Please answer the following questions:
Examine the three cash flow statements presented in the case. What do they tell you about the three companies performance and financial riskiness?
Based on the profile of the Cash Flows, please share a best effort guess, of the company and sector represented by each cash flow. Do not be afraid to put a stake in the ground regarding a choice, basing this on any observations of the statements presented.
Note: the actual numbers have been disguised from these US based publicly listed companies- base your detective work on the various components and elements of the cash flow statements to emerge with a best attempt at what type of business and perhaps what sector these companies may be a part of. The answer of the correct company or sector is not as important as the principles and thought process you share. You may also please pick the name of a local company or any company the cash flow statements may remind you of. Share why the cash flow statement reminds you of this company. Remember- the goal is not to pick the right company but to share thought processes as to why a cash flow statement of any of the three statements remind you of a company you may know.
Guiding questions based on the above:
What are the key areas of difference between the 3 companies cash flow statements?
What do you suspect may be drivers of these differences?
What elements of strategy of the business, if any, can be hypothesized based on observations?
Based on evidence, if you had to make an educated guess, are there any companies and/or sectors that come to mind that fit the cash flow profiles shared? Pick a local, global or US company. Note: the goal is not the correct answer but the thought process. (The 3 disguised companies are all US based companies)
During the height of the COVID pandemic, which company, all things being considered, do you think would have been the most resilient and which do you think may be most vulnerable? Why?
