What Is Free Cash Flow?
Definition and plain-English explanation of "Free Cash Flow"

Free cash flow (FCF) is the cash a company generates from its operations after spending on capital expenditures (buildings, equipment, etc.). It is the money left over that a company can use to pay dividends, buy back stock, pay down debt, or reinvest in growth. Many analysts consider free cash flow a more reliable indicator of financial health than reported earnings.
Related Terms
The Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio measures how much investors are paying for each dollar of a compan...
The Price-to-Sales (P/S) ratio compares a company's stock price to its annual revenue per share. It ...
Earnings Per Share (EPS) is a company's net profit divided by its total number of outstanding shares...
Book value is a company's total assets minus its total liabilities — essentially what would be left ...
Market Navigator Glossary — plain-English definitions of 93+ investing and crypto terms. All content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.