Jonathan Lo's Playbook: Is the Profit Real? Reading Income and Cash Flow
Speaker: Jonathan Lo, Investment Representative at Tiger Brokers Singapore, on profitability ratios, why cash flow tells a different story from profit, and how EV/EBITDA levels the playing field.
[About the Speaker] Jonathan Lo is an Investment Representative at Tiger Brokers (Singapore). With nearly 20 years of practical trading and investment experience, he interprets markets through multi-asset, macro-directed long-short strategies expressed through equities and options.
[The Hook] Near the end of the session, the speaker asked: which ratio tells you whether a business generates enough income to sustain its operations? The answer wasn't profit margin. It was cash flow. Here's why.
[The Income Statement: Profitability]
Revenue minus the cost of goods sold gives gross profit. Then:
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Operating profit margin = operating profit ÷ revenue
On the slide, revenue of 102,007 and operating profit of 6,094 give a margin of about 6%. As with other ratios, the speaker suggested comparing across a group of companies. Most peers will land near each other.
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Interest coverage ratio: how well a company can pay the interest on its debt. A company with a high D/E ratio can still be comfortable if its coverage is strong. The speaker's guideline: you want it high, but not too low. Around 1.5 is a reference point, and a lower number suggests financial stress.
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Earnings per share (EPS) = net earnings ÷ number of shares. Easy to track. What you want to see is EPS rising consistently, with steady profits.
[The Cash Flow Statement: Can It Sustain Itself?]
The cash flow statement shows how cash moves: whether operations bring cash in, and whether cash goes out as dividends. The key question is whether the company is self-sustaining.
The slide shows net income against net cash from operating activities across three years. In 2022, net income was a loss of 2,722, yet operating cash flow was still 46,752. Profit and cash can diverge, and this is a good place to see it.
A related check: operating cash flow ÷ net income. A result above 1 means cash coming in exceeds reported income, so the earnings are backed by cash. This also explains the quiz answer. A quarter with a one-off bump in earnings can distort profit margin, while cash flow strips out other factors and shows how the operation actually runs. Look at it over a period of time.
[EV/EBITDA: Comparing Companies Funded Differently]
EV/EBITDA = (market capitalization + debt − cash and equivalents) ÷ EBITDA. Two companies, one heavily indebted and one not, are funded differently, and this ratio brings them to a more level comparison. A low number may mean undervalued, but it may also reflect financial risk. A high number may mean the market is willing to pay a premium for quality.
[Key Takeaways]
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Profit is one number. Cash is another. Check whether operating cash flow supports earnings.
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EPS should rise steadily, not just once.
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A low valuation ratio is not automatically a bargain. Ask why.
[Call to Action 🎯]
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Pull up a company's last three years of net income and operating cash flow side by side.
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Check whether cash flow stayed above net income.
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Drop a comment: which companies in your portfolio have profits you'd trust more because of their cash flow?
Markets are always moving - and sometimes, the best move is knowing what works for you.
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Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.
净利润可以受到折旧、应计收入和一次性项目影响，但企业能否持续经营、偿还债务和回馈股东，最终离不开真实现金流。
我个人比较关注**微软（MSFT）和谷歌（GOOG）**这类具备较强经营现金创造能力的企业。不过，AI资本开支持续增加，也意味着不能只看经营现金流，还必须关注扣除资本开支后的自由现金流。
**我的分析重点有三个：**
① 经营现金流能否长期支持净利润，而非只看某个季度。
② 自由现金流是否持续为正，能否覆盖资本开支和股东回报。
③ EV/EBITDA是否低于同行，以及低估值背后是否隐藏高负债或增长放缓风险。
另外，经营现金流高于净利润并非绝对利好，还要检查应付账款、存货和应收账款的变化。
**我的投资原则是：利润决定企业看起来赚了多少，现金流决定企业真正具备多少财务实力。**
尤其在AI资本开支高企的环境下，**能够把利润持续转化为自由现金流的企业，才更值得长期关注！** 🐯
Personally, I believe investors should focus on diversification and choose investments that match their financial goals and risk tolerance. For example, bank stocks may benefit from higher interest rates because they can earn more from lending activities. However, higher borrowing costs may also affect businesses and consumers. Meanwhile, technology and growth stocks may face pressure when Treasury yields rise because investors become more cautious about future earnings.
Just like investing, choosing Tiger Merch also depends on individual preferences and needs. The Tiger Toiletry Bag is a practical choice for people who travel frequently or want to keep their daily essentials organised.