Negative Operating Cash FlowNegative operating cash flow and deteriorating free cash flow are structural red flags. They hinder the company’s ability to self-fund operations, capex or growth, increasing reliance on external financing and creating liquidity risk if losses persist or credit conditions tighten.
Sustained Net Losses And Negative MarginsPersistent negative EBIT and net income margins erode retained earnings and undermine return on capital. Ongoing losses limit reinvestment capacity, pressure stakeholder confidence, and require either consistent external funding or rapid improvement in operations to restore long-term financial health.
Declining Gross Profit MarginA multi-period decline in gross margin signals structural cost inflation or pricing competitiveness issues. Margin compression restricts the company’s ability to translate revenue growth into profits, making sustained recovery harder without pricing power, cost restructuring, or higher-value services.