Cash flow is the net amount of cash and cash-equivalents being transferred into and out of a business. At the most fundamental level, a company’s ability to create value for shareholders is determined by its ability to generate positive cash flows, or more specifically, maximize long-term free cash flow (FCF).

CRH Free Cash Flow Analysis

Free cash flow, a measure commonly used by analysts to assess a company's profitability, represents the cash a company generates after accounting for cash outflows to support operations and maintain its capital assets.

The Free Cash Flow is calculated using a number of methods including using Operating Cash Flow. Following is the formula to calculate Free Cash Flow based on Operating Cash Flow.

Free Cash Flow = Operating Cash Flow - Capital Expenditures

Using above formula to calculate Free Cash Flow for CRH plc (CRH), the free cash flow value is 2.431B.

All amounts in USD

Operating Cash
3.95B
Capital Expenditure
-1.52B
Free Cash Flow
2.431B

CRH plc has a positive free cash flow as per the latest annual Cash flow statement released by the company. Positive free cash flow is cruscial for the financial health of a company, which can be used to pay dividends, expand operations, and deleverage its balance sheet (i.e., reduce debt).

CRH Cash Flow Statement History

Following table shows the history of Cash Flow Statements sheet for CRH plc (LSE:CRH).

31 Dec 2022 31 Dec 2021 31 Dec 2020 31 Dec 2019
Net Income 3.85B 2.56B 1.12B 1.72B
Depreciation 1.72B 1.66B 1.59B 1.68B
Change To Netincome -1.14B 140M 962M 489M
Change To Account Receivables -209M -436M 177M -87M
Change To Liabilities 380M 649M -125M 74M
Change To Inventory -655M -439M 63M -89M
Change To Operating Activities -34M -2M 81M 31M
Total Cash From Operating Activities 3.95B 4.21B 3.94B 3.88B
Capital Expenditures -1.52B -1.55B -996M -1.37B
Investments -42M -42M -1M -32M
Other Cashflows From Investing Activities 3.58B 34M 35M 1.97B
Total Cashflows From Investing Activities -884M -2.55B -1.06B 217M
Dividends Paid -917M -906M -707M -652M
Net Borrowings -575M -1.45B 1.23B -890M
Other Cashflows From Financing Activities -27M -69M 11M -72M
Total Cash From Financing Activities -2.69B -3.31B 287M -2.55B
Effect Of Exchange Rate -231M -297M 338M -20M
Change In Cash 153M -1.94B 3.5B 1.53B
Repurchase Of Stock -1.18B -896M -249M -954M
Issuance Of Stock 11M 13M 6M 22M