FCFE - Free Cash Flow to Equity — Smart Financial Analysis
Calculate FCFE: cash available to shareholders after reinvestment. Apple $92B, Netflix $20.5B (D&A heavy), Amazon $28B. Drives equity valuation and dividend capacity.
Did our AI summary help? Let us know.
FCFE = Net Income + Depreciation & Amortization - Capital Expenditures - Change in Working Capital + Net Borrowing. FCFF (free cash flow to the firm) is cash available to all capital providers (debt + equity) before interest. FCFE drives the dividend discount model (DDM) and equity DCF. FCFE yield = FCFE / Market Capitalization × 100.
Ready to run the numbers?
Why: FCFE is the cash available to shareholders after all reinvestment needs—capital expenditures, working capital changes—and after accounting for debt financing. It represents what...
How: Enter Net Income ($), Depreciation & Amortization ($), Capital Expenditures ($) to get instant results. Try the preset examples to see how different scenarios affect the outcome, then adjust to match your situation.
Run the calculator when you are ready.
📊 Real Company Examples — Click to Load
FCFE Inputs (Direct Method)
FCFE Waterfall — NI → Adjustments → FCFE
FCFE vs Net Income
FCFE Trend
FCFE Components
📐 Calculation Breakdown
For educational purposes only — not financial advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making decisions.
💡 Money Facts
FCFE - Free Cash Flow to Equity analysis is used by millions of people worldwide to make better financial decisions.
— Industry Data
Financial literacy can increase household wealth by up to 25% over a lifetime.
— NBER Research
The average American makes 35,000 financial decisions per year—many can be optimized with calculators.
— Cornell University
Globally, only 33% of adults are financially literate, making tools like this essential.
— S&P Global
FCFE is the cash available to shareholders after all reinvestment — it is what could theoretically be paid as dividends. Apple generates $92B in FCFE, yet only pays $15B in dividends and uses $77B for buybacks. Amazon's $30B net income becomes $28B FCFE after massive $55B CapEx. Netflix's high D&A ($15B content amortization) inflates FCFE to $20.5B. FCFE drives equity valuation models.
📋 Key Takeaways
- • FCFE = Net Income + D&A - CapEx - ΔWC + Net Borrowing
- • FCFE yield = FCFE / Market Cap × 100. Higher yield can indicate undervaluation.
- • FCFE vs FCFF: FCFE is for equity holders; FCFF is for enterprise (debt + equity).
- • Negative FCFE is common for high-growth firms — they need external financing.
💡 Did You Know?
Apple generates $92B FCFE but pays only $15B dividends — $77B goes to buybacks.
— SEC EDGAR
Netflix's $15B D&A (content amortization) inflates FCFE well above net income.
— CFA Institute
Amazon's $55B CapEx nearly consumes its $30B net income — FCFE is $28B.
— Damodaran NYU
Startups often have negative FCFE; debt financing can make FCFE positive.
— S&P Global
FCFE drives the dividend discount model and equity DCF valuation.
— CFA Institute
FCFE yield = FCFE/Market Cap. Compare to dividend yield for payout capacity.
— Damodaran
📖 How FCFE Is Calculated
Start with net income. Add back depreciation and amortization (non-cash). Subtract capital expenditures (cash spent on assets) and increase in working capital (cash tied in operations). Add net borrowing (debt financing that benefits equity). The result is cash available to shareholders.
FCFE = Net Income + D&A - CapEx - ΔWC + Net Borrowing
D&A is non-cash; CapEx and ΔWC are cash outflows; net borrowing adds debt that increases equity cash flow.
🎯 Expert Tips
⚖️ FCFE vs FCFF vs Net Income
| Metric | To Whom | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Net Income | Equity (GAAP) | Earnings, P/E ratio |
| FCFF | Debt + Equity | Enterprise valuation, EV/FCFF |
| FCFE | Equity only | Equity DCF, dividend capacity, FCFE yield |
⚠️ When FCFE Is Negative
Negative FCFE means the company needs external financing. This is common for startups (heavy CapEx, negative NI) and high-growth firms. Debt issuance can make FCFE positive — net borrowing adds to equity cash flow. Not inherently bad; assess growth stage and capital structure.
❓ FAQ
Why add back depreciation?
Depreciation is non-cash—it reduces net income but does not affect cash. Adding it back shows cash flow. However, CapEx to replace assets is real—high CapEx firms may have low FCFE despite strong earnings.
When is FCFE better than net income?
FCFE shows distributable cash. Net income includes non-cash items and ignores CapEx. For dividend sustainability and equity valuation, FCFE is more relevant.
What is a good FCFE yield?
Varies by industry. 4–6% is often considered attractive. Compare to dividend yield and cost of equity. High yield can indicate undervaluation or high reinvestment needs.
FCFE vs dividend?
FCFE is maximum distributable cash. Companies may pay less (retain for growth) or use buybacks. Dividend sustainability = dividends < FCFE over time.
How does net borrowing affect FCFE?
Net borrowing (new debt minus repayments) adds to FCFE because debt financing increases cash available to equity. Leveraged firms can have higher FCFE than unlevered.
📚 Official Sources
⚠️ Disclaimer
FCFE is a non-GAAP metric. Actual company FCFE may use different definitions. Not financial advice. Consult professionals for investment decisions.
Related Calculators
FCFF Calculator - Free Cash Flow to Firm
Advanced Free Cash Flow to Firm calculator with multiple calculation methods, scenario analysis, sensitivity testing, and enterprise valuation capabilities...
FinanceEnterprise Value to Sales (EV/Sales) Calculator
Calculate and analyze EV/Sales ratio for company valuation with industry benchmarks, peer comparison, and historical trend analysis
FinanceEBITDA Multiple Calculator
Calculate and analyze EBITDA multiples for company valuation with industry benchmarks, percentile rankings, and visualization tools.
FinanceEconomic Value Added (EVA) Calculator
Calculate and analyze economic value added to determine if your company is creating or destroying shareholder value with industry benchmarks and...
FinanceEnterprise Value Calculator
Calculate a company's total value (EV) and key valuation multiples including EV/EBITDA, EV/EBIT, and EV/Revenue to understand comprehensive company valuation.
FinanceIntrinsic Value Calculator
Calculate the intrinsic value of stocks using Graham Number, DCF, and dividend discount models with margin of safety analysis
Finance