The relation between earnings and cash flows

A simple model of earnings, cash flows and accruals is developed by assuming a random walk sales process, variable and fixed costs, accounts receivable and payable, and inventory and applying the accounting process. The model implies earnings better predicts future operating cash flows than does current operating cash flows and the difference varies with the operating cash cycle. Also, the model is used to predict serial and cross-correlations of each firm's series. The implications and predictions are tested on a 1337 firm sample over 1963-1992. Both earnings/cash flow forecast implications and correlation predictions are generally consistent with the data.