We Think That There Are Issues Underlying Egdon Resources' (LON:EDR) Earnings

Investors were disappointed with Egdon Resources plc's (LON:EDR) earnings, despite the strong profit numbers. Our analysis uncovered some concerning factors that we believe the market might be paying attention to.

Check out our latest analysis for Egdon Resources

One essential aspect of assessing earnings quality is to look at how much a company is diluting shareholders. In fact, Egdon Resources increased the number of shares on issue by 5.2% over the last twelve months by issuing new shares. Therefore, each share now receives a smaller portion of profit. Per share metrics like EPS help us understand how much actual shareholders are benefitting from the company's profits, while the net income level gives us a better view of the company's absolute size. Check out Egdon Resources' historical EPS growth by clicking on this link.

How Is Dilution Impacting Egdon Resources' Earnings Per Share (EPS)?

Three years ago, Egdon Resources lost money. 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. What we do know is that while it's great to see a profit over the last twelve months, that profit would have been better, on a per share basis, if the company hadn't needed to issue shares. Therefore, the dilution is having a noteworthy influence on shareholder returns.

If Egdon Resources' EPS can grow over time then that drastically improves the chances of the share price moving in the same direction. But on the other hand, we'd be far less excited to learn profit (but not EPS) was improving. For that reason, you could say that EPS is more important that net income in the long run, assuming the goal is to assess whether a company's share price might grow.

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 Egdon Resources' Profit Performance

Egdon Resources issued shares during the year, and that means its EPS performance lags its net income growth. Because of this, we think that it may be that Egdon Resources' 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. 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. With this in mind, we wouldn't consider investing in a stock unless we had a thorough understanding of the risks. For example, Egdon Resources has 4 warning signs (and 2 which don't sit too well with us) we think you should know about.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of Egdon Resources' 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.