E. Schnapp Works (TLV:SHNP) Is Posting Promising Earnings But The Good News Doesn’t Stop There

Investors signalled that they were pleased with E. Schnapp & Co. Works Ltd's (TLV:SHNP) most recent earnings report, with a strong stock price reaction. Looking deeper at the numbers, we found several encouraging factors beyond the headline profit numbers.

See our latest analysis for E. Schnapp Works

A Closer Look At E. Schnapp Works' Earnings

Many investors haven't heard of the accrual ratio from cashflow, but it is actually a useful measure of how well a company's profit is backed up by free cash flow (FCF) during a given period. To get the accrual ratio we first subtract FCF from profit for a period, and then divide that number by the average operating assets for the period. You could think of the accrual ratio from cashflow as the 'non-FCF profit ratio'.

As a result, a negative accrual ratio is a positive for the company, and a positive accrual ratio is a negative. That is not intended to imply we should worry about a positive accrual ratio, but it's worth noting where the accrual ratio is rather high. That's because some academic studies have suggested that high accruals ratios tend to lead to lower profit or less profit growth.

Over the twelve months to December 2020, E. Schnapp Works recorded an accrual ratio of -0.14. Therefore, its statutory earnings were quite a lot less than its free cashflow. To wit, it produced free cash flow of ₪80m during the period, dwarfing its reported profit of ₪22.6m. E. Schnapp Works' free cash flow improved over the last year, which is generally good to see.

Note: we always recommend investors check balance sheet strength. Click here to be taken to our balance sheet analysis of E. Schnapp Works.

Our Take On E. Schnapp Works' Profit Performance

As we discussed above, E. Schnapp Works has perfectly satisfactory free cash flow relative to profit. Based on this observation, we consider it likely that E. Schnapp Works' statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! And it's also positive that the company showed enough improvement to book a profit this year, after losing money 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. So if you'd like to dive deeper into this stock, it's crucial to consider any risks it's facing. To help with this, we've discovered 3 warning signs (1 is a bit concerning!) that you ought to be aware of before buying any shares in E. Schnapp Works.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of E. Schnapp Works' 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. 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.
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