There May Be Reason For Hope In Ajinomoto's (TSE:2802) Disappointing Earnings

The most recent earnings report from Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (TSE:2802) was disappointing for shareholders. However, our analysis suggests that the soft headline numbers are getting counterbalanced by some positive underlying factors.

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The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

To properly understand Ajinomoto's profit results, we need to consider the JP¥38b expense attributed to unusual items. It's never great to see unusual items costing the company profits, but on the upside, things might improve sooner rather than later. When we analysed the vast majority of listed companies worldwide, we found that significant unusual items are often not repeated. And that's hardly a surprise given these line items are considered unusual. If Ajinomoto doesn't see those unusual expenses repeat, then all else being equal we'd expect its profit to increase over the coming 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 Ajinomoto's Profit Performance

Because unusual items detracted from Ajinomoto's earnings over the last year, you could argue that we can expect an improved result in the current quarter. Based on this observation, we consider it likely that Ajinomoto's statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! And the EPS is up 13% annually, over the last three years. 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. So while earnings quality is important, it's equally important to consider the risks facing Ajinomoto at this point in time. While conducting our analysis, we found that Ajinomoto has 3 warning signs and it would be unwise to ignore them.

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