Should projections for non-recurring items like asset sales or acquisitions be included in free cash flow (FCF)?

Non-recurring items such as asset sales or acquisitions should not be included in free cash flow (FCF) calculations because FCF is meant to represent the cash generated by a company's core operations under normal circumstances. These non-recurring items can distort an accurate picture of a company’s ongoing profitability and operational efficiency.

Including these items would skew the projection of future cash flows because they do not reflect the regular business operations. For example, a one-time sale of an asset might provide a significant cash inflow in a given year, but it does not represent the company's ability to generate cash in future periods from its ongoing business activities. This could lead to misleading conclusions about the company’s financial health and its ability to fund operations, pay dividends, or invest in growth.

In contrast, focusing on recurring operational cash flows gives a cleaner, more reliable forecast, essential for investors and analysts who seek to understand the long-term financial viability of a business.