Zall Smart Commerce Group (HKG:2098) Takes On Some Risk With Its Use Of Debt

Howard Marks put it nicely when he said that, rather than worrying about share price volatility, 'The possibility of permanent loss is the risk I worry about... and every practical investor I know worries about.' 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 Zall Smart Commerce Group Ltd. (HKG:2098) does have debt on its balance sheet. 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. 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. Of course, the upside of debt is that it often represents cheap capital, especially when it replaces dilution in a company with the ability to reinvest 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 Zall Smart Commerce Group

What Is Zall Smart Commerce Group's Net Debt?

As you can see below, Zall Smart Commerce Group had CN¥14.5b of debt at June 2024, down from CN¥15.9b a year prior. However, because it has a cash reserve of CN¥2.28b, its net debt is less, at about CN¥12.2b.

How Strong Is Zall Smart Commerce Group's Balance Sheet?

The latest balance sheet data shows that Zall Smart Commerce Group had liabilities of CN¥42.3b due within a year, and liabilities of CN¥7.31b falling due after that. On the other hand, it had cash of CN¥2.28b and CN¥24.4b worth of receivables due within a year. So its liabilities outweigh the sum of its cash and (near-term) receivables by CN¥22.9b.

This deficit casts a shadow over the CN¥4.41b company, like a colossus towering over mere mortals. So we'd watch its balance sheet closely, without a doubt. After all, Zall Smart Commerce Group would likely require a major re-capitalisation if it had to pay its creditors today.

We measure a company's debt load relative to its earnings power by looking at its net debt divided by its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) and by calculating how easily its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) cover its interest expense (interest cover). Thus we consider debt relative to earnings both with and without depreciation and amortization expenses.

Zall Smart Commerce Group shareholders face the double whammy of a high net debt to EBITDA ratio (43.6), and fairly weak interest coverage, since EBIT is just 2.1 times the interest expense. This means we'd consider it to have a heavy debt load. One redeeming factor for Zall Smart Commerce Group is that it turned last year's EBIT loss into a gain of CN¥222m, over the last twelve months. There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. But it is Zall Smart Commerce Group's earnings that will influence how the balance sheet holds up in the future. So when considering debt, it's definitely worth looking at the earnings trend. Click here for an interactive snapshot.

Finally, while the tax-man may adore accounting profits, lenders only accept cold hard cash. So it is important to check how much of its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) converts to actual free cash flow. Over the last year, Zall Smart Commerce Group actually produced more free cash flow than EBIT. There's nothing better than incoming cash when it comes to staying in your lenders' good graces.

Our View

On the face of it, Zall Smart Commerce Group's net debt to EBITDA left us tentative about the stock, and its level of total liabilities was no more enticing than the one empty restaurant on the busiest night of the year. But on the bright side, its conversion of EBIT to free cash flow is a good sign, and makes us more optimistic. Looking at the bigger picture, it seems clear to us that Zall Smart Commerce Group's use of debt is creating risks for the company. If all goes well, that should boost returns, but on the flip side, the risk of permanent capital loss is elevated by the debt. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But ultimately, every company can contain risks that exist outside of the balance sheet. These risks can be hard to spot. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Zall Smart Commerce Group (of which 2 are significant!) you should know about.

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.