Eastman Kodak Needs a New Job

Evan Niu, The Motley Fool
Updated

Eastman Kodak (NYS: EK) could use some tips from personal-finance expert Suze Orman.

The company hasn't been managing its budget very well and has been living paycheck to paycheck for a long time, a tough habit to break. Unfortunately for Kodak, its paychecks and patent-trolling days are numbered.

The company has announced that it initiated a draw of $160 million from its credit line for "general corporate purposes," sending shares down by as much as 25% as of this writing, as investors flee for cover with anxiety over the iconic camera maker's prospects.

Taking on debt for general corporate purposes is analogous to using your credit card to pay your utility bills, which would almost certainly be a no-no in Suze Orman's book, Action Plan: New Rules for New Times. It's one thing to take on debt for big purchases like buying a new car or remodeling your home, but it's a bad sign when you need it to cover everyday expenses, a.k.a. "general corporate purposes."

At the end of last quarter, which closed on June 30, the company was sitting on $957 million in cash and equivalents against almost $1.5 billion in short-term borrowings and long-term debt. Kodak burned through a total of $343 million in cash throughout that quarter, up from $324 million in the prior quarter. As we draw to the end of this quarter, investors are dreading how the balance sheet will read, since this news provokes fears that the company's cash burn continues to accelerate. On top of that, Kodak hasn't generated free cash flow since 2007.

This quarter's revenue may come in on the light side after the court ruling in July that Apple (NAS: AAPL) and Research In Motion (NAS: RIMM) don't owe Kodak as much as it had hoped. The company hasn't provided any meaningful updates to its proposed patent sale that some analysts have valued worth more than the entire company itself, and shareholders are losing patience.

At this rate, Kodak will become a scrapbook memory for its failure to keep up with the times and attempting to rely on an unsustainable business model. In personal finance, if your current job can't pay your bills, you find a new job.

At the time thisarticle was published Fool contributorEvan Niuhas never read any of Suze Orman's books. He owns shares of Apple, but he holds no other position in any company mentioned. Check out hisholdings and a short bio. The Motley Fool owns shares of Research In Motion and Apple.Motley Fool newsletter serviceshave recommended buying shares and creating a bull call spread position in Apple. Try any of our Foolish newsletter servicesfree for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe thatconsidering a diverse range of insightsmakes us better investors. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2011 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Advertisement