Cashflow Analysis | Steps to Calculate Cash Flow Analysis | Limitations

Cash Flow Analysis

          Cash Flow Analysis is the process where the debt capacity of a firm is assessed which is acceptable by the management by default. It helps to establishes the debt capacity of the firm.

Steps To Calculate Cash Flow Analysis

 To assess the debt capacity by cash flow approach it includes following steps
§  Specify the tolerance limit on the probability of default
§  Estimation of probability distribution of cash flows considering the forecasted performance of firm.
§  Calculation of fixed charges with respect to interest and repayment of principal amount at various level of debt.
§  Estimation of debt at highest level that is acceptable by management by default with respect to the tolerance limit, probability distribution and fixed charges defined above.

Limitations of Cash Flow Analysis:

          Though Cash Flow analysis is simple and intuitively appealing it has many limitations. Let us see the difficulties and limitations of Cash Flow Analysis below
§  It is highly difficult to assess the operating cash inflows especially with respect to firms in industries that are continuously changing and are volatile.
§  This approaches appears conservative and assumes that the firm will depend only on the cash balance and cash inflows and will not raise the financing from external sources.
§  The tolerance limits reflects the management interest and not the shareholders interest because  management wishes to have negligible probability by default which may not be the interest of shareholders.

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