Hwa Tai Industries Bhd (XKLS:8478) Altman Z-Score: 1.23 (As of Jul. 21, 2026) — 11% Below Median

Author: Vera Yuan Vera Yuan
Vera Yuan
Vera Yuan
Director of Data and Quant Analytics at GuruFocus
Focused on building reliable datasets, financial models, and research tools for value-minded investors. Committed to turning complex data into practical guidance for value-investing and long-term wealth.
Reviewed by: Charlie Tian Charlie Tian
Charlie Tian
Charlie Tian
Founder & CEO of GuruFocus
Dr. Charlie Tian is the founder and CEO of GuruFocus.com, a leading global investment research platform established in 2004. With a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Tian transitioned from science to finance, applying a data-driven, disciplined approach to value investing.

XKLS:8478 Hwa Tai Industries Bhd XKLS:8478
32 GF Score
Price RM0.38
GF Value RM0.64
Valuation Possible Value Trap
! 7 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is Hwa Tai Industries Bhd Altman Z-Score?

Hwa Tai Industries Bhd XKLS:8478 32 Altman Z-Score is 1.23 as of Jul. 21, 2026, which is 11% below its 10-year median of 1.38. GuruFocus rates XKLS:8478 with a GF Score™ of 32/100 and a GF Value™ of RM0.64 (Possible Value Trap). The stock has 7 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,932 Consumer Packaged Goods companies, Hwa Tai Industries Bhd ranks worse than 81.26% on this metric.

The Altman Z-Score is a model designed to predict the likelihood of a company going bankrupt within the next two years. Created by American finance professor Edward Altman in 1968, the model is specifically designed for publicly traded manufacturing companies with assets greater than $1 million.

Warning Sign:

Altman Z-score of 1.25 is in distress zone. This implies bankruptcy possibility in the next two years.

Hwa Tai Industries Bhd has a Altman Z-Score of 1.23, indicating it is in Distress Zones. This implies bankrupcy possibility in the next two years.

The zones of discrimination were as such:

When Altman Z-Score <= 1.8, it is in Distress Zones.
When Altman Z-Score >= 3, it is in Safe Zones.
When Altman Z-Score is between 1.8 and 3, it is in Grey Zones.

The historical rank and industry rank for Hwa Tai Industries Bhd's Altman Z-Score or its related term are showing as below:

XKLS:8478' s Altman Z-Score Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 0.6   Med: 1.38   Max: 2.05
Current: 1.25

During the past 13 years, Hwa Tai Industries Bhd's highest Altman Z-Score was 2.05. The lowest was 0.60. And the median was 1.38.


Hwa Tai Industries Bhd  (XKLS:8478) Altman Z-Score Explanation

X1: The Working Capital/Total Assets (WC/TA) ratio is a measure of the net liquid assets of the firm relative to the total capitalization. Working capital is defined as the difference between current assets and current liabilities. Ordinarily, a firm experiencing consistent operating losses will have shrinking current assets in relation to total assets. Altman found this one proved to be the most valuable liquidity ratio comparing with the current ratio and the quick ratio. This is however the least significant of the five factors.

X2: Retained Earnings/Total Assets: the RE/TA ratio measures the leverage of a firm. Retained earnings is the account which reports the total amount of reinvested earnings and/or losses of a firm over its entire life. Those firms with high RE, relative to TA, have financed their assets through retention of profits and have not utilized as much debt.

X3, Earnings Before Interest and Taxes/Total Assets (EBIT/TA): This ratio is a measure of the true productivity of the firm's assets, independent of any tax or leverage factors. Since a firm's ultimate existence is based on the earning power of its assets, this ratio appears to be particularly appropriate for studies dealing with corporate failure. This ratio continually outperforms other profitability measures, including cash flow.

X4, Market Value of Equity/Book Value of Total Liabilities (MVE/TL): The measure shows how much the firm's assets can decline in value (measured by market value of equity plus debt) before the liabilities exceed the assets and the firm becomes insolvent.

X5, Revenue/Total Assets (S/TA): The capital-turnover ratio is a standard financial ratio illustrating the sales generating ability of the firm's assets.

Read more about Altman Z-Score and the original research.


Be Aware

Altman Z-Score does not apply to financial companies.


