Warren Buffett famously said, '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 China Grand Automotive Services Group Co.,Ltd (SHSE:600297) does have debt on its balance sheet. But is this debt a concern to shareholders?

Why Does Debt Bring Risk?

Generally speaking, debt only becomes a real problem when a company can't easily pay it off, either by raising capital or with its own 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 frequent (but still costly) occurrence is where a company must issue shares at bargain-basement prices, permanently diluting shareholders, just to shore up its balance sheet. Having said that, the most common situation is where a company manages its debt reasonably well - and to its own advantage. The first step when considering a company's debt levels is to consider its cash and debt together.

How Much Debt Does China Grand Automotive Services GroupLtd Carry?

As you can see below, China Grand Automotive Services GroupLtd had CN¥52.0b of debt at September 2023, down from CN¥54.7b a year prior. However, it also had CN¥12.2b in cash, and so its net debt is CN¥39.8b.

A Look At China Grand Automotive Services GroupLtd's Liabilities

Zooming in on the latest balance sheet data, we can see that China Grand Automotive Services GroupLtd had liabilities of CN¥62.6b due within 12 months and liabilities of CN¥13.1b due beyond that. Offsetting this, it had CN¥12.2b in cash and CN¥4.79b in receivables that were due within 12 months. So its liabilities outweigh the sum of its cash and (near-term) receivables by CN¥58.7b.

This deficit casts a shadow over the CN¥12.4b company, like a colossus towering over mere mortals. So we'd watch its balance sheet closely, without a doubt. At the end of the day, China Grand Automotive Services GroupLtd would probably need a major re-capitalization if its creditors were to demand repayment. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine China Grand Automotive Services GroupLtd's ability to maintain a healthy balance sheet going forward. So if you're focused on the future you can check out this free report showing analyst profit forecasts.

Over 12 months, China Grand Automotive Services GroupLtd made a loss at the EBIT level, and saw its revenue drop to CN¥134b, which is a fall of 3.1%. That's not what we would hope to see.

Caveat Emptor

Importantly, China Grand Automotive Services GroupLtd had an earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) loss over the last year. To be specific the EBIT loss came in at CN¥219m. Combining this information with the significant liabilities we already touched on makes us very hesitant about this stock, to say the least. Of course, it may be able to improve its situation with a bit of luck and good execution. But we think that is unlikely since it is low on liquid assets, and made a loss of CN¥2.7b in the last year. So we think this stock is quite risky. We'd prefer to pass. There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. However, not all investment risk resides within the balance sheet - far from it. These risks can be hard to spot. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for China Grand Automotive Services GroupLtd you should know about.

Of course, if you're the type of investor who prefers buying stocks without the burden of debt, then don't hesitate to discover our exclusive list of net cash growth stocks, today.

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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.