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.’ So it might be obvious that you need to consider debt, when you think about how risky any given stock is, because too much debt can sink a company. We note that Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN) does have debt on its balance sheet. But should shareholders be worried about its use of debt?
When Is Debt A Problem?
Debt is a tool to help businesses grow, but if a business is incapable of paying off its lenders, then it exists at their mercy. In the worst case scenario, a company can go bankrupt if it cannot pay its creditors. 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. When we examine debt levels, we first consider both cash and debt levels, together.
View our latest analysis for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
What Is Regeneron Pharmaceuticals’s Net Debt?
You can click the graphic below for the historical numbers, but it shows that as of June 2020 Regeneron Pharmaceuticals had US$1.49b of debt, an increase on none, over one year. But it also has US$3.14b in cash to offset that, meaning it has US$1.65b net cash.
A Look At Regeneron Pharmaceuticals’s Liabilities
The latest balance sheet data shows that Regeneron Pharmaceuticals had liabilities of US$3.70b due within a year, and liabilities of US$1.67b falling due after that. On the other hand, it had cash of US$3.14b and US$2.81b worth of receivables due within a year. So it can boast US$584.2m more liquid assets than total liabilities.
This state of affairs indicates that Regeneron Pharmaceuticals’s balance sheet looks quite solid, as its total liabilities are just about equal to its liquid assets. So it’s very unlikely that the US$63.4b company is short on cash, but still worth keeping an eye on the balance sheet. Simply put, the fact that Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has more cash than debt is arguably a good indication that it can manage its debt safely.
In addition to that, we’re happy to report that Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has boosted its EBIT by 31%, thus reducing the spectre of future debt repayments. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But ultimately the future profitability of the business will decide if Regeneron Pharmaceuticals 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.
Finally, a company can only pay off debt with cold hard cash, not accounting profits. While Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has net cash on its balance sheet, it’s still worth taking a look at its ability to convert earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, to help us understand how quickly it is building (or eroding) that cash balance. During the last three years, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals generated free cash flow amounting to a very robust 82% of its EBIT, more than we’d expect. That puts it in a very strong position to pay down debt.
Summing up
While we empathize with investors who find debt concerning, you should keep in mind that Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has net cash of US$1.65b, as well as more liquid assets than liabilities. And it impressed us with free cash flow of US$2.4b, being 82% of its EBIT. So is Regeneron Pharmaceuticals’s debt a risk? It doesn’t seem so to us. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But ultimately, every company can contain risks that exist outside of the balance sheet. Take risks, for example – Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.
At the end of the day, it’s often better to focus on companies that are free from net debt. You can access our special list of such companies (all with a track record of profit growth). It’s free.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. 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.
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