What is the impact of high capital expenditures on a company's cash flow?

High capital expenditures (CapEx) can significantly impact a company's cash flow by leading to negative free cash flow. When a company invests heavily in capital expenditures, such as purchasing equipment, facilities, or technology, these outflows of cash are subtracted from operating cash flow to calculate free cash flow.

If the amount spent on capital expenditures exceeds the cash generated from operations, it results in negative free cash flow. This situation indicates that the company is spending more to maintain or expand its asset base than it is generating from its core business activities. Negative free cash flow can be a concern for investors as it may signal that the company is not currently generating enough cash to cover its investments, which could lead to financial difficulties if not managed properly.

In summary, high capital expenditures can lead to negative free cash flow when expenditures exceed operational cash generation, making it critical for companies to carefully balance their investments with their ability to generate cash.