This company has been moved to the archive! The financial data has not been updated since July 9, 2020.
Cash Flow Statement Quarterly Data
The cash flow statement provides information about a company cash receipts and cash payments during an accounting period, showing how these cash flows link the ending cash balance to the beginning balance shown on the company balance sheet.
The cash flow statement consists of three parts: cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities, and cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities.
The financial data reveals a period of significant strategic expansion and aggressive capital management, characterized by strong operating cash flows that were frequently utilized to fund large-scale acquisitions and shareholder returns.
Operating Cash Flow Trends
Net cash provided by operating activities remained consistently positive throughout the analyzed period, generally ranging between 1 billion and 2.9 billion US dollars per quarter. A notable divergence occurs in May 2020, where a net loss of 1.725 billion US dollars was recorded, yet operating cash flow remained positive at 914 million US dollars. This discrepancy is primarily attributed to a non-cash goodwill and intangible impairment charge of 2 billion US dollars. Depreciation and amortization expenses showed a steady upward trajectory, rising from approximately 330 million US dollars in 2013 to peak around 526 million US dollars in 2019, indicating a growing asset base.
Investing Activities and Capital Expenditure
Investing activities were dominated by substantial strategic outflows. Major capital events include the Alliance Boots acquisition in February 2015, which resulted in a net cash outflow of 4.461 billion US dollars, and significant business acquisitions in February 2018 totaling 3.110 billion US dollars. Investment in AmerisourceBergen also created significant outflows in 2016, totaling approximately 2.36 billion US dollars across two quarters. Regular additions to property, plant, and equipment remained relatively stable, typically fluctuating between 250 million and 470 million US dollars per quarter. Cash inflows from sale-leaseback transactions provided intermittent liquidity, particularly between 2014 and 2016.
Financing Strategies and Shareholder Returns
Financing activities exhibit high volatility, reflecting a strategy of leveraging debt to support growth and equity reductions. Large-scale debt proceeds were utilized periodically, with a peak of 10.02 billion US dollars in November 2014 and 6.476 billion US dollars in May 2020. These inflows were often offset by aggressive stock repurchases, which peaked at 3.763 billion US dollars in August 2017. Cash dividends were maintained with a gradual upward trend, increasing from approximately 300 million US dollars per quarter in 2013 to over 400 million US dollars per quarter by 2020.
Working Capital Management
Significant fluctuations are observed in working capital, particularly regarding inventories and trade accounts payable. Large seasonal swings in inventory levels often created substantial impacts on quarterly cash flow, with periodic outflows exceeding 1 billion US dollars. These movements were frequently countered by changes in trade accounts payable, suggesting a reliance on supplier credit to manage short-term liquidity during periods of inventory accumulation.