Just as your pulse is checked during a routine physical, free cash flow is used as an indicator of a company's health. It equals the cash brought in from operations minus the money needed to pay the bills. Think about leftover money in your checking account after you pay this month's bills.

Investors and analysts see this leftover money as a gauge of a company's ability to perform. It is available for transactions such as handing out dividends and working on new products.

Some argue free cash flow is wrongly overshadowed by the emphasis often placed on earnings. Earnings numbers can be manipulated and don't always tell the whole story -- and earnings don't mean much if there's nothing left over after a company pays its expenses. Even if you bring in a six-figure salary, but no money left after paying the bills, are you in great financial shape?

You don't have to be Einstein to figure out free cash flow. To calculate the number, subtract the company's expenditures and dividends from its operating cash flow.

If the free cash flow is written in red ink, it doesn't necessarily signal curtains. This is common for young companies looking to grow. It also could be a result of heavy investments, which in the long run could be worth a standing ovation.

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Thursday, July 10, 2008

ALLDATA Posts White Papers On Alldata.com

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ELK GROVE, Calif., Jul 10, 2008 (PrimeNewswire via COMTEX) ----ALLDATA LLC has announced the availability of white papers on its website, www.alldata.com. White papers on topics of interest to automotive service and collision professionals cover subjects such as: Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, Preventive Maintenance, Shop Management Systems, Hybrid Technology, Advanced High Strength Steel, The Value of OEM Information and more.

"As the provider of manufacturers' repair information to the mechanical and collision repair industries, we are committed to helping our customers and prospective customers any way we can," says ALLDATA Marketing Director Helene Ton. "White papers offer both general and specific knowledge to shops and consumers alike."

Links to white papers are found on each of the product pages at www.alldata.com. Additional white papers will be added periodically.

ALLDATA's Ton adds, "We want everyone to understand the issues that confront the automotive service and collision industries. Education is the key to success."

About AutoZone's ALLDATA

ALLDATA, founded in 1986, with more than 70,000 repair shops as subscribers, is the leading provider of manufacturers' service and repair information, shop management software and customer relations tools for the automotive repair and collision industries. Professional automotive repair shops across North America depend on ALLDATA for their automotive repair information needs, and purchase AutoZone(r) parts from more than 2,200 AutoZone Commercial program locations.

The ALLDATA(r) Repair(sm) subscription, available online and on DVD, provides comprehensive, factory-correct repair information. Also available are: ALLDATA Manage(sm) strategic shop management system; ALLDATA Market(sm) web-based shop marketing tools to bring in new and repeat business; ALLDATA Collision,(sm) a single source of OEM collision information delivering factory-correct, unedited and regularly updated information for structural repairs and more; and the AutoZone Aftermarket Parts Catalog and AZ PartsConnect(sm) program for aftermarket parts estimating and electronic ordering. ALLDATA(r)diy.com provides consumers with repair articles, factory technical service bulletins, and illustrations for a specific vehicle, along with a link to ALLDATA-approved repair shops. Visit www.alldata.com for more information.

About AutoZone:

As of May 3, 2008, AutoZone sells auto and light truck parts, chemicals and accessories through 4,032 AutoZone stores in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico in the U.S. and 130 stores in Mexico.

AutoZone is the leading retailer and a leading distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States. Each store carries an extensive product line for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. Many stores also have a commercial sales program that provides commercial credit and prompt delivery of parts and other products to local, regional and national repair garages, dealers, and service stations. AutoZone also sells the ALLDATA brand diagnostic and repair software. On the web, AutoZone sells diagnostic and repair information, and auto and light truck parts through www.autozone.com. AutoZone does not derive revenue from automotive repair or installation.

This news release was distributed by PrimeNewswire, www.primenewswire.com

SOURCE: ALLDATA, LLC

ALLDATA Helene Ton 888-892-2332 Fax: 916-684-6933 press.relations@alldata.com AutoZone Media: Ray Pohlman 901-495-7962
   ray.pohlman@autozone.com Financial: Brian Campbell 901-495-7005 brian.campbell@autozone.com

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