Health Check: How Prudently Does SSP Group (LON:SSPG) Use Debt?

David Iben put it well when he said, 'Volatility is not a risk we care about. What we care about is avoiding the permanent loss of capital.' When we think about how risky a company is, we always like to look at its use of debt, since debt overload can lead to ruin. As with many other companies SSP Group plc (LON:SSPG) makes use of debt. But should shareholders be worried about its use of debt?

When Is Debt A Problem?

Debt is a tool to help businesses grow, but if a business is incapable of paying off its lenders, then it exists at their mercy. 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. 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 SSP Group

What Is SSP Group's Net Debt?

You can click the graphic below for the historical numbers, but it shows that as of September 2021 SSP Group had UK£1.08b of debt, an increase on UK£881.4m, over one year. On the flip side, it has UK£773.6m in cash leading to net debt of about UK£309.7m.

A Look At SSP Group's Liabilities

The latest balance sheet data shows that SSP Group had liabilities of UK£1.17b due within a year, and liabilities of UK£1.71b falling due after that. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of UK£773.6m as well as receivables valued at UK£103.3m due within 12 months. So it has liabilities totalling UK£1.99b more than its cash and near-term receivables, combined.

This is a mountain of leverage relative to its market capitalization of UK£2.02b. Should its lenders demand that it shore up the balance sheet, shareholders would likely face severe dilution. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine SSP Group'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, SSP Group made a loss at the EBIT level, and saw its revenue drop to UK£834m, which is a fall of 42%. To be frank that doesn't bode well.

Caveat Emptor

Not only did SSP Group'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 UK£324m. Considering that alongside the liabilities mentioned above does not give us much confidence that company should be using so much debt. Quite frankly we think the balance sheet is far from match-fit, although it could be improved with time. We would feel better if it turned its trailing twelve month loss of UK£357m into a profit. So to be blunt we do think it is risky. 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. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with SSP Group .

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.