First Tractor's (HKG:38) Profits Appear To Have Quality Issues

First Tractor Company Limited's (HKG:38 ) stock didn't jump after it announced some healthy earnings. We did some digging and believe investors may be worried about some underlying factors in the report.

See our latest analysis for First Tractor

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

Importantly, our data indicates that First Tractor's profit received a boost of CN¥117m in unusual items, over the last year. We can't deny that higher profits generally leave us optimistic, but we'd prefer it if the profit were to be sustainable. When we analysed the vast majority of listed companies worldwide, we found that significant unusual items are often not repeated. Which is hardly surprising, given the name. If First Tractor doesn't see that contribution repeat, then all else being equal we'd expect its profit to drop over the current year.

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 First Tractor's Profit Performance

We'd posit that First Tractor's statutory earnings aren't a clean read on ongoing productivity, due to the large unusual item. Because of this, we think that it may be that First Tractor's statutory profits are better than its underlying earnings power. 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. Keep in mind, when it comes to analysing a stock it's worth noting the risks involved. At Simply Wall St, we found 1 warning sign for First Tractor and we think they deserve your attention.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of First Tractor'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 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.