Cash Flow Growth and Stock Returns

Abstract

I extend the financial economic literature by presenting and testing a model that expresses a firm's expected stock return as a function of its expected free cash flow growth. Results suggest that cash flow growth is positively associated with stock returns. Furthermore, additional information is re- flected through cash flow growth relative to cash flow, profits, and dividends. Evidence additionally suggests that operating activities explain more than investment activities of the firm. I find that $1 invested in the long–short cash flow growth portfolio grows to $15.30 over the sample period, whereas $1 invested in the stock market grows to $9.85.