Would Alpine 4 Holdings (NASDAQ:ALPP) Be Better Off With Less Debt?

Warren Buffett famously said, '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. Importantly, Alpine 4 Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALPP) does carry debt. But the real question is whether this debt is making the company risky.

When Is Debt Dangerous?

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. Part and parcel of capitalism is the process of 'creative destruction' where failed businesses are mercilessly liquidated by their bankers. 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. By replacing dilution, though, debt can be an extremely good tool for businesses that need capital to invest in growth at high rates of return. 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 Alpine 4 Holdings

How Much Debt Does Alpine 4 Holdings Carry?

You can click the graphic below for the historical numbers, but it shows that Alpine 4 Holdings had US$17.1m of debt in September 2021, down from US$25.1m, one year before. However, it does have US$5.43m in cash offsetting this, leading to net debt of about US$11.6m.

A Look At Alpine 4 Holdings' Liabilities

According to the last reported balance sheet, Alpine 4 Holdings had liabilities of US$23.7m due within 12 months, and liabilities of US$23.7m due beyond 12 months. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of US$5.43m as well as receivables valued at US$16.6m due within 12 months. So its liabilities total US$25.3m more than the combination of its cash and short-term receivables.

Since publicly traded Alpine 4 Holdings shares are worth a total of US$256.5m, it seems unlikely that this level of liabilities would be a major threat. But there are sufficient liabilities that we would certainly recommend shareholders continue to monitor the balance sheet, going forward. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But it is Alpine 4 Holdings's earnings that will influence how the balance sheet holds up in the future. 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.

Over 12 months, Alpine 4 Holdings reported revenue of US$47m, which is a gain of 37%, although it did not report any earnings before interest and tax. Shareholders probably have their fingers crossed that it can grow its way to profits.

Caveat Emptor

Despite the top line growth, Alpine 4 Holdings still had an earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) loss over the last year. Indeed, it lost US$12m at the EBIT level. Considering that alongside the liabilities mentioned above does not give us much confidence that company should be using so much debt. Quite frankly we think the balance sheet is far from match-fit, although it could be improved with time. Another cause for caution is that is bled US$25m in negative free cash flow over the last twelve months. So in short it's a really risky stock. 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. We've identified 4 warning signs with Alpine 4 Holdings (at least 2 which are potentially serious) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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.