Warren Buffett famously said, 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' So it might be obvious that you need to consider debt, when you think about how risky any given stock is, because too much debt can sink a company. We note that Huayuan Property Co.,Ltd. (SHSE:600743) does have debt on its balance sheet. But should shareholders be worried about its use of debt?

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. While that is not too common, we often do see indebted companies permanently diluting shareholders because lenders force them to raise capital at a distressed price. By replacing dilution, though, debt can be an extremely good tool for businesses that need capital to invest in growth at high rates of return. When we think about a company's use of debt, we first look at cash and debt together.

Check out our latest analysis for Huayuan PropertyLtd

How Much Debt Does Huayuan PropertyLtd Carry?

You can click the graphic below for the historical numbers, but it shows that Huayuan PropertyLtd had CN¥12.1b of debt in September 2023, down from CN¥13.6b, one year before. On the flip side, it has CN¥3.83b in cash leading to net debt of about CN¥8.27b.

How Strong Is Huayuan PropertyLtd's Balance Sheet?

Zooming in on the latest balance sheet data, we can see that Huayuan PropertyLtd had liabilities of CN¥31.0b due within 12 months and liabilities of CN¥3.78b due beyond that. On the other hand, it had cash of CN¥3.83b and CN¥1.62b worth of receivables due within a year. So its liabilities outweigh the sum of its cash and (near-term) receivables by CN¥29.3b.

The deficiency here weighs heavily on the CN¥4.22b company itself, as if a child were struggling under the weight of an enormous back-pack full of books, his sports gear, and a trumpet. So we'd watch its balance sheet closely, without a doubt. At the end of the day, Huayuan PropertyLtd would probably need a major re-capitalization if its creditors were to demand repayment. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine Huayuan PropertyLtd'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.

Over 12 months, Huayuan PropertyLtd made a loss at the EBIT level, and saw its revenue drop to CN¥12b, which is a fall of 13%. We would much prefer see growth.

Caveat Emptor

Not only did Huayuan PropertyLtd's revenue slip over the last twelve months, but it also produced negative earnings before interest and tax (EBIT). Its EBIT loss was a whopping CN¥4.2b. When you combine this with the very significant balance sheet liabilities mentioned above, we are so wary of it that we are basically at a loss for the right words. Sure, the company might have a nice story about how they are going on to a brighter future. But the reality is that it is low on liquid assets relative to liabilities, and it lost CN¥4.1b in the last year. So we're not very excited about owning this stock. Its too risky for us. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. However, not all investment risk resides within the balance sheet - far from it. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Huayuan PropertyLtd .

If you're interested in investing in businesses that can grow profits without the burden of debt, then check out this free list of growing businesses that have net cash on the balance sheet.

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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.