Capital expenditure (Capex)
Capex is short for capital expenditure. This is simply the purchase of fixed assets such as land, buildings and equipment for a business and it is often one of the biggest uses for a company’s cash flow.
Capex is short for capital expenditure. This is simply thepurchase of fixed assets such as land, buildings and equipmentfor a business and it is often one of the biggest uses for acompany's cash flow. Capex is usually split into two parts.
Maintenance capex refers to the money that is spent onreplacing worn out assets or bringing existing ones up to date.
Expansionary capex refers to any investment in new capacitydesigned to grow the sales and profits of the business.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
The keypoint about capex is that a company has to get a good returnon the money it spends. Spending too much capex on poorprojects that deliver weak returns
Get the latest financial news, insights and expert analysis from our award-winning MoneyWeek team, to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
MoneyWeek is written by a team of experienced and award-winning journalists, plus expert columnists. As well as daily digital news and features, MoneyWeek also publishes a weekly magazine, covering investing and personal finance. From share tips, pensions, gold to practical investment tips - we provide a round-up to help you make money and keep it.
-
Millions of over 50s fear pension investment risk – how should you position your portfolio?
To de-risk or not to de-risk, that is the question. Act too late and you could face irreversible losses. Move too early and miss out on significant gains that could transform your retirement.
-
£150 off energy bills: millions more to get discount this winter
The expansion of the Warm Home Discount scheme follows a government U-turn on the Winter Fuel Payment. We explain who will get the £150 discount