We Think That There Are More Issues For Cochin Shipyard (NSE:COCHINSHIP) Than Just Sluggish Earnings

The subdued market reaction suggests that Cochin Shipyard Limited's (NSE:COCHINSHIP) recent earnings didn't contain any surprises. We think that investors are worried about some weaknesses underlying the earnings.

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Examining Cashflow Against Cochin Shipyard's Earnings

In high finance, the key ratio used to measure how well a company converts reported profits into free cash flow (FCF) is the accrual ratio (from cashflow). 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.

That means a negative accrual ratio is a good thing, because it shows that the company is bringing in more free cash flow than its profit would suggest. 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 September 2025, Cochin Shipyard recorded an accrual ratio of 0.52. Statistically speaking, that's a real negative for future earnings. To wit, the company did not generate one whit of free cashflow in that time. Even though it reported a profit of ₹7.60b, a look at free cash flow indicates it actually burnt through ₹7.6b in the last year. We also note that Cochin Shipyard's free cash flow was actually negative last year as well, so we could understand if shareholders were bothered by its outflow of ₹7.6b.

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 Cochin Shipyard's Profit Performance

As we discussed above, we think Cochin Shipyard's earnings were not supported by free cash flow, which might concern some investors. As a result, we think it may well be the case that Cochin Shipyard's underlying earnings power is lower than its statutory profit. But at least holders can take some solace from the 36% per annum growth in EPS for the last three. The goal of this article has been to assess how well we can rely on the statutory earnings to reflect the company's potential, but there is plenty more to consider. Keep in mind, when it comes to analysing a stock it's worth noting the risks involved. For example, we've found that Cochin Shipyard has 2 warning signs (1 is potentially serious!) 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 Cochin Shipyard'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.