStatementofCashFlows,forthefiscalyearsendedDecember31,
(inmillions)

GeneralMotorsCorporation

$ (7,902)

$(11,759)

$ 10,885
$ 1,021
$
828
$
500
$ 2,910
$ 1,799
$ (1,256)
$ (1,006)
$ 3,567
$ (3,802)
$ 3,061
$ 4,911
$ (1,032)
$
(325)
$(21,578)
$
427
$ (4,166)
$
(477)
$ (8,512)
$ 2,318
$(12,350)
$
591

$ (1,978)
$
445
$
$ (2,423)

2006

$ (8,141)

$(16,856)

$ 15,732
$ 1,142
$
712
$ 5,500
$
$ 1,074
$ (1,741)
$
(104)
$ 5,650
$ (4,084)
$ 3,168
$ 2,495
$
(833)
$
(264)
$(29,119)
$ (1,155)
$ (6,731)
$
(690)
$
20
$ 2,679
$(17,170)
$
314

$(10,417)
$
313
$
(109)
$(10,621)

2005

GeneralMotorsCorporation
AnalyzingTheNumbers
In the case of General Motors, the Free Cash Flow and the Owner Earnings yield drastically different
results.
2007
Free Cash Flow:
Cash from Operations
Capital Expenditures
Total Free Cash Flow
Owner Earnings:
Net Income from
continuing operations
Depreciation,
Impairments,
& Amortization
Change in other
operating assets and
liabilities, net of
acquisitions and
disposals
Capital Expenditures
Tentative Owner Earnings(1)

7,731
(7,542)
189

(43,297)

9,513

(3,412)
(7,893)
(45,089)

2006
$

(11,759)
(7,902)
(19,661)

(2,423)

2005
$

(16,856)
(8,141)
(24,997)

(10,621)

10,885

15,732

(8,512)
(7,893)
(7,943)

20
(7,893)
(2,762)

(1) After the following discussion about Free Cash Flow versus Owner Earnings, see the discussion on
Depreciationvs.CapitalExpendituresforafinalcalculationofGMsOwnerEarnings.

The 2007 Free Cash Flow shows that General Motors generated $189 million from its operations, a
turnaroundfromitsFreeCashFlowlossesof$20billionand$25billionin2006and2005,respectively.
Focused solely on Free Cash Flow, an investor analyzing the business might see the 2006 loss of $20
billion  $5 billion better than in 2005  as a sign of improvement. When General Motors began
generatingpositiveFreeCashFlowin2007,aninvestormightmistakenlybelievethatGeneralMotors
hadfixeditsproblems,turnedthecorner,andwaspotentiallypoisedforgrowth.
OwnerEarningstellsadifferentstory.
Starting with Net Income (Loss) from continuing operations (we need to see the performance of the
ongoingbusiness),weaddindepreciation,amortization,andimpairments.Weaddinthenetchangeto
workingcapital(lessthechangeincash,inthiscaseChangeinotheroperatingassetsandliabilities,
net of acquisitions and disposals). Finally, we take into account the cash outflows for capital
expenditures, of which General Motors has had $71 billion over the last nine years, or about $7,893
millionayear.

Page 15 of 20

Owner Earnings shows us that General Motors business burned through $2.7 billion of cash in 2005.
Thingsworsenedin2006asthebusinessconsumed$7.9billion.ThoughFreeCashFlowshowed2007to
bethebestofthethreeyears,OwnerEarningsshowsittobetheworstofallconsumingmorethan
$45billion.
Why the discrepancy? In this case, the capital expenditures had very little effect on the difference
betweenFreeCashFlowandOwnerEarnings.Instead,thedifferenceisfoundinnoncashchargesthat
GMdeductedfromearnings,butthatwereaddedbackinwhenreconcilingthestatementofcashflows.
FreeCashFlowblindlyassumesthatallofthoseexpensesshouldbenefitowners;OwnerEarningssees
manyofthoseexpensesaspotentiallydilutiveand/orfuturecommitments,anddoesnotcreditowners.
LetmeexplainwithsomeexamplesfromtheGeneralMotorsstatementofcashflows.Illtouchonand
explainsomeofthecommonadjustmentsyoullseeonstatementsofcashflows:
Other postretirement employee benefit (OPEB) expense; OPEB payments: In 2007, General Motors
deducted$2,362fromitsnetincomeasanOPEBexpense,offsetbyOPEBcashpaymentsof$3,751.The
netresultoftheOPEBexpensewasareductionincashof$1.4billion.In2005,GMtooka$5.65billion
writeoff for the OPEB expense, but only paid out $4.01 billion in cash, netting GM positive cash flow
fromtheOPEBexpensesof$1.24billion.
WithFreeCashFlow,the$1.4billionspentin2007isdeductedfromcashflowfromoperations;in2005,
FreeCashFlowconsidersthat$1.24billionascashgeneratedbyoperations.OwnerEarningslooksatit
and says, At some point, the OPEB expense and OPEB payment will have to cancel each other out
becauseGMcanthaveasurplusofretirementbenefitsifeveryoneretiresandcashesoutoftheplan.
RegardlessofhowmuchorhowlittleGMmanagementdecidedtopayintotheOPEB,itisarealexpense
thatbelongsinnetincomeandshouldnotbereconciledasanoncashcharge.Itwilleventuallyhave
tobepaid;so,weleaveitinnetincome.(Itssimilartoaveragingcapitalexpendituresthecompany
willeventuallyhavetospendthemoney,evenifitdoesntdosothisyear.)
Provision for deferred taxes. The 2007 statement of cash flows shows a $36.977 billion provision for
deferredtaxes.Herestheshortanswer:Eventually,UncleSamwillwanthismoney;so,toreconcilethe
tax expense on the net income to any deferred taxes is silly. Accordingly, based on our current
circumstances and uncertainty regarding our future taxable income, we recorded full valuation
allowances against these net deferred tax assets during the third quarter of 2007. If and when our
operating performance improves on a sustained basis, our conclusion regarding the need for full
valuationallowancescouldchange,resultinginthereversalofsomeorallofthevaluationallowancesin
thefuture.
So, if GM returns to profitability, it will need to pay these taxes. To put it simply, GM reduced its
deferredtaxassets(anoncurrentasset,notworkingcapital)onitsbalancesheetfrom$33.1billionto
$2.1 billion, and experienced an increase in its deferred tax liabilities (a noncurrent liability, also not
workingcapital)ofroughly$7billion.Puttingasidethetaxdance,keepinmindthatUncleSamwillwant
togetpaid.The2007taxbillof$37.2billionreducednetincome.

