These 4 Measures Indicate That Amtech Systems (NASDAQ:ASYS) Is Using Debt Extensively

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.' 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 Amtech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASYS) does use debt in its business. But the more important question is: how much risk is that debt creating?

What Risk Does Debt Bring?

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 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. When we examine debt levels, we first consider both cash and debt levels, together.

See our latest analysis for Amtech Systems

What Is Amtech Systems's Debt?

The image below, which you can click on for greater detail, shows that Amtech Systems had debt of US$4.89m at the end of June 2021, a reduction from US$5.27m over a year. However, it does have US$37.0m in cash offsetting this, leading to net cash of US$32.1m.

A Look At Amtech Systems' Liabilities

We can see from the most recent balance sheet that Amtech Systems had liabilities of US$15.6m falling due within a year, and liabilities of US$16.5m due beyond that. On the other hand, it had cash of US$37.0m and US$22.0m worth of receivables due within a year. So it actually has US$27.0m more liquid assets than total liabilities.

It's good to see that Amtech Systems has plenty of liquidity on its balance sheet, suggesting conservative management of liabilities. Due to its strong net asset position, it is not likely to face issues with its lenders. Succinctly put, Amtech Systems boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load!

Shareholders should be aware that Amtech Systems's EBIT was down 49% last year. If that earnings trend continues then paying off its debt will be about as easy as herding cats on to a roller coaster. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But ultimately the future profitability of the business will decide if Amtech Systems can strengthen its balance sheet over time. So if you're focused on the future you can check out this free report showing analyst profit forecasts.

Finally, a company can only pay off debt with cold hard cash, not accounting profits. While Amtech Systems has net cash on its balance sheet, it's still worth taking a look at its ability to convert earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, to help us understand how quickly it is building (or eroding) that cash balance. During the last three years, Amtech Systems burned a lot of cash. While that may be a result of expenditure for growth, it does make the debt far more risky.

Summing up

While we empathize with investors who find debt concerning, you should keep in mind that Amtech Systems has net cash of US$32.1m, as well as more liquid assets than liabilities. So while Amtech Systems does not have a great balance sheet, it's certainly not too bad. In light of our reservations about the company's balance sheet, it seems sensible to check if insiders have been selling shares recently.

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.
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