Among the more-specific elements in the survey, CFOs said they expect significant changes in the sources of their companies' growth over the next year, with 73% of respondents saying new products and issues will result in increased revenue, and 68% expecting foreign markets to generate higher volume.

Price increases by their companies are expected by 56%, with rising commodity prices driving much of that, of course. Eight of 10 CFOs expect commodity prices to continue rising. But revenue growth from existing markets seemed to present the biggest challenge, in the view of 55% of respondents, who listed it among their top three concerns.

The survey recorded specific concerns about regulatory provisions that CFOs see ahead -- relating to tax policies and repatriation of earnings, health care reform they see as a corporate burden. The CFOs also perceive "unanticipated future regulation not accounted for in their current plans," according to Dickinson. "This uncertainty is making many potential investments appear risky and unattractive."

Still, the survey results suggested that strong concerns about most such regulatory issues aren't substantially impacting their investment of available cash. (Dickinson noted, for example, that "large organizations by and large are pretty progressive in their benefits and health care already.") Favorable changes to corporate taxes, though, would raise hiring to some degree, 45% of the survey respondents said.