Abstract ABSTRACT: Classification schemes for financial ratios serve to aid understanding of empirical similarity among the ratios and to aid in the selection of critical financial variables for empirical research. Previous researchers, who defined cash flow as net income plus depreciation, found cash flow ratios highly associated with return ratios. In this study, cash flow is computed by adjusting net income for all accruals and deferrals. This more appropriate definition leads to classification schemes in which the cash flow ratios form a factor separate and distinct from the factor of return ratios.
Gombola et al. (Sat,) studied this question.