Is Aton (EPA:ALTAO) Using Too Much Debt?
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 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. As with many other companies Aton (EPA:ALTAO) makes use of debt. But is this debt a concern to shareholders?
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. Ultimately, if the company can't fulfill its legal obligations to repay debt, shareholders could walk away with nothing. 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. 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 Aton's Debt?
As you can see below, Aton had €3.89m of debt at June 2025, down from €5.83m a year prior. Net debt is about the same, since the it doesn't have much cash.
How Healthy Is Aton's Balance Sheet?
According to the last reported balance sheet, Aton had liabilities of €2.52m due within 12 months, and liabilities of €2.30m due beyond 12 months. Offsetting this, it had €76.0k in cash and €711.0k in receivables that were due within 12 months. So its liabilities total €4.04m more than the combination of its cash and short-term receivables.
This deficit is considerable relative to its market capitalization of €4.80m, so it does suggest shareholders should keep an eye on Aton's use of debt. Should its lenders demand that it shore up the balance sheet, shareholders would likely face severe dilution. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But you can't view debt in total isolation; since Aton will need earnings to service that debt. So if you're keen to discover more about its earnings, it might be worth checking out this graph of its long term earnings trend.
Check out our latest analysis for Aton
In the last year Aton wasn't profitable at an EBIT level, but managed to grow its revenue by 102%, to €657k. So there's no doubt that shareholders are cheering for growth
Caveat Emptor
Despite the top line growth, Aton still had an earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) loss over the last year. Its EBIT loss was a whopping €837k. When we look at that and recall the liabilities on its balance sheet, relative to cash, it seems unwise to us for the company to have any debt. Quite frankly we think the balance sheet is far from match-fit, although it could be improved with time. Another cause for caution is that is bled €1.1m in negative free cash flow over the last twelve months. So in short it's a really risky stock. 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. To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with Aton (including 3 which are concerning) .
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.