Does Advance Synergy Berhad (KLSE:ASB) Have A Healthy Balance Sheet?
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 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 Advance Synergy Berhad (KLSE:ASB) does have debt on its balance sheet. But is this debt a concern to shareholders?
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 common (but still painful) scenario is that it has to raise new equity capital at a low price, thus permanently diluting shareholders. By replacing dilution, though, debt can be an extremely good tool for businesses that need capital to invest in growth at high rates of return. When we think about a company's use of debt, we first look at cash and debt together.
How Much Debt Does Advance Synergy Berhad Carry?
You can click the graphic below for the historical numbers, but it shows that Advance Synergy Berhad had RM84.0m of debt in September 2025, down from RM114.0m, one year before. However, because it has a cash reserve of RM69.5m, its net debt is less, at about RM14.5m.
How Healthy Is Advance Synergy Berhad's Balance Sheet?
Zooming in on the latest balance sheet data, we can see that Advance Synergy Berhad had liabilities of RM86.0m due within 12 months and liabilities of RM81.9m due beyond that. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of RM69.5m as well as receivables valued at RM99.5m due within 12 months. So its total liabilities are just about perfectly matched by its shorter-term, liquid assets.
This state of affairs indicates that Advance Synergy Berhad'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 RM177.0m company is short on cash, but still worth keeping an eye on the balance sheet.
Check out our latest analysis for Advance Synergy Berhad
We measure a company's debt load relative to its earnings power by looking at its net debt divided by its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) and by calculating how easily its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) cover its interest expense (interest cover). Thus we consider debt relative to earnings both with and without depreciation and amortization expenses.
Looking at its net debt to EBITDA of 0.53 and interest cover of 3.1 times, it seems to us that Advance Synergy Berhad is probably using debt in a pretty reasonable way. So we'd recommend keeping a close eye on the impact financing costs are having on the business. Notably, Advance Synergy Berhad made a loss at the EBIT level, last year, but improved that to positive EBIT of RM21m in the last twelve months. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But it is Advance Synergy Berhad's earnings that will influence how the balance sheet holds up in the future. So when considering debt, it's definitely worth looking at the earnings trend. Click here for an interactive snapshot.
But our final consideration is also important, because a company cannot pay debt with paper profits; it needs cold hard cash. So it's worth checking how much of the earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) is backed by free cash flow. Happily for any shareholders, Advance Synergy Berhad actually produced more free cash flow than EBIT over the last year. There's nothing better than incoming cash when it comes to staying in your lenders' good graces.
Our View
Advance Synergy Berhad's conversion of EBIT to free cash flow suggests it can handle its debt as easily as Cristiano Ronaldo could score a goal against an under 14's goalkeeper. But the stark truth is that we are concerned by its interest cover. When we consider the range of factors above, it looks like Advance Synergy Berhad is pretty sensible with its use of debt. While that brings some risk, it can also enhance returns for shareholders. 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. Case in point: We've spotted 3 warning signs for Advance Synergy Berhad you should be aware of, and 1 of them makes us a bit uncomfortable.
When all is said and done, sometimes its easier to focus on companies that don't even need debt. Readers can access a list of growth stocks with zero net debt 100% free, right now.
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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.