The financial covenants under our Facility state that we must maintain an interest coverage ratio of not less than 2.50:1.00. Our interest coverage ratio is calculated by dividing our last-twelve-months (LTM) consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and certain other non-cash transactions as allowed in the Facility) by our LTM gross interest expense, less amortization of financing fees. In addition, a debt to capitalization ratio of not more than 0.60:1.00 must be maintained. At March 31, 2022, our interest coverage ratio and debt to capitalization ratio were 54.22:1.00 and 0.31:1.00, respectively. We were, therefore, in compliance with these covenants at March 31, 2022, and we anticipate we will continue to be in compliance during the next twelve months.
Working Capital. We generated cash flow from operations of $819.0 million in the first quarter of 2022 compared to $262.2 million in the same 2021 period. Operational working capital (representing amounts invested in trade receivables and inventories, less current liabilities other than income taxes payable and debt) increased $757.2 million, or 23%, to $4.1 billion at March 31, 2022, due primarily to increased accounts receivable, consistent with increased net sales, and funding of the $359.8 million in 2021 company-wide profit sharing.
Capital Investments. During the first quarter of 2022, we invested $159.3 million in property, plant and equipment, primarily within our steel operations segment, compared with $309.9 million invested during the same period in 2021. Spending on the Southwest-Sinton Flat Roll Steel Division decreased in the first quarter of 2022 versus the same period in 2021 as we near completion of the construction phase. We entered 2022 with ample liquidity of $2.4 billion to provide for our currently planned 2022 capital requirements.
Cash Dividends. As a reflection of continued confidence in our current and future cash flow generation ability and financial position, we increased our quarterly cash dividend by 31% to $0.34 per share in the first quarter of 2022 (from $0.26 per share in 2021), resulting in declared cash dividends of $64.3 million during the first quarter of 2022, compared to $54.9 million during the same period in 2021. We paid cash dividends of $50.7 million and $52.7 million during the first quarters of 2022 and 2021, respectively. Our board of directors, along with executive management, approves the payment of dividends on a quarterly basis. The determination to pay cash dividends in the future is at the discretion of our board of directors, after taking into account various factors, including our financial condition, results of operations, outstanding indebtedness, current and anticipated cash needs and growth plans.
Other. In February 2020, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to $500.0 million of our common stock, which was fully utilized in July 2021. In July 2021, our board of directors authorized an additional share repurchase program of up to $1.0 billion of our common stock, which was fully utilized in March 2022. In February 2022, our board of directors authorized an additional share repurchase program of up to $1.25 billion of our common stock. Under the share repurchase programs, purchases take place as and when we determine in open market or private transactions made based upon the market price of our common stock, the nature of other investment opportunities or growth projects, our cash flows from operations, and general economic conditions. The share repurchase programs do not require us to acquire any specific number of shares, and may be modified, suspended, extended or terminated by us at any time. The share repurchase programs do not have an expiration date. There were $389.2 million of share repurchases during the first quarter of 2022 and none during the same period in 2021. As of March 31, 2022, we had $1.24 billion remaining available to purchase under the 2022 share repurchase program.
Our ability to meet our debt service obligations and reduce our total debt will depend upon our future performance which, in turn, will depend upon general economic, financial, and business conditions, along with competition, legislation and regulatory factors that are largely beyond our control. In addition, we cannot assure that our operating results, cash flows, access to credit markets and capital resources will be sufficient for repayment of our indebtedness in the future. We believe that based upon current levels of operations and anticipated growth, cash flows from operations, together with other available sources of funds, including borrowings under our Revolver, if necessary, will be adequate for the next twelve months for making required payments of principal and interest on our indebtedness, funding working capital requirements, and funding anticipated capital expenditures.