Balance Sheet vs Cash Flow Statements- Difference & Comparison (2024)

FAQs

Balance Sheet vs Cash Flow Statements- Difference & Comparison? ›

A balance sheet shows what a company owns in the form of assets and what it owes in the form of liabilities. A balance sheet also shows the amount of money invested by shareholders listed under shareholders' equity. The cash flow statement shows the cash inflows and outflows for a company during a period.

As a reminder, the balance sheet provides a snapshot of the company's liabilities and assets at a given time. On the other hand, the cash flow statement shows the activities that occurred during the period that contributed to any changes in account balances.

The personal cash flow statement measures your cash inflows or money you earn and your cash outflows or money you spend. This determines if you have a positive or negative net cash flow. A personal balance sheet summarizes your assets and liabilities to calculate your net worth.

A Comprehensive View

The income statement provides deep insight into the core operating activities that generate earnings for the firm. The balance sheet and cash flow statement, however, focus more on the capital management of the firm in terms of both assets and structure.

Key Highlights. The three core financial statements are 1) the income statement, 2) the balance sheet, and 3) the cash flow statement. These three financial statements are intricately linked to one another. Analyzing these three financial statements is one of the key steps when creating a financial model.

A balance sheet shows what a company owns in the form of assets and what it owes in the form of liabilities. A balance sheet also shows the amount of money invested by shareholders listed under shareholders' equity. The cash flow statement shows the cash inflows and outflows for a company during a period.

Reconciling cash balances on a cash flow statement involves adding the net cash flow from operating, investing, and financing activities to the beginning cash balance. This should equal the ending cash balance reported on the balance sheet.

The net of all those changes is the change in Cash & Equivalents which drives the ending Cash on the Cash Flow Statement (and therefore the Balance Sheet). If one or more of those movements are inconsistent or missing between the Cash Flow Statement and the Balance Sheet, then the Balance Sheet won't balance.

Both help provide investors and the market with a snapshot of how the company is doing on a periodic basis. The cash flow statement is best suited to gauge a company's liquidity profile whereas the fund flow statement is best geared towards long-term financial planning.

Why is the cash flow statement important? ›

The cash flow statement is a solid measure of a company's strength, profitability, and future outlook of a company. The importance of the cash flow statement is that it measures the cash inflows or cash outflows during the given period of time. This knowledge informs the company's short- and long-term planning.

The cash flow statement helps an organisation to record the total inflows as well as outflows of cash during a particular accounting period. The income statement is used by an organisation to record all items related to revenues, expenses, gains and losses during a particular accounting period.

The cash account is debited because cash is deposited in the company's bank account. Cash is an asset account on the balance sheet.

The statement of cash flows provides cash receipt and cash payment information and reconciles the change in cash for a period of time. The primary purpose of the statement is to show what caused the change in cash from the beginning of the period to the end of the period.

The Bottom Line

A cash flow statement is a valuable measure of strength, profitability, and the long-term future outlook of a company. The CFS can help determine whether a company has enough liquidity or cash to pay its expenses.

It's a key financial indicator — something your surety company scrutinizes very carefully, as would a bank or prospective buyer of your company. Without strong cash flow, you can't pay your bills, meet your payroll, finance new equipment or expand your operation.

Although many investors gravitate toward net income, operating cash flow is often seen as a better metric of a company's financial health for two main reasons. First, cash flow is harder to manipulate under GAAP than net income (although it can be done to a certain degree).

Your operating cashflow shows whether or not your business has enough money coming in to pay operating expenses, such as bills and payments to suppliers. It can also show whether or not you have money to grow, or if you need external investment or financing.