Dickson Concepts (International)'s (HKG:113) Soft Earnings Are Actually Better Than They Appear

The market was pleased with the recent earnings report from Dickson Concepts (International) Limited (HKG:113), despite the profit numbers being soft. Our analysis suggests that investors may have noticed some promising signs beyond the statutory profit figures.

See our latest analysis for Dickson Concepts (International)

Zooming In On Dickson Concepts (International)'s Earnings

One key financial ratio used to measure how well a company converts its profit to free cash flow (FCF) is the accrual ratio. The accrual ratio subtracts the FCF from the profit for a given period, and divides the result by the average operating assets of the company over that time. This ratio tells us how much of a company's profit is not backed by free cashflow.

Therefore, it's actually considered a good thing when a company has a negative accrual ratio, but a bad thing if its accrual ratio is positive. While it's not a problem to have a positive accrual ratio, indicating a certain level of non-cash profits, a high accrual ratio is arguably a bad thing, because it indicates paper profits are not matched by cash flow. That's because some academic studies have suggested that high accruals ratios tend to lead to lower profit or less profit growth.

Dickson Concepts (International) has an accrual ratio of -0.25 for the year to September 2024. That indicates that its free cash flow quite significantly exceeded its statutory profit. Indeed, in the last twelve months it reported free cash flow of HK$339m, well over the HK$262.6m it reported in profit. Dickson Concepts (International) did see its free cash flow drop year on year, which is less than ideal, like a Simpson's episode without Groundskeeper Willie.

Note: we always recommend investors check balance sheet strength. Click here to be taken to our balance sheet analysis of Dickson Concepts (International).

Our Take On Dickson Concepts (International)'s Profit Performance

As we discussed above, Dickson Concepts (International)'s accrual ratio indicates strong conversion of profit to free cash flow, which is a positive for the company. Because of this, we think Dickson Concepts (International)'s underlying earnings potential is as good as, or possibly even better, than the statutory profit makes it seem! Unfortunately, though, its earnings per share actually fell back over the last year. 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. Keep in mind, when it comes to analysing a stock it's worth noting the risks involved. For example, we've found that Dickson Concepts (International) has 2 warning signs (1 doesn't sit too well with us!) that deserve your attention before going any further with your analysis.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of Dickson Concepts (International)'s profit. But there are plenty of other ways to inform your opinion of a company. Some people consider a high return on equity to be a good sign of a quality business. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks with high insider ownership.

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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.