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.
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2026-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2025-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2024-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31).
The financial trajectory of the organization is characterized by strong operating cash generation that is periodically offset by aggressive strategic acquisitions and consistent shareholder returns. While net earnings exhibit significant quarterly volatility, cash flow from operating activities remains more resilient, providing a stable foundation for capital deployment.
- Operating Cash Flow Dynamics
- Cash flows from operating activities generally fluctuate between 4 billion and 8 billion US dollars per quarter, with a notable dip to 1.6 billion US dollars in March 2025. The discrepancy between net earnings and operating cash flow is primarily driven by substantial non-cash add-backs, most notably the amortization of intangible assets, which consistently remains between 1.7 billion and 2.0 billion US dollars per quarter. Additionally, volatile swings in the fair value of contingent consideration liabilities frequently impact net earnings without affecting immediate cash positions.
- Investing Activities and Capital Deployment
- A pattern of aggressive inorganic growth is evident, specifically during 2024, where acquisitions of businesses resulted in cash outflows of 9.2 billion US dollars in March and 8.3 billion US dollars in September. Capital expenditures for property and equipment have shown a gradual upward trend, increasing from approximately 180 million US dollars per quarter in 2021 to over 300 million US dollars in recent periods, indicating a steady investment in physical infrastructure.
- Financing Strategies and Shareholder Returns
- The organization maintains a rigorous dividend policy, with quarterly payments increasing steadily from 2.3 billion US dollars in early 2021 to over 3.0 billion US dollars by March 2026. To fund large-scale acquisitions and maintain liquidity, the organization utilizes the debt market strategically, exemplified by a 14.9 billion US dollar issuance of long-term debt in March 2024. Treasury stock purchases are sporadic and opportunistic, contrasting with the linear and predictable growth of dividend distributions.
- Liquidity and Net Cash Position
- The net change in cash and equivalents is highly sensitive to the timing of M&A activity and debt refinancing. Large negative swings in net cash are typically countered by corresponding increases in long-term borrowings, suggesting a leveraged approach to expansion. The reliance on commercial paper and short-term borrowings fluctuates, serving as a tactical tool for short-term liquidity management.
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