15 Companies with Zero Debt - Q2 2010

By: Paul Toscano, Giovanny Moreano | 21 Jul 2010 | 11:42 AM ET

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15 Companies with Zero Debt
Photo: Shutterstock || YTD performance is as of market close on 7/20/10.
Throughout the financial crisis, large debt loads weighed on company balance sheets and had serious implications for the firms that let their borrowing get out of control. Other companies, however, have a history of operating with low debt levels, and many choose to issue no debt at all. Instead of debt, these companies hold cash and liquid investments in order to make acquisitions, investments and to run daily operations. Although too much debt can quickly turn into a problem, zero debt does not always translate to a rising stock price, as you can see from the historical data provided in the following pages. Regardless, some companies have been successful in turning their zero-debt situation into a very favorable operating model. With data from Capital IQ drawn from the most recent quarterly statements across the S&P 500, here are 15 companies that report having no debt on their balance sheets.By Giovanny Moreano & Paul ToscanoPosted 21 July 2010Note: Companies are ranked by the amount of cash and short term investments held on their balance sheets. In this case, total debt includes the sum of short-term borrowings, current portion of long-term debt, current portion of capital leases, long-term debt, capital leases, current finance division debt and non-current finance division debt, but does not include all possible liabilities.
15. Novell Inc (NOVL)
Photo: Cool Caesar || 2010 total debt and investments according to 10-Q filing on 6/8/10
Total debt: $0 Cash & ST investments: $979.6 million YTD stock price performance: +48.67% Historical Debt and Price Levels, Per Year 2007: $600m total debt, +10.81% share price 2008: $126m total debt, -43.38% share price 2009: $0 total debt, +6.68% share price See NOVL Real-Time Quote and Full Financials
14. Expeditors Int’l of Washington (EXPD)
Photo: Getty Images || 2010 total debt and investments according to 10-Q filing on 5/7/10
Total debt: $0 Cash & ST investments: $1.042 billion YTD stock price performance: +14.84% Historical Debt and Price Levels, Per Year 2007: $0 total debt, +10.32% share price 2008: $0 total debt, -25.54% share price 2009: $0 total debt, +4.51% share price See EXPD Real-Time Quote and Full Financials
13. Autodesk, Inc. (ADSK)
Photo: Autodesk.com || 2010 total debt and investments according to 10-Q filing on 6/4/10
Total debt: $0 Cash & ST investments: $1.059 billion YTD stock price performance: +4.76% Historical Debt and Price Levels, Per Year 2007: $0 total debt, +22.99% share price 2008: $0 total debt, -60.51% share price 2009: $52m total debt, +29.31% share priceSee ADSK Real-Time Quote and Full Financials
12. Cognizant Tech Solutions (CTSH)
Photo: iStock || 2010 total debt and investments according to 10-Q filing on 5/7/10
Total debt: $0 Cash & ST investments: $1.433 billion YTD stock price performance: +20.14% Historical Debt and Price Levels, Per Year 2007: $0 total debt, -12.03% share price2008: $0 total debt, -46.79% share price2009: $0 total debt, +151% share priceSee CTSH Real-Time Quote and Full Financials
11. Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY)
Photo: Getty Images || 2010 total debt and investments according to 10-Q filing on 7/7/10
Total debt: $0 Cash & ST investments: $1.644 billion YTD stock price performance: -2.56% Historical Debt and Price Levels, Per Year 2007: $0 total debt, -22.86% share price2008: $0 total debt, -13.51% share price2009: $0 total debt, +51.89% share price See BBBY Real-Time Quote and Full Financials
10. Electronic Arts (ERTS)
Photo: Getty Images || 2010 total debt and investments according to 10-Q filing on 2/9/10
Total debt: $0 Cash & ST investments: $1.996 billion YTD stock price performance: -13.46% Historical Debt and Price Levels, Per Year 2007: $0 total debt, +15.98% share price 2008: $0 total debt, -72.54% share price 2009: $0 total debt, +10.66% share price See ERTS Real-Time Quote and Full Financials

