operating cash

USAGE SUMMARY

"operating cash" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to money that is available to pay for a business's day-to-day operations. For example, "Our operating cash has been dwindling lately, so we need to find new sources of income."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

We calculated three variables, operating cash flow (OCF), operating cash flow divided by current liabilities (CL), and operating cash flow divided by total liabilities (TL).

Harvard Business Review

So the companies reported profits and operating cash flows.

The New York Times

How good a yardstick is operating cash flow?

Harvard Business Review

How would operating cash flows be affected if the company's vendor payment model became unsustainable?

The New York Times

It had $2.6 million in operating cash on Sept. 6, when its third quarter ended.

The New York Times

"Every day you save in that cycle saves operating cash.

Forbes

So why did its earnings growth trail operating cash?

Forbes

Improved lease guarantees team $12.5million in operating cash starting 2001.

Forbes

I'm underweighted, but operating cash flow numbers keep me interested.

Forbes

That's one less fiscal quarter Napster has in operating cash.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Comcast raised the 2005 operating cash-flow guidance to between 14% and 15%, up from 12%.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a company's financial health, use "operating cash" to specifically refer to the cash generated from its core business activities, distinguishing it from cash from investing or financing.

Common error

Don't assume that high net income automatically means strong "operating cash". A company can show a profit on paper while struggling to generate actual cash from its operations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "operating cash" functions as a noun phrase that refers to the cash a business generates from its normal business operations. As evidenced by Ludwig, this term is frequently used in financial reporting and analysis.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

35%

Science

23%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "operating cash" is a commonly used noun phrase that refers to the cash a business generates from its core operations. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in various contexts. Its primary function is to provide a clear indicator of a company's financial health and its ability to sustain operations. While "operating cash" is often used interchangeably with terms like "cash flow from operations", it is important not to confuse it with net income, as the latter can be influenced by non-cash items. The phrase sees frequent use in news and media, formal business settings, and scientific publications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cash flow from operations

Focuses on the cash generated specifically from the core business activities.

cash generated from operations

Emphasizes the generation of cash as a result of business operations.

operating cash flow

A more formal and widely recognized term for cash generated from business operations.

available operating funds

Highlights the availability of funds specifically for operational purposes.

cash reserves for operations

Indicates a specific allocation of cash held for operational expenses.

working capital from operations

Focuses on the capital available for short-term operational needs.

liquid assets for operations

Emphasizes the liquidity of assets used in business operations.

funds from business activities

Broader term encompassing all funds generated through business endeavors.

revenue available for expenses

Highlights how revenue can be used to cover business costs.

current operational funds

Stresses the immediate availability of funds for ongoing operations.

FAQs

How is "operating cash" typically used in financial analysis?

Analysts use "operating cash" to assess a company's ability to generate cash from its core business operations, which is crucial for covering expenses, funding investments, and paying debts.

What's the difference between "operating cash" and net profit?

"Operating cash" reflects the actual cash a company generates from its operations, while net profit is an accounting measure that can be affected by non-cash items like depreciation and amortization.

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "operating cash"?

Alternatives include "cash flow from operations" ("cash flow from operations"), "cash generated from operations" ("cash generated from operations"), or simply "operating cash flow" ("operating cash flow").

How does "operating cash" differ from free cash flow?

"Operating cash" represents the cash a company generates from its operations before accounting for capital expenditures. Free cash flow, on the other hand, is "operating cash" less capital expenditures, providing a more accurate picture of the cash available to the company for discretionary purposes.