These 4 Measures Indicate That Syngene International (NSE:SYNGENE) Is Using Debt Reasonably Well

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. As with many other companies Syngene International Limited (NSE:SYNGENE) makes use of debt. But the real question is whether this debt is making the company risky.

When Is Debt Dangerous?

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. 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 thing to do when considering how much debt a business uses is to look at its cash and debt together.

See our latest analysis for Syngene International

How Much Debt Does Syngene International Carry?

The chart below, which you can click on for greater detail, shows that Syngene International had ₹7.90b in debt in March 2022; about the same as the year before. But on the other hand it also has ₹12.8b in cash, leading to a ₹4.92b net cash position.

How Healthy Is Syngene International's Balance Sheet?

According to the last reported balance sheet, Syngene International had liabilities of ₹12.3b due within 12 months, and liabilities of ₹10.4b due beyond 12 months. On the other hand, it had cash of ₹12.8b and ₹5.08b worth of receivables due within a year. So its liabilities total ₹4.77b more than the combination of its cash and short-term receivables.

Given Syngene International has a market capitalization of ₹224.5b, it's hard to believe these liabilities pose much threat. Having said that, it's clear that we should continue to monitor its balance sheet, lest it change for the worse. Despite its noteworthy liabilities, Syngene International boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load!

And we also note warmly that Syngene International grew its EBIT by 12% last year, making its debt load easier to handle. There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. But ultimately the future profitability of the business will decide if Syngene International can strengthen its balance sheet over time. So if you want to see what the professionals think, you might find this free report on analyst profit forecasts to be interesting.

Finally, a company can only pay off debt with cold hard cash, not accounting profits. Syngene International 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, Syngene International's free cash flow amounted to 33% of its EBIT, less than we'd expect. That weak cash conversion makes it more difficult to handle indebtedness.

Summing up

We could understand if investors are concerned about Syngene International's liabilities, but we can be reassured by the fact it has has net cash of ₹4.92b. And it also grew its EBIT by 12% over the last year. So we don't have any problem with Syngene International's use of debt. We'd be motivated to research the stock further if we found out that Syngene International insiders have bought shares recently. If you would too, then you're in luck, since today we're sharing our list of reported insider transactions for free.

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.