Other private equity or real estate firms buy these assets, working to improve their quality and cash flow before selling them again at a higher price.

WSJ: Love Among the Ruins

He soon developed a knack for buying cheap, fixer-upper cable systems, raising quality and prices and plowing the cash flow into more acquisitions.

FORBES: "We're On A Collision Course"

Another quality IAC likes in acquisition targets is cash flow.

FORBES: Barry Diller's IAC Bids $300 Million For About.com As Demand Media Circles

As the gap between low-quality and high-quality borrowers grows, more suppliers will experience cash flow problems.

FORBES: Written by By Drew Hofler

The earnings-quality grade rewards companies for having high sums of operating and investing cash flow relative to reported earnings (Cisco).

FORBES: A Matter of Trust

But high-quality dividend paying stocks tend to be much more resistant to market downturns and you receive a monthly cash flow while you are waiting.

FORBES: More themes for the coming year