Is Dong-A ST (KRX:170900) A Risky Investment?

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 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 Dong-A ST Co., Ltd. (KRX:170900) does have debt on its balance sheet. But the real question is whether this debt is making the company risky.

When Is Debt A Problem?

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. Ultimately, if the company can't fulfill its legal obligations to repay debt, shareholders could walk away with nothing. 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. Of course, debt can be an important tool in businesses, particularly capital heavy businesses. The first step when considering a company's debt levels is to consider its cash and debt together.

Check out our latest analysis for Dong-A ST

What Is Dong-A ST's Net Debt?

You can click the graphic below for the historical numbers, but it shows that as of June 2024 Dong-A ST had ₩585.6b of debt, an increase on ₩394.9b, over one year. However, because it has a cash reserve of ₩410.5b, its net debt is less, at about ₩175.1b.

A Look At Dong-A ST's Liabilities

According to the last reported balance sheet, Dong-A ST had liabilities of ₩387.0b due within 12 months, and liabilities of ₩367.9b due beyond 12 months. On the other hand, it had cash of ₩410.5b and ₩120.6b worth of receivables due within a year. So its liabilities total ₩223.8b more than the combination of its cash and short-term receivables.

While this might seem like a lot, it is not so bad since Dong-A ST has a market capitalization of ₩704.8b, and so it could probably strengthen its balance sheet by raising capital if it needed to. However, it is still worthwhile taking a close look at its ability to pay off debt. 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 Dong-A ST'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.

Over 12 months, Dong-A ST reported revenue of ₩675b, which is a gain of 6.8%, although it did not report any earnings before interest and tax. That rate of growth is a bit slow for our taste, but it takes all types to make a world.

Caveat Emptor

Over the last twelve months Dong-A ST produced an earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) loss. To be specific the EBIT loss came in at ₩18b. When we look at that and recall the liabilities on its balance sheet, relative to cash, it seems unwise to us for the company to have any debt. Quite frankly we think the balance sheet is far from match-fit, although it could be improved with time. Another cause for caution is that is bled ₩62b in negative free cash flow over the last twelve months. So suffice it to say we consider the stock very risky. 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. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Dong-A ST that you should be aware of before investing here.

If, after all that, you're more interested in a fast growing company with a rock-solid balance sheet, then check out our list of net cash growth stocks without delay.

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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.