Analisi del flusso di cassa dei quattro giganti dell'industria alimentare

Four of the biggest companies of the food industry were analyzed: Nestlè, Danone, Mondelez International and Kellogg's. Each one is a major actor of the food industry and this thesis refers to them as ¿the big four¿. Understanding the trends of these giants helps to understand the trend of this industry between 2009 and 2012. This analysis is based on the cash flow statements of the four firms. The presence of cash in a company is extremely important. It can determine its subsistence and companies must be able to handle the cash inflows and outflows in a proper way. This thesis analyzed the aforementioned companies through their ability in generating and administrating cash, that determines their wellness and health. The trends of the four firms were compared through their cash flow statements, analyzing the operating, the investing and the financing activities, the free cash flow and the change in cash and cash equivalents. Then, their activities were compared between each other to individuate the main differences in the performances. All of them generated cash internally, invested for the future, paid dividends to shareholders and increased their amounts of liquidity year after year. Despite some differences, the analysis shows how all the four companies were able to overcome difficulties and to improve for the future. The big four kept a stable and solid situation of cash inflows and outflows.