Is SanFeng Intelligent Equipment Group (SZSE:300276) Using Too Much Debt?

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. Importantly, SanFeng Intelligent Equipment Group Co., Ltd. (SZSE:300276) does carry debt. But is this debt a concern to shareholders?

What Risk Does Debt Bring?

Debt and other liabilities become risky for a business when it cannot easily fulfill those obligations, either with free cash flow or by raising capital at an attractive price. If things get really bad, the lenders can take control of the business. 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. 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.

See our latest analysis for SanFeng Intelligent Equipment Group

How Much Debt Does SanFeng Intelligent Equipment Group Carry?

As you can see below, SanFeng Intelligent Equipment Group had CN¥177.8m of debt, at June 2024, which is about the same as the year before. You can click the chart for greater detail. But on the other hand it also has CN¥295.3m in cash, leading to a CN¥117.5m net cash position.

How Strong Is SanFeng Intelligent Equipment Group's Balance Sheet?

The latest balance sheet data shows that SanFeng Intelligent Equipment Group had liabilities of CN¥2.55b due within a year, and liabilities of CN¥23.0m falling due after that. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of CN¥295.3m as well as receivables valued at CN¥809.0m due within 12 months. So its liabilities total CN¥1.47b more than the combination of its cash and short-term receivables.

While this might seem like a lot, it is not so bad since SanFeng Intelligent Equipment Group has a market capitalization of CN¥5.02b, and so it could probably strengthen its balance sheet by raising capital if it needed to. But it's clear that we should definitely closely examine whether it can manage its debt without dilution. Despite its noteworthy liabilities, SanFeng Intelligent Equipment Group boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load! There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. But you can't view debt in total isolation; since SanFeng Intelligent Equipment Group will need earnings to service that debt. So if you're keen to discover more about its earnings, it might be worth checking out this graph of its long term earnings trend.

Over 12 months, SanFeng Intelligent Equipment Group reported revenue of CN¥1.8b, which is a gain of 7.7%, although it did not report any earnings before interest and tax. That rate of growth is a bit slow for our taste, but it takes all types to make a world.

So How Risky Is SanFeng Intelligent Equipment Group?

Although SanFeng Intelligent Equipment Group had an earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) loss over the last twelve months, it generated positive free cash flow of CN¥110m. So although it is loss-making, it doesn't seem to have too much near-term balance sheet risk, keeping in mind the net cash. Until we see some positive EBIT, we're a bit cautious of the stock, not least because of the rather modest revenue growth. There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. But ultimately, every company can contain risks that exist outside of the balance sheet. We've identified 1 warning sign with SanFeng Intelligent Equipment Group , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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.