David Iben put it well when he said, 'Volatility is not a risk we care about. What we care about is avoiding the permanent loss of capital.' When we think about how risky a company is, we always like to look at its use of debt, since debt overload can lead to ruin. We note that Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:KC) does have debt on its balance sheet. But the more important question is: how much risk is that debt creating?

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 common (but still painful) scenario is that it has to raise new equity capital at a low price, thus permanently diluting shareholders. Having said that, the most common situation is where a company manages its debt reasonably well - and to its own advantage. The first step when considering a company's debt levels is to consider its cash and debt together.

What Is Kingsoft Cloud Holdings's Debt?

As you can see below, at the end of December 2023, Kingsoft Cloud Holdings had CN¥2.18b of debt, up from CN¥1.66b a year ago. Click the image for more detail. But it also has CN¥2.26b in cash to offset that, meaning it has CN¥72.4m net cash.

How Healthy Is Kingsoft Cloud Holdings' Balance Sheet?

The latest balance sheet data shows that Kingsoft Cloud Holdings had liabilities of CN¥6.83b due within a year, and liabilities of CN¥995.8m falling due after that. Offsetting this, it had CN¥2.26b in cash and CN¥1.80b in receivables that were due within 12 months. So its liabilities outweigh the sum of its cash and (near-term) receivables by CN¥3.77b.

This deficit is considerable relative to its market capitalization of CN¥4.72b, so it does suggest shareholders should keep an eye on Kingsoft Cloud Holdings' use of debt. Should its lenders demand that it shore up the balance sheet, shareholders would likely face severe dilution. While it does have liabilities worth noting, Kingsoft Cloud Holdings also has more cash than debt, so we're pretty confident it can manage its debt safely. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine Kingsoft Cloud Holdings's ability to maintain a healthy balance sheet going forward. 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, Kingsoft Cloud Holdings made a loss at the EBIT level, and saw its revenue drop to CN¥7.0b, which is a fall of 14%. We would much prefer see growth.

So How Risky Is Kingsoft Cloud Holdings?

We have no doubt that loss making companies are, in general, riskier than profitable ones. And the fact is that over the last twelve months Kingsoft Cloud Holdings lost money at the earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) line. And over the same period it saw negative free cash outflow of CN¥2.1b and booked a CN¥2.2b accounting loss. However, it has net cash of CN¥72.4m, so it has a bit of time before it will need more capital. Overall, we'd say the stock is a bit risky, and we're usually very cautious until we see positive free cash flow. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But ultimately, every company can contain risks that exist outside of the balance sheet. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Kingsoft Cloud Holdings that you should be aware of.

Of course, if you're the type of investor who prefers buying stocks without the burden of debt, then don't hesitate to discover our exclusive list of net cash growth stocks, today.

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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.