Operating Cash Flow OCF
The cash a company actually generates from its core day-to-day business, before financing and investing activities.
What it is
Operating cash flow is the cash a company produces from running its normal business — selling products or services, paying suppliers and employees, and collecting from customers. It sits at the top of the cash flow statement and strips out the effects of borrowing, issuing stock, and buying or selling assets. Unlike net income, it reflects real cash moving in and out, not accounting estimates.
Why it matters
OCF shows whether a business can fund itself without raising debt or equity, so it is a strong reality check on reported earnings. A company can post positive net income while burning cash, and a persistent gap between net income and OCF can signal aggressive accounting or working-capital problems. Watch for OCF that is consistently far below net income over several years.
How it's calculated
Most companies report it using the indirect method: start with net income, add back non-cash charges like depreciation and stock-based compensation, then adjust for changes in working capital. It is taken directly from the operating-activities section of the cash flow statement.
How Quintarthai uses it
Operating cash flow appears in the 10-year cash-flow statement under the Financials tab on each stock's company page, and you can filter the North-American universe in the Stock Screener.