CETC Cyberspace Security Technology's (SZSE:002268) Shareholders Have More To Worry About Than Only Soft Earnings

The subdued market reaction suggests that CETC Cyberspace Security Technology Co., Ltd.'s (SZSE:002268) recent earnings didn't contain any surprises. However, we believe that investors should be aware of some underlying factors which may be of concern.

Check out our latest analysis for CETC Cyberspace Security Technology

An Unusual Tax Situation

We can see that CETC Cyberspace Security Technology received a tax benefit of CN¥32m. It's always a bit noteworthy when a company is paid by the tax man, rather than paying the tax man. Of course, prima facie it's great to receive a tax benefit. However, the devil in the detail is that these kind of benefits only impact in the year they are booked, and are often one-off in nature. In the likely event the tax benefit is not repeated, we'd expect to see its statutory profit levels drop, at least in the absence of strong growth. While we think it's good that the company has booked a tax benefit, it does mean that there's every chance the statutory profit will come in a lot higher than it would be if the income was adjusted for one-off factors.

Note: we always recommend investors check balance sheet strength. Click here to be taken to our balance sheet analysis of CETC Cyberspace Security Technology.

Our Take On CETC Cyberspace Security Technology's Profit Performance

As we have already discussed CETC Cyberspace Security Technology reported that it received a tax benefit, rather than paying tax, in the last year. Given that sort of benefit is not recurring, a focus on the statutory profit might make the company seem better than it really is. Because of this, we think that it may be that CETC Cyberspace Security Technology's statutory profits are better than its underlying earnings power. In further bad news, its earnings per share decreased 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. While earnings are important, another area to consider is the balance sheet. You can see our latest analysis on CETC Cyberspace Security Technology's balance sheet health here.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of CETC Cyberspace Security Technology's profit. But there are plenty of other ways to inform your opinion of a company. 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. 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.