Solid Earnings May Not Tell The Whole Story For ValiantLtd (SZSE:002643)

The stock price didn't jump after Valiant Co.,Ltd (SZSE:002643) posted decent earnings last week. We did some digging and believe investors may be worried about some underlying factors in the report.

Check out our latest analysis for ValiantLtd

The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

To properly understand ValiantLtd's profit results, we need to consider the CN¥59m gain attributed to unusual items. While we like to see profit increases, we tend to be a little more cautious when unusual items have made a big contribution. When we crunched the numbers on thousands of publicly listed companies, we found that a boost from unusual items in a given year is often not repeated the next year. And, after all, that's exactly what the accounting terminology implies. Assuming those unusual items don't show up again in the current year, we'd thus expect profit to be weaker next year (in the absence of business growth, that is).

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 ValiantLtd's Profit Performance

Arguably, ValiantLtd's statutory earnings have been distorted by unusual items boosting profit. Because of this, we think that it may be that ValiantLtd's statutory profits are better than its underlying earnings power. Nonetheless, it's still worth noting that its earnings per share have grown at 36% over the last three years. 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. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of ValiantLtd.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of ValiantLtd'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 that insiders are buying 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.