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.' It's only natural to consider a company's balance sheet when you examine how risky it is, since debt is often involved when a business collapses. Importantly, Bitdeer Technologies Group (NASDAQ:BTDR) does carry debt. But the real question is whether this debt is making the company risky.
We've discovered 3 warning signs about Bitdeer Technologies Group. View them for free.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 common (but still painful) scenario is that it has to raise new equity capital at a low price, thus permanently diluting shareholders. Of course, plenty of companies use debt to fund growth, without any negative consequences. When we examine debt levels, we first consider both cash and debt levels, together.
What Is Bitdeer Technologies Group's Net Debt?
As you can see below, at the end of March 2025, Bitdeer Technologies Group had US$215.4m of debt, up from US$22.7m a year ago. Click the image for more detail. However, it does have US$220.2m in cash offsetting this, leading to net cash of US$4.75m.
How Strong Is Bitdeer Technologies Group's Balance Sheet?
The latest balance sheet data shows that Bitdeer Technologies Group had liabilities of US$639.2m due within a year, and liabilities of US$164.8m falling due after that. On the other hand, it had cash of US$220.2m and US$26.1m worth of receivables due within a year. So its liabilities outweigh the sum of its cash and (near-term) receivables by US$557.7m.
Of course, Bitdeer Technologies Group has a market capitalization of US$2.99b, so these liabilities are probably manageable. Having said that, it's clear that we should continue to monitor its balance sheet, lest it change for the worse. While it does have liabilities worth noting, Bitdeer Technologies Group also has more cash than debt, so we're pretty confident it can manage its debt safely. 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 Bitdeer Technologies Group 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.
View our latest analysis for Bitdeer Technologies Group
In the last year Bitdeer Technologies Group had a loss before interest and tax, and actually shrunk its revenue by 28%, to US$300m. To be frank that doesn't bode well.
So How Risky Is Bitdeer Technologies Group?
By their very nature companies that are losing money are more risky than those with a long history of profitability. And we do note that Bitdeer Technologies Group had an earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) loss, over the last year. Indeed, in that time it burnt through US$916m of cash and made a loss of US$190m. Given it only has net cash of US$4.75m, the company may need to raise more capital if it doesn't reach break-even soon. Summing up, we're a little skeptical of this one, as it seems fairly risky in the absence of free cashflow. 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. Case in point: We've spotted 3 warning signs for Bitdeer Technologies Group you should be aware of.
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.
Valuation is complex, but we're here to simplify it.
Discover if Bitdeer Technologies Group might be undervalued or overvalued with our detailed analysis, featuring fair value estimates, potential risks, dividends, insider trades, and its financial condition.
Access Free AnalysisHave feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
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.