Niu
The price of lithium batteries continues to rise inexorably and companies that today try to produce small electric scooters find themselves in difficulty due to increasing costs; Niu Techonologies has decided to go in search of alternative batteries and will launch, in 2023, its first model powered by sodium-ion batteries - CEO Li Yan announced a few days ago.Ion batteries of sodium are heavier than lithium batteries which offer the same autonomy, but have a cost advantage: it is unlikely that sodium ion batteries will be able to replace lithium ones, rather they will have different applications and will allow companies like Niu to contain costs and still provide the end customer with a functional product.
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Battery manufacturer CATL has already unveiled the first generation of batteries to sodium ions and will start series production as early as 2023.
Despite good sales figures for 2020, during which Niu sold around 1.7 million vehicles, the Chinese company is desperate for ways to continue to offer their scooters on the market without dramatically raising the price - sodium ion batteries could be the perfect solution.
Is Niu Technologies (NASDAQ:NIU) A Risky Investment?
The external fund manager backed by Berkshire Hathaway's Charlie Munger, Li Lu, makes no bones about it when he says 'The biggest investment risk is not the volatility of prices, but whether you will suffer a 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. Importantly, Niu Technologies (NASDAQ:NIU) does carry debt. But the real question is whether this debt is making the company risky.
What Risk Does Debt Bring?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. If things get really bad, the lenders can take control of the business. 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. 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.
See our latest analysis for Niu Technologies
What Is Niu Technologies's Net Debt?As you can see below, Niu Technologies had CN¥180.0m of debt, at March 2022, which is about the same as the year before. You can click the chart for greater detail. However, its balance sheet shows it holds CN¥837.9m in cash, so it actually has CN¥657.9m net cash.
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How Healthy Is Niu Technologies' Balance Sheet?We can see from the most recent balance sheet that Niu Technologies had liabilities of CN¥970.0m falling due within a year, and liabilities of CN¥43.4m due beyond that. Offsetting this, it had CN¥837.9m in cash and CN¥172.4m in receivables that were due within 12 months. So these liquid assets roughly match the total liabilities.
This state of affairs indicates that Niu Technologies' 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 CN¥3.40b company is struggling for cash, we still think it's worth monitoring its balance sheet. While it does have liabilities worth noting, Niu Technologies also has more cash than debt, so we're pretty confident it can manage its debt safely.
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The good news is that Niu Technologies has increased its EBIT by 9.7% over twelve months, which should ease any concerns about debt 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 Niu Technologies 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 business needs free cash flow to pay off debt; accounting profits just don't cut it. Niu Technologies may have net cash on the balance sheet, but it is still interesting to look at how well the business converts its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, because that will influence both its need for, and its capacity to manage debt. Over the most recent three years, Niu Technologies recorded free cash flow worth 71% of its EBIT, which is around normal, given free cash flow excludes interest and tax. This cold hard cash means it can reduce its debt when it wants to.
Summing UpWhile it is always sensible to look at a company's total liabilities, it is very reassuring that Niu Technologies has CN¥657.9m in net cash. And it impressed us with free cash flow of CN¥48m, being 71% of its EBIT. So we don't think Niu Technologies's use of debt is risky. Above most other metrics, we think its important to track how fast earnings per share is growing, if at all. If you've also come to that realization, you're in luck, because today you can view this interactive graph of Niu Technologies's earnings per share history for free.
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.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
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.
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