Capital Expenditure (CapEx) is the funds a company invests in purchasing, renovating, or replacing physical assets like buildings, machinery, technology, or equipment.
Types of capital expenditure includes growth and maintenance capEx.
Capital Expenditure (CapEx) is the funds a company invests in purchasing, renovating, or replacing physical assets like buildings, machinery, technology, or equipment. These investments are made to enhance the long-term productive capability of the company.
CapEx is not spent on everyday business expenses. Rather, it is a long-term investment in the company.
Purchasing a new office building
Acquiring machinery for a factory
Replacing a computer system
Building a new warehouse
Renovating or building facilities
These assets have a lifespan of longer than one year and are reflected on the balance sheet as fixed assets.
CapEx is not completely expensed in the period when it is incurred. Rather, it is:
1. Capitalized: Reflected as an asset.
2. Depreciated or amortized: Spilled out as an expense over the useful lifespan of the asset.
For instance, when a company purchases a ₹10 lakh machine with a 10-year life, it can show ₹1 lakh as depreciation expense every year.
1. Growth CapEx: Investments for increasing operations—such as constructing a new factory.
2. Maintenance CapEx: Expenditure on replacing or repairing current assets—such as repairing faulty equipment.
Balance Sheet: Shown as an asset (e.g., Property, Plant, and Equipment).
Cash Flow Statement: Displayed under "Cash Flow from Investing Activities" as a cash outlay.
Income Statement: Depreciation component of CapEx only shows up, not the entire amount incurred.
One popular method of calculating CapEx is:
CapEx = Change in Net PP&E (Property, Plant, & Equipment) + Depreciation Expense
This makes it easier for analysts to determine how much a company is investing in its future operations.
Suggests expansion: Excessive CapEx can be an indication that a firm is growing or expanding.
Impacts free cash flow: High CapEx takes away cash to meet dividend or debt obligations.
Applied in valuation: CapEx information is utilized in models such as Free Cash Flow (FCF) and DCF.
CapEx is important in India in the following areas:
Infrastructure construction (roads, railways, power plants)
Expansion of industries by private sector firms
Government of India budget planning to drive economic growth
For instance, the Union Budget tends to draw attention to government CapEx expenditures in order to drive demand and generate employment.