- United Arab Emirates
- /
- IT
- /
- ADX:ALPHADATA
Alpha Data PJSC's (ADX:ALPHADATA) Earnings Are Of Questionable Quality
Despite posting some strong earnings, the market for Alpha Data PJSC's (ADX:ALPHADATA) stock hasn't moved much. We did some digging, and we found some concerning factors in the details.
A Closer Look At Alpha Data PJSC's Earnings
As finance nerds would already know, the accrual ratio from cashflow is a key measure for assessing how well a company's free cash flow (FCF) matches its profit. The accrual ratio subtracts the FCF from the profit for a given period, and divides the result by the average operating assets of the company over that time. This ratio tells us how much of a company's profit is not backed by free cashflow.
As a result, a negative accrual ratio is a positive for the company, and a positive accrual ratio is a negative. While having an accrual ratio above zero is of little concern, we do think it's worth noting when a company has a relatively high accrual ratio. To quote a 2014 paper by Lewellen and Resutek, "firms with higher accruals tend to be less profitable in the future".
Alpha Data PJSC has an accrual ratio of 0.27 for the year to March 2026. Therefore, we know that it's free cashflow was significantly lower than its statutory profit, which is hardly a good thing. In fact, it had free cash flow of د.إ83m in the last year, which was a lot less than its statutory profit of د.إ146.9m. Alpha Data PJSC shareholders will no doubt be hoping that its free cash flow bounces back next year, since it was down over the last twelve months. The good news for shareholders is that Alpha Data PJSC's accrual ratio was much better last year, so this year's poor reading might simply be a case of a short term mismatch between profit and FCF. Shareholders should look for improved cashflow relative to profit in the current year, if that is indeed the case.
Note: we always recommend investors check balance sheet strength. Click here to be taken to our balance sheet analysis of Alpha Data PJSC.
Our Take On Alpha Data PJSC's Profit Performance
Alpha Data PJSC didn't convert much of its profit to free cash flow in the last year, which some investors may consider rather suboptimal. Therefore, it seems possible to us that Alpha Data PJSC's true underlying earnings power is actually less than its statutory profit. The good news is that, its earnings per share increased by 13% in the last year. The goal of this article has been to assess how well we can rely on the statutory earnings to reflect the company's potential, but there is plenty more to consider. So if you'd like to dive deeper into this stock, it's crucial to consider any risks it's facing. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Alpha Data PJSC you should be mindful of and 1 of them can't be ignored.
This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of Alpha Data PJSC's profit. But there is always more to discover if you are capable of focussing your mind on minutiae. Some people consider a high return on equity to be a good sign of a quality business. While it might take a little research on your behalf, you may find this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks with significant insider holdings to be useful.
New: Manage All Your Stock Portfolios in One Place
We've created the ultimate portfolio companion for stock investors, and it's free.
• Connect an unlimited number of Portfolios and see your total in one currency
• Be alerted to new Warning Signs or Risks via email or mobile
• Track the Fair Value of your stocks
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
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.
About ADX:ALPHADATA
Alpha Data PJSC
Offers system integration services.
Excellent balance sheet second-rate dividend payer.
Market Insights
Weekly Picks

The Only Psychedelic Company Already Selling MDMA and Psilocybin to Real Patients, Yet Priced Like It Doesn’t Exist

Novo Nordisk (NVO): Is the "Easy Growth" Story Over?

Zoetis down -50% over the past year

Centrus Energy: The Next Nuclear Bottleneck Isn't Reactors. It's Fuel.
Recently Updated Narratives

The Underrated Transformation of a Digital Payments Giant

The C$4M Explorer Positioned to Become Europe's First Antimony Mine
Charter is undervalued - Here's why.
Popular Narratives
A wonderful business at reasonable price.

