We Think Source Rock Royalties' (CVE:SRR) Robust Earnings Are Conservative

Source Rock Royalties Ltd. (CVE:SRR) just reported healthy earnings but the stock price didn't move much. We think that investors have missed some encouraging factors underlying the profit figures.

See our latest analysis for Source Rock Royalties

Zooming In On Source Rock Royalties' 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. To get the accrual ratio we first subtract FCF from profit for a period, and then divide that number by the average operating assets for the period. You could think of the accrual ratio from cashflow as the 'non-FCF profit ratio'.

That means a negative accrual ratio is a good thing, because it shows that the company is bringing in more free cash flow than its profit would suggest. That is not intended to imply we should worry about a positive accrual ratio, but it's worth noting where the accrual ratio is rather high. That's because some academic studies have suggested that high accruals ratios tend to lead to lower profit or less profit growth.

For the year to June 2022, Source Rock Royalties had an accrual ratio of -0.16. That indicates that its free cash flow quite significantly exceeded its statutory profit. Indeed, in the last twelve months it reported free cash flow of CA$4.2m, well over the CA$2.21m it reported in profit. Source Rock Royalties' free cash flow improved over the last year, which is generally good to see.

Note: we always recommend investors check balance sheet strength. Click here to be taken to our balance sheet analysis of Source Rock Royalties.

Our Take On Source Rock Royalties' Profit Performance

Source Rock Royalties' accrual ratio is solid, and indicates strong free cash flow, as we discussed, above. Because of this, we think Source Rock Royalties' earnings potential is at least as good as it seems, and maybe even better! And one can definitely find a positive in the fact that it made a profit this year, despite losing money 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. If you want to do dive deeper into Source Rock Royalties, you'd also look into what risks it is currently facing. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 3 warning signs with Source Rock Royalties, and understanding these bad boys should be part of your investment process.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of Source Rock Royalties' profit. But there are plenty of other ways to inform your opinion of a company. 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.

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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.