Operating cash flow is the cash generated or used by a company's core business operations. It adjusts net income for non-cash items and working capital changes, such as depreciation, receivables, inventory, and payables. Strong operating cash flow can indicate that the business is converting sales and earnings into real cash.

Investing cash flow shows cash used for or generated from investment-related activities, such as capital expenditures, purchases or sales of investments, acquisitions, and asset disposals. Negative investing cash flow is not always bad, because it can reflect spending on future growth, but investors should check whether those investments support long-term returns.

Financing cash flow shows how a company raises capital or returns capital to investors and creditors. It can include debt issuance, debt repayment, share issuance, share repurchases, dividend payments, and lease financing. Positive financing cash flow may show new capital raised, while negative financing cash flow may reflect debt repayment, dividends, or buybacks.

Free cash flow is the cash a company has left after funding the capital spending needed to maintain or grow the business. It is often used to assess financial flexibility, debt repayment capacity, dividend sustainability, buyback potential, and valuation quality. Investors should compare free cash flow with net income, revenue growth, and capital expenditures.