Some say volatility, rather than debt, is the best way to think about risk as an investor, but Warren Buffett famously said that 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' So it seems the smart money knows that debt - which is usually involved in bankruptcies - is a very important factor, when you assess how risky a company is. We note that IAT Automobile Technology Co., Ltd. (SZSE:300825) does have debt on its balance sheet. But is this debt a concern to shareholders?

What Risk Does Debt Bring?

Debt assists a business until the business has trouble paying it off, either with new capital or with free cash flow. Part and parcel of capitalism is the process of 'creative destruction' where failed businesses are mercilessly liquidated by their bankers. However, a more usual (but still expensive) situation is where a company must dilute shareholders at a cheap share price simply to get debt under control. Of course, debt can be an important tool in businesses, particularly capital heavy businesses. When we examine debt levels, we first consider both cash and debt levels, together.

What Is IAT Automobile Technology's Debt?

You can click the graphic below for the historical numbers, but it shows that as of September 2024 IAT Automobile Technology had CN¥245.6m of debt, an increase on CN¥140.5m, over one year. But on the other hand it also has CN¥484.8m in cash, leading to a CN¥239.2m net cash position.

A Look At IAT Automobile Technology's Liabilities

According to the last reported balance sheet, IAT Automobile Technology had liabilities of CN¥435.9m due within 12 months, and liabilities of CN¥401.3m due beyond 12 months. Offsetting this, it had CN¥484.8m in cash and CN¥330.1m in receivables that were due within 12 months. So its liabilities outweigh the sum of its cash and (near-term) receivables by CN¥22.4m.

This state of affairs indicates that IAT Automobile Technology's balance sheet looks quite solid, as its total liabilities are just about equal to its liquid assets. So while it's hard to imagine that the CN¥5.17b company is struggling for cash, we still think it's worth monitoring its balance sheet. Despite its noteworthy liabilities, IAT Automobile Technology boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load! When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine IAT Automobile Technology's ability to maintain a healthy balance sheet going forward. So if you want to see what the professionals think, you might find this free report on analyst profit forecasts to be interesting.

In the last year IAT Automobile Technology's revenue was pretty flat, and it made a negative EBIT. While that hardly impresses, its not too bad either.

So How Risky Is IAT Automobile Technology?

While IAT Automobile Technology lost money on an earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) level, it actually booked a paper profit of CN¥4.1m. So when you consider it has net cash, along with the statutory profit, the stock probably isn't as risky as it might seem, at least in the short term. With revenue growth uninspiring, we'd really need to see some positive EBIT before mustering much enthusiasm for this business. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But ultimately, every company can contain risks that exist outside of the balance sheet. Be aware that IAT Automobile Technology is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , you should know about...

When all is said and done, sometimes its easier to focus on companies that don't even need debt. Readers can access a list of growth stocks with zero net debt 100% free, right now.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.