We Think ACC (NSE:ACC) Can Manage Its Debt With Ease

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 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. Importantly, ACC Limited (NSE:ACC) does carry debt. But the real question is whether this debt is making the company risky.

Why Does Debt Bring Risk?

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 common (but still painful) scenario is that it has to raise new equity capital at a low price, thus permanently diluting shareholders. Having said that, the most common situation is where a company manages its debt reasonably well - and to its own advantage. When we think about a company's use of debt, we first look at cash and debt together.

See our latest analysis for ACC

What Is ACC's Debt?

As you can see below, ACC had ₹990.7m of debt, at June 2021, 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 ₹58.5b in cash, leading to a ₹57.5b net cash position.

How Strong Is ACC's Balance Sheet?

The latest balance sheet data shows that ACC had liabilities of ₹48.3b due within a year, and liabilities of ₹7.07b falling due after that. On the other hand, it had cash of ₹58.5b and ₹11.5b worth of receivables due within a year. So it can boast ₹14.6b more liquid assets than total liabilities.

This surplus suggests that ACC has a conservative balance sheet, and could probably eliminate its debt without much difficulty. Simply put, the fact that ACC has more cash than debt is arguably a good indication that it can manage its debt safely.

In addition to that, we're happy to report that ACC has boosted its EBIT by 45%, thus reducing the spectre of future debt repayments. There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine ACC'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.

Finally, a company can only pay off debt with cold hard cash, not accounting profits. ACC 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. During the last three years, ACC produced sturdy free cash flow equating to 72% of its EBIT, about what we'd expect. This cold hard cash means it can reduce its debt when it wants to.

Summing up

While we empathize with investors who find debt concerning, you should keep in mind that ACC has net cash of ₹57.5b, as well as more liquid assets than liabilities. And we liked the look of last year's 45% year-on-year EBIT growth. So is ACC's debt a risk? It doesn't seem so to us. 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. Be aware that ACC is showing 1 warning sign in our investment analysis , 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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