Hwa Tai Industries Bhd Altman Z-Score Related Terms


Hwa Tai Industries Bhd Altman Z-Score Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for Hwa Tai Industries Bhd's Altman Z-Score can be seen below:

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

Hwa Tai Industries Bhd Altman Z-Score Chart

Hwa Tai Industries Bhd Annual Data
Trend Dec16 Dec17 Dec18 Dec19 Dec20 Dec21 Dec22 Dec23 Dec24 Dec25
Altman Z-Score
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 1.59 0.97 0.66 1.12 1.23

Hwa Tai Industries Bhd Quarterly Data
Jun21 Sep21 Dec21 Mar22 Jun22 Sep22 Dec22 Mar23 Jun23 Sep23 Dec23 Mar24 Jun24 Sep24 Dec24 Mar25 Jun25 Sep25 Dec25 Mar26
Altman Z-Score Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 1.11 1.18 1.15 1.23 1.25

XKLS:8478 vs KHC, GIS: Altman Z-Score Comparison

For the Packaged Foods subindustry, Hwa Tai Industries Bhd's Altman Z-Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Altman Z-Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


Hwa Tai Industries Bhd Altman Z-Score vs Consumer Packaged Goods Industry

For the Consumer Packaged Goods industry and Consumer Defensive sector, Hwa Tai Industries Bhd's Altman Z-Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Hwa Tai Industries Bhd's Altman Z-Score falls into.


XKLS:8478
32GF Score
Hwa Tai Industries Bhd XKLS:8478
Altman Z-Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

Hwa Tai Industries Bhd Altman Z-Score Calculation

Altman Z-Score model is an accurate forecaster of failure up to two years prior to distress. It can be considered the assessment of the distress of industrial corporations.

Hwa Tai Industries Bhd's Altman Z-Score for today is calculated with this formula:

Z=1.2*X1+1.4*X2+3.3*X3+0.6*X4+1.0*X5
=1.2*0.0418+1.4*-0.1481+3.3*0.0316+0.6*0.3795+1.0*1.0598
=1.23

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency. GuruFocus does not calculate Altman Z-Score when X4 or X5 value is 0.

Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026:
Total Assets was RM103.6 Mil.
Total Current Assets was RM64.9 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was RM60.6 Mil.
Retained Earnings was RM-15.4 Mil.
Pre-Tax Income was 0.137 + 1.084 + 0.075 + 0.098 = RM1.4 Mil.
Interest Expense was -0.454 + -0.47 + -0.476 + -0.476 = RM-1.9 Mil.
Revenue was 26.627 + 33.468 + 27.181 + 22.569 = RM109.8 Mil.
Market Cap (Today) was RM28.1 Mil.
Total Liabilities was RM74.0 Mil.

* Note that for stock reported semi-annually or annually, GuruFocus uses latest annual data as the TTM data.

X1=Working Capital/Total Assets
=(Total Current Assets - Total Current Liabilities)/Total Assets
=(64.933 - 60.602)/103.645
=0.0418

X2=Retained Earnings/Total Assets
=-15.35/103.645
=-0.1481

X3=Earnings Before Interest and Taxes/Total Assets
=(Pre-Tax Income - Interest Expense)/Total Assets
=(1.394 - -1.876)/103.645
=0.0316

X4=Market Value Equity/Book Value of Total Liabilities
=Market Cap/Total Liabilities
=28.062/73.951
=0.3795

X5=Revenue/Total Assets
=109.845/103.645
=1.0598

The zones of discrimination were as such:

Distress Zones - 1.81 < Grey Zones < 2.99 - Safe Zones

Hwa Tai Industries Bhd has a Altman Z-Score of 1.23 indicating it is in Distress Zones.

Study by Altman found that companies that are in Distress Zone have more than 80% of chances of bankruptcy in two years.

