Definition - What is Operating Cash Flow Margin?

The operating cash flow margin is the percentage of a company’s earnings that flows down into the operating cash flow.

A high cash flow margin signifies an efficient business that doesn’t have excess expenses, while a low operating cash flow margin could be a sign of inefficiency.

Industries have varying standards for OCF margin, so when comparing the cash flow margin of multiple companies, it is best to do so within one specific industry.

Definition - What is Preferred Dividend Coverage Ratio?

The preferred dividend coverage ratio (sometimes referred to as times preferred dividend earned) essentially tells you whether or not a company has made enough profit to pay off its preferred dividends.

So it’s a really important one for shareholders in particular but also gives you a sense of how well the company is doing.

Basically, it’s a way of measuring a company’s ability to pay or the relative burden those preferred dividends would have on the company.

Definition - What is Return on Retained Earnings Ratio?

The return on retained earnings ratio (RORE) measures how effectively a company uses its profits from the previous years.

The ratio can inform investors whether the company is better off investing its profits back into the company, or paying its shareholders a dividend.

A high ratio suggests that the company should invest heavily in itself, while a low ratio means a company may benefit from paying a larger dividend.

It is not commonly used by investors to assess the attractiveness of an investment.

It is mostly used as a measure to aid a management company in decision making regarding dividend payouts.

Definition - What is Cash Flow Return on Investment Ratio?

The cash flow return on investment (CFROI) is a metric that analyzes a company’s cash flow in relation to its capital employed.

This ratio is used by investors who believe that cash flow is the underlying driver of value in a company, as opposed to earnings or sales.

It is most informative when its compared to WAAC, because it allows investors to see the discrepancy between the amount a company paid to raise funds and the amount of return a company receives from those funds.