Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad (KLSE:YOCB) Seems To Use Debt Rather Sparingly

Warren Buffett famously said, 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' 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. We can see that Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad (KLSE:YOCB) does use debt in its business. But should shareholders be worried about its use of debt?

What Risk Does Debt Bring?

Debt and other liabilities become risky for a business when it cannot easily fulfill those obligations, either with free cash flow or by raising capital at an attractive price. In the worst case scenario, a company can go bankrupt if it cannot pay its creditors. 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 step when considering a company's debt levels is to consider its cash and debt together.

Check out our latest analysis for Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad

How Much Debt Does Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad Carry?

As you can see below, Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad had RM8.54m of debt at March 2021, down from RM18.1m a year prior. But it also has RM111.1m in cash to offset that, meaning it has RM102.5m net cash.

How Strong Is Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad's Balance Sheet?

Zooming in on the latest balance sheet data, we can see that Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad had liabilities of RM24.2m due within 12 months and liabilities of RM4.74m due beyond that. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of RM111.1m as well as receivables valued at RM37.0m due within 12 months. So it can boast RM119.1m more liquid assets than total liabilities.

This surplus liquidity suggests that Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad's balance sheet could take a hit just as well as Homer Simpson's head can take a punch. With this in mind one could posit that its balance sheet means the company is able to handle some adversity. Succinctly put, Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load!

In addition to that, we're happy to report that Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad has boosted its EBIT by 64%, thus reducing the spectre of future debt repayments. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But it is Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad'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.

Finally, while the tax-man may adore accounting profits, lenders only accept cold hard cash. Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad may have net cash on the balance sheet, but it is still interesting to look at how well the business converts its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, because that will influence both its need for, and its capacity to manage debt. Over the last three years, Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad actually produced more free cash flow than EBIT. That sort of strong cash generation warms our hearts like a puppy in a bumblebee suit.

Summing up

While we empathize with investors who find debt concerning, you should keep in mind that Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad has net cash of RM102.5m, as well as more liquid assets than liabilities. The cherry on top was that in converted 139% of that EBIT to free cash flow, bringing in RM62m. At the end of the day we're not concerned about Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad's debt. 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. Be aware that Yoong Onn Corporation Berhad is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those is concerning...

At the end of the day, it's often better to focus on companies that are free from net debt. You can access our special list of such companies (all with a track record of profit growth). It's free.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. 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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