Here's Why DrecomLtd (TSE:3793) Has A Meaningful Debt Burden

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 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. We can see that Drecom Co.,Ltd. (TSE:3793) does use debt in its business. But should shareholders be worried about its use of debt?

When Is Debt A Problem?

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. While that is not too common, we often do see indebted companies permanently diluting shareholders because lenders force them to raise capital at a distressed price. Having said that, the most common situation is where a company manages its debt reasonably well - and to its own advantage. When we examine debt levels, we first consider both cash and debt levels, together.

Check out our latest analysis for DrecomLtd

What Is DrecomLtd's Debt?

As you can see below, at the end of June 2024, DrecomLtd had JP¥6.04b of debt, up from JP¥3.87b a year ago. Click the image for more detail. However, because it has a cash reserve of JP¥5.08b, its net debt is less, at about JP¥955.0m.

How Healthy Is DrecomLtd's Balance Sheet?

The latest balance sheet data shows that DrecomLtd had liabilities of JP¥3.74b due within a year, and liabilities of JP¥4.50b falling due after that. On the other hand, it had cash of JP¥5.08b and JP¥1.64b worth of receivables due within a year. So it has liabilities totalling JP¥1.51b more than its cash and near-term receivables, combined.

Since publicly traded DrecomLtd shares are worth a total of JP¥20.6b, it seems unlikely that this level of liabilities would be a major threat. However, we do think it is worth keeping an eye on its balance sheet strength, as it may change over time.

We use two main ratios to inform us about debt levels relative to earnings. The first is net debt divided by earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), while the second is how many times its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) covers its interest expense (or its interest cover, for short). Thus we consider debt relative to earnings both with and without depreciation and amortization expenses.

DrecomLtd has a low net debt to EBITDA ratio of only 1.0. And its EBIT covers its interest expense a whopping 16.2 times over. So you could argue it is no more threatened by its debt than an elephant is by a mouse. It is just as well that DrecomLtd's load is not too heavy, because its EBIT was down 44% over the last year. When it comes to paying off debt, falling earnings are no more useful than sugary sodas are for your health. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But ultimately the future profitability of the business will decide if DrecomLtd 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 we always check how much of that EBIT is translated into free cash flow. Over the last three years, DrecomLtd saw substantial negative free cash flow, in total. While that may be a result of expenditure for growth, it does make the debt far more risky.

Our View

DrecomLtd's EBIT growth rate and conversion of EBIT to free cash flow definitely weigh on it, in our esteem. But its interest cover tells a very different story, and suggests some resilience. Taking the abovementioned factors together we do think DrecomLtd's debt poses some risks to the business. While that debt can boost returns, we think the company has enough leverage now. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. However, not all investment risk resides within the balance sheet - far from it. Be aware that DrecomLtd is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those shouldn't be ignored...

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.