Cash Flows Essay

â€Å"The statement of cash flows reports the cash receipts, cash payments, and net change in cash resulting from operating, investing, and financing activities during a period† (Weygandt, Kimmel, & Kieso, 2010, p. 614). Companies are required to prepare a statement of cash flow because it contains important information about the company that deems useful for external sources, such as investors, to make educated decisions about a company. The information contained in the cash flow, such as the company’s ability to generate cash and meet obligations, assists creditors and investors to determine the adequate decision regarding extending credit or investing. The statement of cash flows is divided into three sections: Operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities (Weygandt, et al, 2010). Each of these sections have reflect their own characteristics of transactions and other events. First, operating activities include transactions that create revenues and expenses; these are included in the determination of net income (Weygandt, et al, 2010). Second, investing activities has two purposes: includes the acquisition and disposing of investments and property, plant, and equipment, and lending money and collecting the loans (Weygandt, et al, 2010). Third, financing activities include two purposes: obtaining cash from issuing debt and repaying the amounts borrowed, and obtaining cash from stockholders, repurchasing shares, and paying dividends (Weygandt, et al, 2010, p. 615). Operating activities, which include income statement items are: Cash inflows – from sale of goods and services, and from interest received from dividends received; Cash outflows – to suppliers for inventory, employees for services, and others for expenses (Weygandt, Kimmel, & Kieso, 2010, p. 616). Investing activities – investments and long-term assets: Cash inflows – from sale of property, plant, and equipment, and collections on loans to other entities; Cash outflows – to purchase property, plant, and equipment, purchas e investments in debt, and making loans to other entities (Weygandt,  Kimmel, & Kieso, 2010, p. 616). Financing activities involves long-term liabilities and stockholders’ equity: Cash inflows – from sale of common stock, and from issuance of long-term debt; Cash outflows – to stockholders as dividends, and to redeem long-term debt or reacquire capital stock (Weygandt, Kimmel, & Kieso, 2010, p. 616). References Weygandt, J. J., Kimmel, P. D., & Kieso, D. E. (2010). Financial accounting (7th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database.