Transparent conducting cadmium oxide (CdO) thin films have been deposited by chemical spray pyrolysis from a solution of cadmium acetate in distilled water and methanol. The films were doped by addition of NH4F to the solution whose optimum concentration was determined. As-deposited films show values of Hall mobility, carrier concentration, resistivity, and transmittance (at lambda = 825 nm) of 25.4 x 10(-4) m(2)/Vs, 3.66 x 10(26) m(-3), 6.72 x 10(-6) Ohm m and 87.1% respectively. The figure of merit Phi = T-10/R-sh (3.35 x 10(-2) Ohm(-1) at 825 nm) is the highest reported in the literature for doped and undoped CdO films obtained through such an inexpensive technique.