If you are currently a shareholder in Luxoft Holding Inc (NYSE:LXFT), or considering investing in the stock, you need to examine how the business generates cash, and how it is reinvested. What is left after investment, determines the value of the stock since this cash flow technically belongs to investors of the company. I will take you through LXFT’s cash flow health and the risk-return concept based on the stock’s cash flow yield, using the most recent financial data. This will help you think about the company from a cash perspective, which is a crucial factor to investing.
View our latest analysis for Luxoft Holding
What is Luxoft Holding’s cash yield?
Luxoft Holding’s free cash flow (FCF) is the level of cash flow the business generates from its operational activities, after it reinvests in the company as capital expenditure. This type of expense is needed for Luxoft Holding to continue to grow, or at least, maintain its current operations.
I will be analysing Luxoft Holding’s FCF by looking at its FCF yield and its operating cash flow growth. The yield will tell us whether the stock is generating enough cash to compensate for the risk investors take on by holding a single stock, which I will compare to the market index. The growth will proxy for sustainability levels of this cash generation.
Free Cash Flow = Operating Cash Flows – Net Capital Expenditure
Free Cash Flow Yield = Free Cash Flow / Enterprise Value
where Enterprise Value = Market Capitalisation + Net Debt
Although, Luxoft Holding generate sufficient cash from its operational activities, its FCF yield of 6.18% is roughly in-line with the broader market’s high single-digit yield. This means investors are being compensated at the same level as they would be if they just held the well-diversified market index.
Does Luxoft Holding have a favourable cash flow trend?
Does LXFT’s future look brighter in terms of its ability to generate higher operating cash flows? This can be estimated by examining the trend of the company’s operating cash flow moving forward. In the next couple of years, the company is expected to grow its cash from operations at a double-digit rate of 25%, ramping up from its current levels of US$115m to US$145m in three years’ time. Furthermore, breaking down growth into a year on year basis, LXFT is able to increase its growth rate each year, from -3.4% in the upcoming year, to 14% by the end of the third year. The overall picture seems encouraging, should capital expenditure levels maintain at an appropriate level.
Next Steps:
Luxoft Holding’s positive operating cash flow is encouraging, and its yield is relatively similar to the market index. However, you are taking on more risk by holding a single-stock rather than the well-diversified market index. This means, in terms of risk and return, it’s not the best deal. Now you know to keep cash flows in mind, I suggest you continue to research Luxoft Holding to get a better picture of the company by looking at: