We Think That There Are Some Issues For Armac Locação Logística e Serviços (BVMF:ARML3) Beyond Its Promising Earnings

The recent earnings posted by Armac Locação, Logística e Serviços S.A. (BVMF:ARML3) were solid, but the stock didn't move as much as we expected. We believe that shareholders have noticed some concerning factors beyond the statutory profit numbers.

Check out our latest analysis for Armac Locação Logística e Serviços

Zooming In On Armac Locação Logística e Serviços' Earnings

In high finance, the key ratio used to measure how well a company converts reported profits into free cash flow (FCF) is the accrual ratio (from cashflow). In plain english, this ratio subtracts FCF from net profit, and divides that number by the company's average operating assets over that period. This ratio tells us how much of a company's profit is not backed by free cashflow.

Therefore, it's actually considered a good thing when a company has a negative accrual ratio, but a bad thing if its accrual ratio is positive. While it's not a problem to have a positive accrual ratio, indicating a certain level of non-cash profits, a high accrual ratio is arguably a bad thing, because it indicates paper profits are not matched by cash flow. Notably, there is some academic evidence that suggests that a high accrual ratio is a bad sign for near-term profits, generally speaking.

For the year to September 2021, Armac Locação Logística e Serviços had an accrual ratio of 0.89. Statistically speaking, that's a real negative for future earnings. And indeed, during the period the company didn't produce any free cash flow whatsoever. In the last twelve months it actually had negative free cash flow, with an outflow of R$485m despite its profit of R$39.3m, mentioned above. We also note that Armac Locação Logística e Serviços' free cash flow was actually negative last year as well, so we could understand if shareholders were bothered by its outflow of R$485m.

That might leave you wondering what analysts are forecasting in terms of future profitability. Luckily, you can click here to see an interactive graph depicting future profitability, based on their estimates.

Our Take On Armac Locação Logística e Serviços' Profit Performance

As we discussed above, we think Armac Locação Logística e Serviços' earnings were not supported by free cash flow, which might concern some investors. As a result, we think it may well be the case that Armac Locação Logística e Serviços' underlying earnings power is lower than its statutory profit. The good news is that, its earnings per share increased by 41% in the last year. At the end of the day, it's essential to consider more than just the factors above, if you want to understand the company properly. With this in mind, we wouldn't consider investing in a stock unless we had a thorough understanding of the risks. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 1 warning sign with Armac Locação Logística e Serviços, and understanding this should be part of your investment process.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of Armac Locação Logística e Serviços' 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. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks that insiders are buying.

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.

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