By Mark Di Vincenzo Published May 7, 2012

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Blockbuster, Borders, Movie Gallery, Jennifer Convertibles, Oriental Trading Company The list of companies that have recently filed for bankruptcy is very long and its filled with household-name companies that seemed so stable just a few years ago.

Often times, only executives at these companies knew the end was near.

But when analysts and others conduct autopsies of companies that failed, they very often identify at least some of the following warning signs that occurred in the months before the companies filed for bankruptcy and shuttered their doors. Some of these warning signs may be considered subtle and some not but most, if not all, occurred outside the publics view.

Here are 10 subtle warning signs that a company may be in big financial trouble.

1. Dividends Are Cut

When a publicly traded company cuts dividends, it doesnt necessarily mean that the company is bleeding, but companies that need to boost revenue will often cut dividends. If you read that a company is cutting its dividend, file it away as a sign that the company might be facing tough times. You can really worry if the dividend cut comes at a time when the company is losing profitability and has a shrinking pile of cash.

2. A Company Replaces Its CFO

This is usually one of the first things a troubled company does to try to turn things around. Its board recognizes that it needs someone better than it has during this time when a companys future is at stake.

3. A Companys Cash Reserves Are Shrinking

Companies go through their cash fast if theyre losing money on a regular basis. Analysts who accurately predicted that Eastman Kodak was headed for bankruptcy pointed out that it had relatively little cash, which, in its case, was about $900 million. If it is a publicly traded company, look at a few years of its balance sheet and look at its cash reserves. Are they growing or shrinking?

4. Internal Candidates Are Filling Key Positions

Companies in financial trouble are often more focused on cutting costs than on raising revenue. So if top executives are abandoning ship and companies need to fill those positions, they often look in-house and hire less-qualified managers for a lot less money than they would pay external candidates. The upside is that these managers know the company well and other employees often appreciate that the company is rewarding a current employee with a promotion. That appreciation breeds loyalty which a struggling company needs as well as money.

5. Salaries Are Frozen

Thousands of companies froze salaries during the nations recent recession and those freezes continued as the recession was followed by economic sluggishness. But as many people know, no expense is larger than personnel. Therefore, if a company freezes salaries during a period when the economy is booming, that very well might be a warning sign that the company is in finanical trouble. Or it might mean that a company accustomed to high profit margins wants to keep those margins high and freezing salaries is how they choose to do it.

6. Auditors Are Replaced

Publicly traded companies have their books audited by an outside accounting firm and companies sometimes switch firms. But if a switch happens for no apparent reason that might mean a financial crisis is in the companys future. The company might not like how the accounting firm is classifying revenue or expenses and it wants to hire a firm that will do things the way it wants. A less subtle red flag is if the auditors summary letter points out problems with how the company accounts for its revenue and expenses or if the letter questions whether the company can continue as a going concern.

7. There Is An Especially Big Push For Revenue At The End Of The Fiscal Year

Any company wants its revenue to increase year after year and ideally the company wants to see month-after-month growth. If a company is forcing its sales staff to work 60- and 70-hour weeks to boost revenue during the months before a fiscal year ends, that could be a warning sign of desperation.

8. Executives Are Selling Shares

This is one of those signs that does not, in and of itself, point to trouble. Executives sell their shares from time to time, especially if they think the stock price is high. But if everyone seems to be selling a lot of their shares at the same time, it could mean a bankruptcy filing or tough times are ahead.

9. A Company Is Cutting Benefits

Personnel costs are any companys biggest expense, but salary is only part of the equation. Benefits often make up about a third of an employees compensation and when companies change health-care, 401(k) and pension plans, it might be a sign of trouble. This is especially true when the cuts are severe and they are in conjunction with other warning signs.

10. A Company Has A Fire Sale

It begins selling its products, equipment and real estate to raise money. Back to Eastman Kodak: In 2009, the company sold its Kodachrome color film business and it tried for several months to find a buyer for 1,100 or so digital patents before it filed for bankruptcy.

Many of these warning signs are not evident to investors, especially to those investing in private companies. But if you invest in publicly traded companies, there is a lot of information available that gives you a glimpse of whats happening in boardrooms and executive suites. Seek out this information. It might help you to get out of a souring investment before its too late.