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FreeCashFlowaddsinthedeferredtaxesasthoughthecompanywillneverhavetopaythemasifthe
$37billionoftaxesGMowestotheGovernmentisagift.AccordingtoFreeCashFlow,GMownerscould
effectivelypullthat$37billionofcashoutofthebusiness.UncleSamwoulddefinitelyhavesomething
tosayaboutthat.
Owner Earnings does not reconcile the deferred taxes because it recognizes that GM will eventually
havetopaythisexpenseoritwillbeoutofbusiness.
StockBased Compensation Expense. Though GM does not have any stockbased compensation
expenselistedonthestatementofcashflows,itisacommonitemyouwilllikelyfindonmanycashflow
statements.Whenacompanyissuesstockoptions,itgenerallyexpensesthoseoptionsfromnetincome.
Stock options can help a company reduce its tax liability, but do not require a cash outlay. Free Cash
Flow presumes that the cash benefit from issuing stock options belongs to owners; so, it adds in the
stockbasedcompensationexpense.OwnerEarningsdoestheoppositeitseesstockoptionsforwhat
theyare(dilutivetoowners)anddoesnotreconcilethem.Instead,itleavestheexpensealonebyusing
netincomeandignoringthestockbasedcompensationexpenseonthestatementofcashflows.

TheQuestionYouMustAsk
Whyisthiscashhere?
When deciding whether or not to include an item in your owner earnings calculation, you must ask
yourself, Why is this cash here (or gone)? In the case of GMs 2005 OPEB acrobatics, GM ended up
with$1.24billionmorethanitexpensedfromnetincomethatyear.Eventually,GMwouldhavetopay
thatcashout;so,itisnotcashthatbelongstoowners.
Whataboutthoseoperatingassetsandliabilities?Tobestunderstandwhyyouincludeworkingcapital
inyourequation,gobacktoBobscompanyXWidgetInc.Bobinvested$50,000inhisbusinessand
showedaGAAPprofitinhisveryfirstquarter.Still,Bobsbusinessrequiredmorethan$49,000ofcash
togetstarted.Tostayinbusiness,oneoftwothingshadtohappen:
1. Thecustomerwouldhavetopaythe$50,000(AccountsReceivable);or,
2. Bobwouldhavetocomeupwithmoremoney.
Now, Bob could have reduced his tax liability by issuing stock to his employee rather than paying a
commission. Would that have increased his cash flow? Yes and no. On the one hand, Bob would not
havetoshelloutanycashintheformofcommission,therebyincreasinghiscashavailableforgrowth;
on the other hand, Bob would no longer be sole owner of the company, but a partner with his
employee. Bob would effectively dilute his ownership and be entitled to less of the value of the
companygoingforward.
IntheAccountsReceivableexample,theanswertothequestionwouldbe:Becausethecompanyhas
anoutstandingorderfor$50,000thecashishereorgonebecauseofoperations.Inthestockoptions

Page 17 of 20

example,theanswertothequestionwouldbe:BecauseBobtriedtosavecashthecashishereor
gonebecauseofadecisionbymanagementtopreserve(oruseexcess)cash.

