Increase Decrease In Inventories (Historical)
Returns the historical change in inventories from the cash flow statement. This shows how much cash was used to build inventory or freed by reducing inventory levels.
Cash Flow Statement Convention
| Sign | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Positive | Inventory decreased (cash inflow) |
| Negative | Inventory increased (cash outflow) |
Supported Symbols
| Type | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| US Stocks | SYMBOL | AAPL, MSFT |
| Retailers | SYMBOL | WMT, TGT, COST |
| International | SYMBOL | Various |
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Stock ticker symbol |
| Year | Fiscal year (2020, 2021) or period code (lq, ly, lt) |
| Quarter | Optional: 1, 2, 3, or 4 for quarterly data |
| TTM | Optional: Set to "TTM" for trailing twelve months |
Inventory Analysis
| Scenario | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Building inventory | Preparing for demand or potential oversupply |
| Reducing inventory | Selling through or supply issues |
| Large swings | Seasonal business or demand mismatch |
Notes
- Critical for retail and manufacturing companies
- Service companies typically have minimal inventory
- Inventory buildup can signal future demand or problems
Examples
=hf_Increase_Decrease_in_inventories("AAPL", 2023)=hf_Increase_Decrease_in_inventories("WMT", 2023, 2)=hf_Increase_Decrease_in_inventories("AMZN", "ly")=hf_Increase_Decrease_in_inventories("TGT", 2023, , "TTM")=hf_Increase_Decrease_in_inventories(A1, B1, C1)When to Use
- Analyzing working capital efficiency
- Understanding cash flow from operations
- Evaluating inventory management
- Comparing with cost of goods sold growth
- Supply chain analysis
When NOT to Use
| Scenario | Use Instead |
|---|---|
| Need total inventory | hf_Inventories() |
| Need operating cash flow | hf_Operating_Cash_Flow() |
| Need receivables changes | hf_Increase_Decrease_in_receivables() |
| Need inventory turnover | hf_Inventory_Turnover() |
Common Issues & FAQ
Q: Why does negative mean increase? A: In cash flow statements, buying inventory uses cash. The negative sign shows cash is being consumed to build inventory.
Q: When is inventory buildup concerning? A: If inventory grows faster than sales/COGS, it may indicate demand problems. Compare inventory growth to revenue growth.
Q: Why am I getting "NA"? A: Service companies may have no inventory. Check that the company has inventory on its balance sheet.
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