The Strong Earnings Posted By AnyMind Group (TSE:5027) Are A Good Indication Of The Strength Of The Business

When companies post strong earnings, the stock generally performs well, just like AnyMind Group Inc.'s (TSE:5027) stock has recently. We did some digging and found some further encouraging factors that investors will like.

Check out our latest analysis for AnyMind Group

Examining Cashflow Against AnyMind Group's 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'.

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.

Over the twelve months to June 2024, AnyMind Group recorded an accrual ratio of -0.13. That indicates that its free cash flow was a fair bit more than its statutory profit. To wit, it produced free cash flow of JP¥2.1b during the period, dwarfing its reported profit of JP¥1.19b. Unfortunately, we don't have data on AnyMind Group's free cash flow for the prior year; that's not necessarily a bad thing, though we do generally prefer to be able to see a bit of a company's history.

Note: we always recommend investors check balance sheet strength. Click here to be taken to our balance sheet analysis of AnyMind Group.

Our Take On AnyMind Group's Profit Performance

As we discussed above, AnyMind Group has perfectly satisfactory free cash flow relative to profit. Based on this observation, we consider it likely that AnyMind Group's statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! Furthermore, it has done a great job growing EPS over the last year. 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. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 2 warning signs with AnyMind Group, and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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