Is Virnect (KOSDAQ:438700) A Risky Investment?

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 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 can see that Virnect Co., Ltd. (KOSDAQ:438700) does use debt in its business. But should shareholders be worried about its use of debt?

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. Part and parcel of capitalism is the process of 'creative destruction' where failed businesses are mercilessly liquidated by their bankers. 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 step when considering a company's debt levels is to consider its cash and debt together.

See our latest analysis for Virnect

What Is Virnect's Net Debt?

As you can see below, Virnect had ₩6.60b of debt at March 2024, down from ₩6.98b a year prior. But on the other hand it also has ₩33.1b in cash, leading to a ₩26.5b net cash position.

How Healthy Is Virnect's Balance Sheet?

We can see from the most recent balance sheet that Virnect had liabilities of ₩4.12b falling due within a year, and liabilities of ₩7.52b due beyond that. On the other hand, it had cash of ₩33.1b and ₩976.4m worth of receivables due within a year. So it actually has ₩22.5b more liquid assets than total liabilities.

This excess liquidity is a great indication that Virnect's balance sheet is almost as strong as Fort Knox. Having regard to this fact, we think its balance sheet is as strong as an ox. Succinctly put, Virnect boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load! There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. But it is Virnect's earnings that will influence how the balance sheet holds up in the future. So when considering debt, it's definitely worth looking at the earnings trend. Click here for an interactive snapshot.

Over 12 months, Virnect reported revenue of ₩6.3b, which is a gain of 21%, although it did not report any earnings before interest and tax. With any luck the company will be able to grow its way to profitability.

So How Risky Is Virnect?

Statistically speaking companies that lose money are riskier than those that make money. And we do note that Virnect had an earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) loss, over the last year. And over the same period it saw negative free cash outflow of ₩11b and booked a ₩11b accounting loss. While this does make the company a bit risky, it's important to remember it has net cash of ₩26.5b. That means it could keep spending at its current rate for more than two years. With very solid revenue growth in the last year, Virnect may be on a path to profitability. By investing before those profits, shareholders take on more risk in the hope of bigger rewards. 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. To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Virnect .

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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com