Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts' (SHSE:603997) Promising Earnings May Rest On Soft Foundations

Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co., Ltd.'s (SHSE:603997) robust earnings report didn't manage to move the market for its stock. Our analysis suggests that shareholders have noticed something concerning in the numbers.

View our latest analysis for Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts

In order to understand the potential for per share returns, it is essential to consider how much a company is diluting shareholders. In fact, Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts increased the number of shares on issue by 10% over the last twelve months by issuing new shares. Therefore, each share now receives a smaller portion of profit. To celebrate net income while ignoring dilution is like rejoicing because you have a single slice of a larger pizza, but ignoring the fact that the pizza is now cut into many more slices. Check out Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts' historical EPS growth by clicking on this link.

How Is Dilution Impacting Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts' Earnings Per Share (EPS)?

As it happens, we don't know how much the company made or lost three years ago, because we don't have the data. And even focusing only on the last twelve months, we don't have a meaningful growth rate because it made a loss a year ago, too. But mathematics aside, it is always good to see when a formerly unprofitable business come good (though we accept profit would have been higher if dilution had not been required). Therefore, the dilution is having a noteworthy influence on shareholder returns.

In the long term, if Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts' earnings per share can increase, then the share price should too. However, if its profit increases while its earnings per share stay flat (or even fall) then shareholders might not see much benefit. For the ordinary retail shareholder, EPS is a great measure to check your hypothetical "share" of the company's profit.

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 Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts' Profit Performance

Over the last year Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts issued new shares and so, there's a noteworthy divergence between EPS and net income growth. Because of this, we think that it may be that Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts' statutory profits are better than its underlying earnings power. The good news is that it earned a profit in the last twelve months, despite its previous loss. 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. So if you'd like to dive deeper into this stock, it's crucial to consider any risks it's facing. When we did our research, we found 2 warning signs for Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts (1 is a bit concerning!) that we believe deserve your full attention.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts' profit. But there is always more to discover if you are capable of focussing your mind on minutiae. For example, many people consider a high return on equity as an indication of favorable business economics, while others like to 'follow the money' and search out stocks that insiders are buying. 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.

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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.