Stock Analysis

Is Plenitude Berhad (KLSE:PLENITU) Using Too Much Debt?

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KLSE:PLENITU

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.' When we think about how risky a company is, we always like to look at its use of debt, since debt overload can lead to ruin. Importantly, Plenitude Berhad (KLSE:PLENITU) does carry debt. But the more important question is: how much risk is that debt creating?

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. Part and parcel of capitalism is the process of 'creative destruction' where failed businesses are mercilessly liquidated by their bankers. 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. The first thing to do when considering how much debt a business uses is to look at its cash and debt together.

View our latest analysis for Plenitude Berhad

What Is Plenitude Berhad's Debt?

As you can see below, at the end of September 2024, Plenitude Berhad had RM420.8m of debt, up from RM337.5m a year ago. Click the image for more detail. However, it also had RM410.7m in cash, and so its net debt is RM10.1m.

KLSE:PLENITU Debt to Equity History December 26th 2024

How Strong Is Plenitude Berhad's Balance Sheet?

Zooming in on the latest balance sheet data, we can see that Plenitude Berhad had liabilities of RM245.2m due within 12 months and liabilities of RM429.5m due beyond that. On the other hand, it had cash of RM410.7m and RM108.9m worth of receivables due within a year. So its liabilities total RM155.2m more than the combination of its cash and short-term receivables.

Plenitude Berhad has a market capitalization of RM538.0m, so it could very likely raise cash to ameliorate its balance sheet, if the need arose. But it's clear that we should definitely closely examine whether it can manage its debt without dilution.

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). Thus we consider debt relative to earnings both with and without depreciation and amortization expenses.

Plenitude Berhad has very modest net debt, giving rise to a debt to EBITDA ratio of 0.07. And EBIT easily covered the interest expense 8.4 times over, lending force to that view. Fortunately, Plenitude Berhad grew its EBIT by 4.4% in the last year, making that debt load look even more manageable. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But you can't view debt in total isolation; since Plenitude Berhad will need earnings to service that debt. So if you're keen to discover more about its earnings, it might be worth checking out this graph of its long term earnings trend.

Finally, a company can only pay off debt with cold hard cash, not accounting profits. So it's worth checking how much of that EBIT is backed by free cash flow. During the last three years, Plenitude Berhad burned a lot of cash. While that may be a result of expenditure for growth, it does make the debt far more risky.

Our View

Plenitude Berhad's conversion of EBIT to free cash flow was a real negative on this analysis, although the other factors we considered cast it in a significantly better light. For example its net debt to EBITDA was refreshing. Looking at all the angles mentioned above, it does seem to us that Plenitude Berhad is a somewhat risky investment as a result of its debt. That's not necessarily a bad thing, since leverage can boost returns on equity, but it is something to be aware of. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But ultimately, every company can contain risks that exist outside of the balance sheet. We've identified 1 warning sign with Plenitude Berhad , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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.