Hankook Furniture's (KOSDAQ:004590) Promising Earnings May Rest On Soft Foundations

Investors were disappointed with Hankook Furniture Co., Ltd.'s (KOSDAQ:004590) earnings, despite the strong profit numbers. We did some digging and found some worrying underlying problems.

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How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

To properly understand Hankook Furniture's profit results, we need to consider the ₩2.2b gain attributed to unusual items. While we like to see profit increases, we tend to be a little more cautious when unusual items have made a big contribution. When we analysed the vast majority of listed companies worldwide, we found that significant unusual items are often not repeated. And, after all, that's exactly what the accounting terminology implies. If Hankook Furniture doesn't see that contribution repeat, then all else being equal we'd expect its profit to drop over the current year.

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

Our Take On Hankook Furniture's Profit Performance

Arguably, Hankook Furniture's statutory earnings have been distorted by unusual items boosting profit. Because of this, we think that it may be that Hankook Furniture's statutory profits are better than its underlying earnings power. The good news is that, its earnings per share increased by 30% in 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. If you want to do dive deeper into Hankook Furniture, you'd also look into what risks it is currently facing. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 1 warning sign with Hankook Furniture, and understanding it should be part of your investment process.

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