Here's Why Cadiz (NASDAQ:CDZI) Can Afford Some 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. As with many other companies Cadiz Inc. (NASDAQ:CDZI) makes use of debt. But the more important question is: how much risk is that debt creating?

Why Does Debt Bring Risk?

Debt assists a business until the business has trouble paying it off, either with new capital or with free cash flow. If things get really bad, the lenders can take control of the business. 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. 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. When we think about a company's use of debt, we first look at cash and debt together.

Check out our latest analysis for Cadiz

What Is Cadiz's Net Debt?

You can click the graphic below for the historical numbers, but it shows that Cadiz had US$46.1m of debt in September 2021, down from US$75.3m, one year before. However, it also had US$18.6m in cash, and so its net debt is US$27.5m.

A Look At Cadiz's Liabilities

Zooming in on the latest balance sheet data, we can see that Cadiz had liabilities of US$4.67m due within 12 months and liabilities of US$68.3m due beyond that. Offsetting this, it had US$18.6m in cash and US$83.0k in receivables that were due within 12 months. So its liabilities total US$54.3m more than the combination of its cash and short-term receivables.

While this might seem like a lot, it is not so bad since Cadiz has a market capitalization of US$155.9m, and so it could probably strengthen its balance sheet by raising capital if it needed to. But it's clear that we should definitely closely examine whether it can manage its debt without dilution. There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. But ultimately the future profitability of the business will decide if Cadiz 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.

Over 12 months, Cadiz reported revenue of US$562k, which is a gain of 9.8%, although it did not report any earnings before interest and tax. We usually like to see faster growth from unprofitable companies, but each to their own.

Caveat Emptor

Over the last twelve months Cadiz produced an earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) loss. Indeed, it lost a very considerable US$16m at the EBIT level. When we look at that and recall the liabilities on its balance sheet, relative to cash, it seems unwise to us for the company to have any debt. So we think its balance sheet is a little strained, though not beyond repair. Another cause for caution is that is bled US$34m in negative free cash flow over the last twelve months. So suffice it to say we consider the stock very risky. There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. However, not all investment risk resides within the balance sheet - far from it. For example Cadiz has 4 warning signs (and 2 which are a bit concerning) we think you should know about.

When all is said and done, sometimes its easier to focus on companies that don't even need debt. Readers can access a list of growth stocks with zero net debt 100% free, right now.

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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.