Dividends are after-tax cash payments to shareholders. The retained-earnings account in the stockholders' equity section of the balance sheet holds the accumulated profits, minus dividend payments.

Cash flow is a term you might hear when discussing business, but did you know it pertains to your personal finances, too? Business cash flow refers to incoming and outgoing money in a company, and its ...

Every corporation needs reliable access to capital to stay in business. Positive cash flow allows businesses to cover expenses, plan growth initiatives and reward long-term shareholders. Cash flow ...

The cash flow statement reveals a lot about a business that you can't immediately find on the income statement or balance sheet. For example, many companies are profitable on the income statement, ...

Steven Nickolas is a writer and has 10+ years of experience working as a consultant to retail and institutional investors. Charlene Rhinehart is a CPA , CFE, chair of an Illinois CPA Society committee ...

Cash flow is a measurement of the money moving in and out of a business, and it helps to determine financial health. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising ...

Investopedia contributors come from a range of backgrounds, and over 25 years there have been thousands of expert writers and editors who have contributed. Andy Smith is a Certified Financial Planner ...

Cash flow is the changes in the amount of cash a business has on hand. Corporations have to prepare an annual cash flow statement that describes these changes, whether they are due to operating ...

What goes into generating a single dollar of revenue, in your business? Can you accurately define your true operating costs? So many times I’ve heard owners say: “I take my material cost and multiply ...

Cash flow analysis allows you to understand how money moves through your business, helping you get an idea of how much liquidity you have and where you might need to make changes. Your cash flow ...

Learn how to tell if your business could be facing a cash crunch Nick Guy is a staff senior editor for Buy Side. He's been reviewing personal technology, accessories and myriad other products for more ...

This means your business is bringing in more cash than it’s spending. That’s a green flag. It gives you the flexibility to pay your bills on time, invest in growth opportunities, and build a financial ...