9. Broadcom Corp (BRCM)
Photo: Broadcom.com || 2010 total debt and investments according to 10-Q filing on 4/27/10
Total debt: $0 Cash & ST investments: $2.044 billion YTD stock price performance: +17.32% Historical Debt and Price Levels, Per Year2007: $0 total debt, -19.10% share price2008: $0 total debt, -35.08% share price 2009: $0 total debt, +85.44% share priceSee BRCM Real-Time Quote and Full Financials
8. Juniper Networks (JNPR)
Photo: Juniper.net || 2010 total debt and investments according to 10-Q filing on 5/5/10
Total debt: $0 Cash & ST investments: $2.317 billion YTD stock price performance: +0.07% Historical Debt and Price Levels, Per Year 2007: $400 million total debt, +75.29% share price 2008: $0 total debt, -47.26% share price 2009: $0 total debt, +52.31% share price See JNPR Real-Time Quote and Full Financials

7. Gap Inc. (GPS)
Photo: Getty Images || 2010 total debt and investments according to 10-Q filing on 6/8/10
Total debt: $0 Cash & ST investments: $2.481 billion YTD stock price performance: -11.79% Historical Debt and Price Levels, Per Year 2007: $513 million total debt, +9.13% share price2008: $188 million total debt, -37.08% share price 2009: $50 total debt, +56.46% share priceSee GPS Real-Time Quote and Full Financials
6. Texas Instruments (TXN)
Photo: AP || 2010 total debt and investments according to 10-Q filing on 7/19/10
Total debt: $0 Cash & ST investments: $2.305 billion YTD stock price performance: -4.95% Historical Debt and Price Levels, Per Year 2007: $0 total debt, +15.97% share price 2008: $0 total debt, -53.53% share price2009: $0 total debt, +67.91% share priceSee TXN Real-Time Quote and Full Financials

5. Celgene Corp (CELG)
Photo: Getty Images || 2010 total debt and investments according to 10-Q filing on 5/3/10
Total debt: $0 Cash & ST investments: $2.952 billion YTD stock price performance: -6.50% Historical Debt and Price Levels, Per Year 2007: $219m total debt, -19.68% share price 2008: $26m total debt, +19.63% share price 2009: $25m total debt, +0.72% share priceSee CELG Real-Time Quote and Full Financials
4. Forest Laboratories (FRX)
Photo: Getty Images || 2010 total debt and investments according to 10-Q filing on 2/9/10
Total debt: $0 Cash & ST investments: $3.322 billion YTD stock price performance: -12.49% Historical Debt and Price Levels, Per Year2007: $0 total debt, -27.96% share price 2008: $0 total debt, -30.12% share price 2009: $0 total debt, +26.07% share price See FRX Real-Time Quote and Full Financials
3. eBay (EBAY)
Photo: eBay.com || 2010 total debt and investments according to 10-Q filing on 4/28/10
Total debt: $0 Cash & ST investments: $4.528 billion YTD stock price performance: -11.64% Historical Debt and Price Levels, Per Year 2007: $200m total debt, +10.4% share price 2008: $1b total debt, -57.94% share price 2009: $0 total debt, +68.55% share price See EBAY Real-Time Quote and Full Financials
2. Apple (AAPL)
Photo: Getty Images || 2010 total debt and investments according to 10-Q filing on 4/21/10
Total debt: $0 Cash & ST investments: $23.155 billion YTD stock price performance: 19.53% Historical Debt and Price Levels, Per Year 2007: $0 total debt, +133.47% share price 2008: $0 total debt, -56.91% share price 2009: $0 total debt, +146.90% share price See AAPL Real-Time Quote and Full Financials
1. Google (GOOG)
Photo: Getty Images || 2010 total debt and investments according to 10-Q filing on 7/15/10
Total debt: $0 Cash & ST investments: $30.059 billion YTD stock price performance: -22.32% Historical Debt and Price Levels, Per Year 2007: $0 total debt, +50.17% share price 2008: $0 total debt, -55.51% share price 2009: $0 total debt, +101.52% share price See GOOG Real-Time Quote and Full Financials