GeneralMotorsCorporation
GettingtoFinalOwnerEarnings
ThereisonelaststeptocalculatingGMsOwnerEarningsastepthatisnotextremelycommon,but
worthnoting(andcalculating)inthisexample.Depreciationisanoncashchargethatallowsacompany
to spread the cost of an asset over the course of many years. The idea behind depreciation is that it
helpscompaniessmoothoutGAAPearnings.
Overthelongterm,thedifferencebetweentotaldepreciationandtotalcapitalexpendituresshouldbe
zero.Thatis,ifacompanyspends$10,000onapieceofequipmentandtheIRSallowsthecompanyto
depreciatetheassetovertenyears,thecompanywilltakea$1,000depreciationexpenseineachofthe
tenyears.Attheendoftenyears,thecompanywillhavepaid$10,000forthecapitalexpenditureand
willhaveearnedviaataxdeduction$10,000($1,000ayeartimes10years)indepreciation.
Thisisnottosaythatyoushouldtaketheshorthandmethodofmerelycancellingoutdepreciationand
capitalexpendituresfromyourcalculations.Whiletheaboveistruewhenlookingatabusinessfromits
startingpointuntilthepointatwhichitwindsupitsoperations,itisnotnecessarilytrueinanygiven
yearorsolongasthebusinessisanongoingoperation.
Thisiswherecapitalexpendituresanddepreciationgettricky.Whenacompanyisspendingalotmore
oncapitalexpendituresthanitisrecordingasdepreciation,itisforoneoftworeasons:
1. The company must make capital expenditures that exceed depreciation merely to maintain
competitive;and/or,
2. The business is making capital expenditures above and beyond its requisite regular
maintenance capital expenditures. (These are usually called Growth Capital Expenditures
versus Maintenance Capital Expenditures though most annual reports do not separate the
twoforinvestors;so,aninvestormustmakeeducatedassumptionsaboutcapitalexpenditures.
SuchappearedtobethecasewhenweanalyzedWalMart:www.fwallstreet.com/blog/44.htm.)
GMhaspreciselytheoppositedepreciationandamortizationgreatlyexceedscapitalexpenditures,an
obviously impossible situation since future capital expenditures have to be made to cause future
depreciation.Thiswouldleadustooneoftwoconclusions:
1. GMisnotspendingenoughtomaintainitsplant,property,andequipment;or,
2. Thisisatemporarystateofaffairsduetothepurchaseofalonglifeassets(suchasabuilding)
orbecausegoodwillorotherintangiblesarebeingamortizedoverextremelylongperiods.
In this case, we cant assume this happy state of taking bigger tax writeoffs than were normally
allowed will continue forever. Because we know that, over the longterm, capital expenditures and
depreciationwillprovideanetsumofzero,andbecausewerenotworriedaboutunderstatingcapital

Page 18 of 20

expenditures (because depreciation is greater than capital expenditures), we can assume that
depreciation and capital expenditures are the same for General Motors under normal conditions. Any
excess benefit it receives today by taking large depreciation writeoffs will be offset in the future by
largercapitalexpenditures.
So,ourfinalownerearningscalculationforGMwouldbeasfollows:
2007
Owner Earnings:
Net Income from
continuing operations
Change in other
operating assets and
liabilities, net of
acquisitions and
disposals
Final Owner Earnings

2006

2005

(43,297)

(2,423)

(10,621)

(3,412)
(46,709)

(8,512)
(10,935)

20
(10,601)

In this case, GMs automotive business is even uglier than we thought. The companys operations
requirednearly$11billionofcashin2005and2006.In2007,thebusinesswashammeredevenworse,
requiringnearly$47billionofexcesscashjusttokeepthecarscomingofftheassemblyline.
How did it cover this shortfall? It began selling businesses, selling finance receivables, playing games
withthepensionandOPEB,refinancingdebt,andworkingsometaxmagic.Ofcourse,asthebusiness
deteriorated,sotoodidthestockprice:









Price follows value. When the value deteriorates rapidly (as is often the case when a business
operationsarecashhungrybeasts),thestockpriceisusuallynottoofarbehind.

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OwnerEarningsvs.FreeCashFlow
PuttingItIntoPerspective
WeveseenthetroublewithrelyingsolelyonGAAPearnings.BobsbusinesswasprofitablefromaGAAP
/IRS/WallStreetperspective;still,ifhisfirstcustomerdidntpay,Bobwasoutofbusiness.
Free Cash Flow is a shorthand method for scanning companies. When a company has minimal
reconciliationtonetincomeandfairlysteadyandpredictablecapitalexpenditures,FreeCashFlowand
Owner Earnings are substantially the same. In that case, either can be used for valuation purposes.
Because of the investors margin of safety, a minor difference between Free Cash Flow and Owner
Earningswouldbeinsignificantwhencalculatingintrinsicvalue.
Owner Earnings is the best indicator of cash flow from the operating activities of the business,
regardlessofhowmanagementstrivestojuggleprofitabilityandcashflow.Whenacompanyhasalarge
amountofnoncashchargestoGAAPearnings,OwnerEarningsisgenerallyamorereliableindicatorof
businessperformancethanFreeCashFlow.Infact,dependingonhowcreative,aggressive,orcautious
management gets, Free Cash Flow can be extremely skewed in these cases, as we saw with General
Motors.
It is important to note that, while Free Cash Flow and Owner Earnings can be substantially the same,
they canalsobesubstantiallydifferent.FocusonOwnerEarnings,anduseFreeCashFlowasashort
handonlywhenitmakessense.
Questions?Comments?VisitJoePonziosFWallStreet:www.FWallStreet.com.
Bestofluckwithyourinvesting,
JoePonzio


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