Here's Why Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (NSE:ADANIPORTS) Can Manage Its Debt Responsibly

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.' It's only natural to consider a company's balance sheet when you examine how risky it is, since debt is often involved when a business collapses. We note that Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (NSE:ADANIPORTS) does have debt on its balance sheet. But is this debt a concern to shareholders?

What Risk Does Debt Bring?

Generally speaking, debt only becomes a real problem when a company can't easily pay it off, either by raising capital or with its own cash flow. 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. Having said that, the most common situation is where a company manages its debt reasonably well - and to its own advantage. The first thing to do when considering how much debt a business uses is to look at its cash and debt together.

Check out our latest analysis for Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone

How Much Debt Does Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Carry?

You can click the graphic below for the historical numbers, but it shows that as of September 2021 Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone had ₹454.4b of debt, an increase on ₹348.7b, over one year. On the flip side, it has ₹133.7b in cash leading to net debt of about ₹320.7b.

How Healthy Is Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone's Balance Sheet?

We can see from the most recent balance sheet that Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone had liabilities of ₹111.9b falling due within a year, and liabilities of ₹419.0b due beyond that. Offsetting this, it had ₹133.7b in cash and ₹36.7b in receivables that were due within 12 months. So its liabilities outweigh the sum of its cash and (near-term) receivables by ₹360.4b.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone has a very large market capitalization of ₹1.46t, so it could very likely raise cash to ameliorate its balance sheet, if the need arose. However, it is still worthwhile taking a close look at its ability to pay off debt.

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). This way, we consider both the absolute quantum of the debt, as well as the interest rates paid on it.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone has a debt to EBITDA ratio of 3.4, which signals significant debt, but is still pretty reasonable for most types of business. However, its interest coverage of 13.5 is very high, suggesting that the interest expense on the debt is currently quite low. It is well worth noting that Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone's EBIT shot up like bamboo after rain, gaining 42% in the last twelve months. That'll make it easier to manage its debt. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But ultimately the future profitability of the business will decide if Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone can strengthen its balance sheet over time. 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. So the logical step is to look at the proportion of that EBIT that is matched by actual free cash flow. Over the most recent three years, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone recorded free cash flow worth 73% of its EBIT, which is around normal, given free cash flow excludes interest and tax. This free cash flow puts the company in a good position to pay down debt, when appropriate.

Our View

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone's interest cover suggests it can handle its debt as easily as Cristiano Ronaldo could score a goal against an under 14's goalkeeper. But, on a more sombre note, we are a little concerned by its net debt to EBITDA. It's also worth noting that Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone is in the Infrastructure industry, which is often considered to be quite defensive. Looking at the bigger picture, we think Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone's use of debt seems quite reasonable and we're not concerned about it. After all, sensible leverage can boost returns on equity. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But ultimately, every company can contain risks that exist outside of the balance sheet. To that end, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (including 1 which shouldn't be ignored) .

When all is said and done, sometimes its easier to focus on companies that don't even need debt. Readers can access a list of growth stocks with zero net debt 100% free, right now.

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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