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Altman Z-Score →
What does a Altman Z-Score of 1.23 mean?
Hwa Tai Industries Bhd (XKLS:8478) has a Altman Z-Score of 1.23 as of Jul. 21, 2026. The Altman Z-score measures a company's bankruptcy risk. View historical data on Hwa Tai Industries Bhd and its competitors. This is 11% below median its historical median of 1.38. Over the past decade, Hwa Tai Industries Bhd's Altman Z-Score has ranged from 0.60 to 2.05. According to the industry distribution chart, Hwa Tai Industries Bhd ranks #1570 out of 1932 companies in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, placing it in the top 81.3%.
Is Hwa Tai Industries Bhd's Altman Z-Score too high?
Hwa Tai Industries Bhd's current Altman Z-Score of 1.23 is 11% below median its 10-year median of 1.38. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 0.60 to a high of 2.05. The Consumer Packaged Goods industry median Altman Z-Score is 2.86. Hwa Tai Industries Bhd's value of 1.23 is 56.9% below this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Hwa Tai Industries Bhd ranks #1570 out of 1932 companies in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, Hwa Tai Industries Bhd has a GF Score™ of 32/100 and is considered Possible Value Trap, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Hwa Tai Industries Bhd's Altman Z-Score compare to KHC and GIS?
According to the Consumer Packaged Goods industry distribution chart, Hwa Tai Industries Bhd ranks #1570 out of 1932 companies for Altman Z-Score. This places Hwa Tai Industries Bhd in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Altman Z-Score is 2.86. Hwa Tai Industries Bhd's value of 1.23 is 56.9% below this benchmark. Historically, Hwa Tai Industries Bhd's own Altman Z-Score has ranged from 0.60 to 2.05 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 1.38 vs. the industry median of 2.86, Hwa Tai Industries Bhd has consistently been below the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Altman Z-Score for a Consumer Packaged Goods company?
The median Altman Z-Score among Consumer Packaged Goods companies is 2.86, based on 1,932 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Altman Z-Score significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Altman Z-Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Hwa Tai Industries Bhd's current Altman Z-Score of 1.23 is 56.9% below the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Altman Z-Score mean?
A high Altman Z-Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The Altman Z-score measures a company's bankruptcy risk. View historical data on Hwa Tai Industries Bhd and its competitors. For the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, the median Altman Z-Score is 2.86 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Hwa Tai Industries Bhd's current Altman Z-Score is 1.23, which is 11% below median its own 10-year median of 1.38. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Hwa Tai Industries Bhd stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Hwa Tai Industries Bhd (XKLS:8478) is currently considered Possible Value Trap. The stock's GF Value™ is RM0.64, compared to a current price of RM0.38 — trading 41.4% below its estimated fair value. The current Altman Z-Score is 1.23, which is 11% below median its 10-year median of 1.38 and 56.9% below the Consumer Packaged Goods industry median of 2.86. Hwa Tai Industries Bhd's overall GF Score™ is 32/100 with 7 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Altman Z-Score calculated?
Altman Z-Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Hwa Tai Industries Bhd (XKLS:8478), the current Altman Z-Score is 1.23 as of Jul. 21, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Hwa Tai Industries Bhd (XKLS:8478) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Hwa Tai Industries Bhd stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of RM0.38 is trading 41.4% below its estimated GF Value™ of RM0.64. GuruFocus considers Hwa Tai Industries Bhd to be Possible Value Trap.

Key valuation signals for XKLS:8478:

  • Altman Z-Score: 1.23 (11% below median its 10-year median of 1.38)
  • GF Value™: RM0.64 vs. price of RM0.38 (41.4% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 32/100 with 7 warning signs
  • Industry Position: 56.9% below the Consumer Packaged Goods median (#1570 of 1932)

No single metric tells the full story. See the XKLS:8478 stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Hwa Tai Industries Bhd Business Description

Address Jalan ML 16, ML-16 Industrial Park, No. L9, Seri Kembangan, SGR, MYS, 43300
Hwa Tai Industries Bhd operates as a biscuit manufacturing and investment holding. Its activities are biscuit manufacturing, property holding, and trading. It operates through the following segments: Manufacturing and Trading. The company's products include crackers, cookies, assorted biscuits, cakes, and cream sandwiches, and are marketed under the brand names of Hwa Tai and Luxury. The majority of revenue is from the Manufacturing segment. Geographically, it operates in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Mauritius, and Other countries, with the majority is from Malaysia.
32GF Score

Get the complete analysis for XKLS:8478

Altman Z-Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

RM0.38
Price
RM0.64
GF Value