Operating Cash Flow Ratio Definition

The operating cash flow ratio is a measure of how well current liabilities are covered by the cash flows generated from a company's operations. The ratio can help gauge a company's liquidity in the short term. Using cash flow as opposed to net income is considered a cleaner or more accurate measure since earnings are more easily manipulated.

$\text{Operating cash flow ratio} = \frac {\text{Operating cash flow}}{\text{Current liabilities}}$Operating cash flow ratio=Current liabilitiesOperating cash flow​

The operating cash flow ratio is calculated by dividing operating cash flow by current liabilities.

A company generates revenues, and from revenues deducts the cost of goods sold and other associated operating expenses, such as attorney fees and utilities. Cash flow from operations is the cash equivalent of net income. It is the cash flow after operating expenses have been deducted and before the commencement of new investments or financing activities.

Investors tend to prefer reviewing the cash flow from operations over net income because there is less room to manipulate results. However, together, cash flows from operations and net income can provide a good indication of the quality of a firm's earnings. 

Current liabilities are all liabilities due within one fiscal year or operating cycle, whichever is longer. They are found on the balance sheet and are typically regarded as liabilities due within one year.

The operating cash flow ratio is a measure of the number of times a company can pay off current debts with cash generated within the same period. A high number, greater than one, indicates that a company has generated more cash in a period than what is needed to pay off its current liabilities.

An operating cash flow ratio of less than one indicates the opposite—the firm has not generated enough cash to cover its current liabilities. To investors and analysts, a low ratio could mean that the firm needs more capital.

However, there could be many interpretations, and not all are indications of poor financial health. For example, a firm may embark on a project that compromises cash flows temporarily but renders great reward in the future.

Consider two giants in the retail space, Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) and Target (NYSE: TGT). As of Feb. 27, 2019, the two had current liabilities of $77.5 billion and $17.6 billion, respectively, as of their most recent quarter. Over the trailing 12 months, Wal-Mart had generated $27.8 billion in operating cash flow, while Target generated $6 billion.

The operating cash flow ratio for Wal-Mart is 0.36, or $27.8 billion divided $77.5 billion. Target’s operating cash flow ratio works out to 0.34, or $6 billion divided by $17.6 billion. The two have similar ratios, meaning they have similar liquidity. Digging deeper, we find that the two also have similar current ratios as well, further validating that they indeed have similar liquidity profiles.

Both operating cash flow ratio and current ratio measure a company’s ability to pay short-term debts and obligations. The operating cash flow ratio assumes cash flow from operations will be used to pay those current obligations (i.e., current liabilities). The current ratio, meanwhile, assumes current assets will be used.

Although not as prevalent as with net income, companies can manipulate operating cash flow ratios. Some companies deduct depreciation expenses from revenue even though it does not represent a real outflow of cash. Depreciation expense is an accounting convention that is meant to write off the value of assets over time. As a result, companies should add depreciation back to cash in cash flow from operations.