Increase Decrease In Prepaid Expenses (Historical)
Returns the historical change in prepaid expenses from the cash flow statement. Prepaid expenses are payments made in advance for goods or services to be received in the future (like insurance or rent).
Cash Flow Statement Convention
| Sign | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Positive | Prepaid expenses decreased (cash inflow) |
| Negative | Prepaid expenses increased (cash outflow) |
Supported Symbols
| Type | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| US Stocks | SYMBOL | AAPL, MSFT |
| ETFs | SYMBOL | SPY, QQQ |
| International | SYMBOL | SHOP, TSM |
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 |
Types of Prepaid Expenses
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Insurance | Annual premiums paid upfront |
| Rent | Rent deposits and advance payments |
| Subscriptions | Annual software licenses |
| Marketing | Prepaid advertising |
Notes
- Usually a smaller component of working capital
- Increases as business expands
- Seasonal variations in insurance renewals
Examples
=hf_Increase_Decrease_in_prepaid_expenses("AAPL", 2023)=hf_Increase_Decrease_in_prepaid_expenses("MSFT", 2023, 2)=hf_Increase_Decrease_in_prepaid_expenses("AMZN", "ly")=hf_Increase_Decrease_in_prepaid_expenses("GOOGL", 2023, , "TTM")=hf_Increase_Decrease_in_prepaid_expenses(A1, B1, C1)When to Use
- Detailed working capital analysis
- Understanding cash flow components
- Analyzing prepayment patterns
- Comprehensive cash flow reconciliation
- Working capital efficiency analysis
When NOT to Use
| Scenario | Use Instead |
|---|---|
| Need total prepaids | hf_Prepaid_Expenses() |
| Need operating cash flow | hf_Operating_Cash_Flow() |
| Need receivables changes | hf_Increase_Decrease_in_receivables() |
| Need inventory changes | hf_Increase_Decrease_in_inventories() |
Common Issues & FAQ
Q: Why is this usually smaller than other working capital changes? A: Prepaid expenses are typically a smaller portion of working capital compared to receivables and inventory for most companies.
Q: When do prepaids increase significantly? A: Large prepaid increases can occur with major insurance renewals, prepaid marketing campaigns, or upfront software licensing.
Q: Why am I getting "NA"? A: Some companies don't break out prepaid expense changes separately in their cash flow statements.
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