We Think Nexteer Automotive Group (HKG:1316) Can Manage Its Debt With Ease

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.' 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 Nexteer Automotive Group Limited (HKG:1316) does have debt on its balance sheet. But the more important question is: how much risk is that debt creating?

When Is Debt Dangerous?

Debt assists a business until the business has trouble paying it off, either with new capital or with free cash flow. If things get really bad, the lenders can take control of the business. 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. The first step when considering a company's debt levels is to consider its cash and debt together.

See our latest analysis for Nexteer Automotive Group

What Is Nexteer Automotive Group's Debt?

The image below, which you can click on for greater detail, shows that Nexteer Automotive Group had debt of US$114.3m at the end of June 2021, a reduction from US$302.4m over a year. But it also has US$328.2m in cash to offset that, meaning it has US$213.9m net cash.

A Look At Nexteer Automotive Group's Liabilities

Zooming in on the latest balance sheet data, we can see that Nexteer Automotive Group had liabilities of US$917.1m due within 12 months and liabilities of US$267.7m due beyond that. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of US$328.2m as well as receivables valued at US$718.3m due within 12 months. So it has liabilities totalling US$138.3m more than its cash and near-term receivables, combined.

Of course, Nexteer Automotive Group has a market capitalization of US$2.56b, so these liabilities are probably manageable. Having said that, it's clear that we should continue to monitor its balance sheet, lest it change for the worse. While it does have liabilities worth noting, Nexteer Automotive Group also has more cash than debt, so we're pretty confident it can manage its debt safely.

On top of that, Nexteer Automotive Group grew its EBIT by 68% over the last twelve months, and that growth will make it easier to handle its debt. 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 Nexteer Automotive 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.

But our final consideration is also important, because a company cannot pay debt with paper profits; it needs cold hard cash. Nexteer Automotive Group may have net cash on the balance sheet, but it is still interesting to look at how well the business converts its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, because that will influence both its need for, and its capacity to manage debt. In the last three years, Nexteer Automotive Group's free cash flow amounted to 47% of its EBIT, less than we'd expect. That weak cash conversion makes it more difficult to handle indebtedness.

Summing up

While it is always sensible to look at a company's total liabilities, it is very reassuring that Nexteer Automotive Group has US$213.9m in net cash. And it impressed us with its EBIT growth of 68% over the last year. So is Nexteer Automotive Group's debt a risk? It doesn't seem so to 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. These risks can be hard to spot. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Nexteer Automotive Group 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.

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.

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