GPS » Topics » RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO FREE CASH FLOW
This excerpt taken from the GPS 8-K filed Feb 25, 2010.
RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO FREE CASH FLOW
52 Weeks Ended
($ in millions)
January 30, 2010
January 31, 2009
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
1,928
$
1,412
Less: purchases of property and equipment
(334
)
(431
)
Free cash flow (a)
$
1,594
$
981
(a)
Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure. We believe free cash flow is an important metric because it represents a measure of how much cash a company has
available after the deduction of capital expenditures, as we require regular capital expenditures to build and maintain stores and purchase new equipment to improve our business. We use this metric internally, as we believe our sustained ability to
generate free cash flow is an important driver of value creation. However, this non-GAAP financial measure is not intended to supersede or replace our GAAP results.