Fortnox (STO:FNOX) Has A Rock Solid Balance Sheet

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 Fortnox AB (publ) (STO:FNOX) does have debt on its balance sheet. But the more important question is: how much risk is that debt creating?

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. Ultimately, if the company can't fulfill its legal obligations to repay debt, shareholders could walk away with nothing. 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.

See our latest analysis for Fortnox

What Is Fortnox's Debt?

You can click the graphic below for the historical numbers, but it shows that Fortnox had kr100.0m of debt in March 2023, down from kr200.0m, one year before. However, it does have kr424.0m in cash offsetting this, leading to net cash of kr324.0m.

A Look At Fortnox's Liabilities

The latest balance sheet data shows that Fortnox had liabilities of kr660.0m due within a year, and liabilities of kr365.0m falling due after that. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of kr424.0m as well as receivables valued at kr539.0m due within 12 months. So it has liabilities totalling kr62.0m more than its cash and near-term receivables, combined.

This state of affairs indicates that Fortnox's balance sheet looks quite solid, as its total liabilities are just about equal to its liquid assets. So it's very unlikely that the kr46.8b company is short on cash, but still worth keeping an eye on the balance sheet. Despite its noteworthy liabilities, Fortnox boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load!

On top of that, Fortnox grew its EBIT by 48% over the last twelve months, and that growth will make it easier to handle its debt. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine Fortnox'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.

Finally, while the tax-man may adore accounting profits, lenders only accept cold hard cash. Fortnox 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. During the last three years, Fortnox produced sturdy free cash flow equating to 69% of its EBIT, about what we'd expect. This cold hard cash means it can reduce its debt when it wants to.

Summing Up

We could understand if investors are concerned about Fortnox's liabilities, but we can be reassured by the fact it has has net cash of kr324.0m. And it impressed us with its EBIT growth of 48% over the last year. So is Fortnox's debt a risk? It doesn't seem so to us. 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. Case in point: We've spotted 1 warning sign for Fortnox you should be aware of.

If you're interested in investing in businesses that can grow profits without the burden of debt, then check out this free list of growing businesses that have net cash on the balance sheet.

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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.