Cash Available for Distribution is a term used in REITs and sometimes corporate accounting for the balance of earnings left over after expenses have been paid.

After expenses have been paid and a reserve fund amount has been set aside for taxes and other recurring expenditures, there may be enough earnings left over to be designated as Cash Available for Distribution (CAD). It might also be called Funds Available for Distribution (FAD).

REITs have a different way of designating things than most companies, so earnings are called Funds From Operations (FFO) instead. The CAD or FAD amount is the amount earmarked for a dividend that will most likely be paid on the regular dividend date.

REIT stands for Real Estate Investment Trust and is a similar to a mutual fund or other pooled investment, but it invests only in real estate assets.