Howard Marks put it nicely when he said that, rather than worrying about share price volatility, 'The possibility of permanent loss is the risk I worry about... and every practical investor I know worries about.' 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 Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNS) 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?

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. Part and parcel of capitalism is the process of 'creative destruction' where failed businesses are mercilessly liquidated by their bankers. 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, debt can be an important tool in businesses, particularly capital heavy businesses. The first step when considering a company's debt levels is to consider its cash and debt together.

What Is Marinus Pharmaceuticals's Net Debt?

The image below, which you can click on for greater detail, shows that at December 2023 Marinus Pharmaceuticals had debt of US$109.0m, up from US$101.9m in one year. But on the other hand it also has US$150.3m in cash, leading to a US$41.3m net cash position.

A Look At Marinus Pharmaceuticals' Liabilities

The latest balance sheet data shows that Marinus Pharmaceuticals had liabilities of US$40.6m due within a year, and liabilities of US$113.5m falling due after that. On the other hand, it had cash of US$150.3m and US$3.80m worth of receivables due within a year. So its total liabilities are just about perfectly matched by its shorter-term, liquid assets.

This state of affairs indicates that Marinus Pharmaceuticals' balance sheet looks quite solid, as its total liabilities are just about equal to its liquid assets. So while it's hard to imagine that the US$477.5m company is struggling for cash, we still think it's worth monitoring its balance sheet. Despite its noteworthy liabilities, Marinus Pharmaceuticals boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load! There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine Marinus Pharmaceuticals's ability to maintain a healthy balance sheet going forward. So if you're focused on the future you can check out this free report showing analyst profit forecasts.

Over 12 months, Marinus Pharmaceuticals reported revenue of US$31m, which is a gain of 22%, 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.

So How Risky Is Marinus Pharmaceuticals?

We have no doubt that loss making companies are, in general, riskier than profitable ones. And in the last year Marinus Pharmaceuticals had an earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) loss, truth be told. Indeed, in that time it burnt through US$118m of cash and made a loss of US$141m. But at least it has US$41.3m on the balance sheet to spend on growth, near-term. Marinus Pharmaceuticals's revenue growth shone bright over the last year, so it may well be in a position to turn a profit in due course. By investing before those profits, shareholders take on more risk in the hope of bigger rewards. 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 instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Marinus Pharmaceuticals that you should be aware of.

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.