Funds From Operations

What is Funds From Operations (FFO)?

As the name suggests, Funds From Operations (FFO) is the fund or cash generated from the operating activities of the business. The operating activities mean the core business activities. These cash flows exclude activities such as the sale of assets, income from investments, and so on. The term “Funds from Operations” is frequently used in financial statements of companies. FFO is crucial in measuring operational effectiveness. FFO is the cash flow that a company generates as a result of its business operations. The net inflow of cash and its equivalents as a result of a company’s operating activities is measured by funds from operations. Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are the companies that employ FFO most frequently.

Formula for Funds From Operations

Funds From Operations = (Net Income + Depreciation + Amortization + Loss on Sale of Fixed Assets) – Gains on Sale of Fixed Assets – Interest Income

• Net Income is the income from different activities after adjusting for expenses for the financial year. The net income will be specified in the Profit and Loss Statement. 
• Depreciation is the annual amortisation on fixed assets to spread the cost of fixed assets over a period of time. This activity does not involve any cash flow. As a result, to calculate the real incoming cash or revenue from the REIT’s operations, depreciation and amortisation are added back to net income.
• Loss and gain on the sale of a fixed asset is a one-time activity and does not form a part of the operating activities. Hence, loss or gain from such activities must not form a part of the FFO. Since the loss and gain are included in the net income, the necessary adjustments are made.
• Many companies receive interest or return from investments in options such as mutual funds, fixed deposits, etc. These returns and interest incomes are not a part of the regular or operating income of the company. Hence, interest income adjustments are necessary.

Calculation of Funds From Operations

Let us understand the calculation of Funds From Operations with the help of an example

For the financial year 2021-22. Arun private Limited reports the following Profit and Loss Statement

Particulars	Amount
Income From Sale of Goods and Services	Rs 16,00,000
Gain From Sale of Furniture	Rs 2,00,000
Gain From Sale of Land	Rs 3,00,000
Interest on Fixed Deposit	Rs 50,000
Total Income	Rs 21,50,000
Expenses Incurred For Sale of Goods and services	Rs 10,50,000
Depreciation on Fixed Assets	Rs 2,00,000
Loss on Sale of Machinery	Rs 50,000
Net Income	Rs 8,50,000

FFO = (Net Income + Depreciation + Amortization + Loss on Sale of Fixed Assets) – Gains on Sale of Fixed Assets – Interest Income

= (Rs 16,00,000 + Rs 2,00,000 + Rs 50,000) – Rs 2,00,000 – Rs 3,00,000 – Rs 50,000

= Rs 13,00,000

Use of FFO

Funds From Operations depicts the cash flow from the core business activities of the company. This makes it easier for financial analysts to assess how effectively a company uses its resources to generate revenue for operations. FFO also makes it possible to determine a company’s liquidity status and working capital requirements.

FFO provides an accurate picture of the operational efficiency of a REIT. Because REITs have unique characteristics that make it difficult to analyse operational efficiency using metrics of earnings. Hence, FFO is a better metric than EBITDA, net income, or cash from operations. One of the major reasons why FFO is efficient is because REITs generate significant non-cash profits and losses from the sale of fixed assets. By eliminating these aspects, you can understand the real fund flow.

Adjusted Under Funds From Operations

Adjusted Under Funds From Operations is a more accurate measure of analysing the revenue performance or potential of a REIT. It gives an indication of a REIT’s ability to earn cash or pay dividends. Adjusted Under Funds From Operations accounts for the non-recurring expenses and capital expenditures. Hence, this gives a net revenue-generating amount and the cash available for distribution. These non-recurring expenses include repair and maintenance of assets, one-time cost of improvements, and so on.

Adjusted Under Funds From Operations = Funds From Operations + Non-Recurring Expenses – Capital Expenditures

Fund Flow Vs Cash Flow From Operations

The cash flow and fund flow from operations of an organization show two distinct aspects over a time period. The cash flow will track a company’s actual cash intake and outflow (cash and cash equivalents). 

Particulars	Fund Flow	Cash Flow
Calculation	Change in Working Capital for a period to another	Inflow and Outflow of Cash in a Year
Basis of Accounting	Accrual	Cash
Focus	Working Capital	Cash Generation
Used For	Long Term Planning	Understanding Short Term Liquidity
Disclosure in Financial Statements	Mandatory, along with Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss Statement	Not Mandatory. Usually forms a part of investor reporting

Frequently Asked Questions