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 Fosun International Limited (HKG:656) does have debt on its balance sheet. But the real question is whether this debt is making the company risky.

When Is Debt A Problem?

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. However, a more frequent (but still costly) occurrence is where a company must issue shares at bargain-basement prices, permanently diluting shareholders, just to shore up its balance sheet. 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.

View our latest analysis for Fosun International

What Is Fosun International's Debt?

As you can see below, Fosun International had CN¥234.4b of debt at June 2023, down from CN¥275.3b a year prior. However, it also had CN¥171.9b in cash, and so its net debt is CN¥62.5b.

How Healthy Is Fosun International's Balance Sheet?

The latest balance sheet data shows that Fosun International had liabilities of CN¥161.0b due within a year, and liabilities of CN¥468.5b falling due after that. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of CN¥171.9b as well as receivables valued at CN¥57.8b due within 12 months. So its liabilities total CN¥399.8b more than the combination of its cash and short-term receivables.

This deficit casts a shadow over the CN¥36.6b company, like a colossus towering over mere mortals. So we definitely think shareholders need to watch this one closely. At the end of the day, Fosun International would probably need a major re-capitalization if its creditors were to demand repayment. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But ultimately the future profitability of the business will decide if Fosun International can strengthen its balance sheet over time. So if you want to see what the professionals think, you might find this free report on analyst profit forecasts to be interesting.

Over 12 months, Fosun International reported revenue of CN¥185b, which is a gain of 3.6%, 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

Importantly, Fosun International had an earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) loss over the last year. Its EBIT loss was a whopping CN¥4.9b. When you combine this with the very significant balance sheet liabilities mentioned above, we are so wary of it that we are basically at a loss for the right words. Sure, the company might have a nice story about how they are going on to a brighter future. But the reality is that it is low on liquid assets relative to liabilities, and it burned through CN¥2.5b in the last year. So is this a high risk stock? We think so, and we'd avoid it. For riskier companies like Fosun International I always like to keep an eye on the long term profit and revenue trends. Fortunately, you can click to see our interactive graph of its profit, revenue, and operating cashflow.

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.