COSCO SHIPPING Specialized CarriersLtd's (SHSE:600428) Earnings Are Of Questionable Quality

COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers Co.,Ltd. (SHSE:600428) just reported some strong earnings, and the market reacted accordingly with a healthy uplift in the share price. However, we think that shareholders may be missing some concerning details in the numbers.

See our latest analysis for COSCO SHIPPING Specialized CarriersLtd

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

To properly understand COSCO SHIPPING Specialized CarriersLtd's profit results, we need to consider the CN¥302m 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 analysed the vast majority of listed companies worldwide, we found that significant unusual items are often not repeated. And that's as you'd expect, given these boosts are described as 'unusual'. 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 COSCO SHIPPING Specialized CarriersLtd's Profit Performance

We'd posit that COSCO SHIPPING Specialized CarriersLtd's statutory earnings aren't a clean read on ongoing productivity, due to the large unusual item. Therefore, it seems possible to us that COSCO SHIPPING Specialized CarriersLtd's true underlying earnings power is actually less than its statutory profit. But on the bright side, its earnings per share have grown at an extremely impressive rate over the last three years. 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 COSCO SHIPPING Specialized CarriersLtd, you'd also look into what risks it is currently facing. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for COSCO SHIPPING Specialized CarriersLtd you should know about.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of COSCO SHIPPING Specialized CarriersLtd'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. 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.