Measuring surplus generation rather than distribution requires reporting cash flow before taxes and dividends.

Evidence

Typically, accountants report cash flow net of dividends and income taxes (i.e. cash flow retained earnings depreciation allowances). Since I am primarily interested in the generation of surplus rather than its distribution,I report cash flow before taxes and dividends have been paid. — Greta R. Krippner, The Financialization of the American…, 48