TELUS' (TSE:T) Soft Earnings Don't Show The Whole Picture

Soft earnings didn't appear to concern TELUS Corporation's (TSE:T) shareholders over the last week. Our analysis suggests that while the profits are soft, the foundations of the business are strong.

Check out our latest analysis for TELUS

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

For anyone who wants to understand TELUS' profit beyond the statutory numbers, it's important to note that during the last twelve months statutory profit was reduced by CA$640m due to unusual items. While deductions due to unusual items are disappointing in the first instance, there is a silver lining. When we analysed the vast majority of listed companies worldwide, we found that significant unusual items are often not repeated. And, after all, that's exactly what the accounting terminology implies. If TELUS doesn't see those unusual expenses repeat, then all else being equal we'd expect its profit to increase over the coming year.

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 TELUS' Profit Performance

Unusual items (expenses) detracted from TELUS' earnings over the last year, but we might see an improvement next year. Based on this observation, we consider it likely that TELUS' statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! On the other hand, its EPS actually shrunk in the last twelve months. Of course, we've only just scratched the surface when it comes to analysing its earnings; one could also consider margins, forecast growth, and return on investment, among other factors. So if you'd like to dive deeper into this stock, it's crucial to consider any risks it's facing. To help with this, we've discovered 5 warning signs (2 are a bit concerning!) that you ought to be aware of before buying any shares in TELUS.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of TELUS' 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.