KCC's (KRX:002380) Earnings Are Of Questionable Quality

Despite posting some strong earnings, the market for KCC Corporation's (KRX:002380) stock hasn't moved much. Our analysis suggests that this might be because shareholders have noticed some concerning underlying factors.

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The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

Importantly, our data indicates that KCC's profit received a boost of ₩921b in unusual items, over the last year. While we like to see profit increases, we tend to be a little more cautious when unusual items have made a big contribution. We ran the numbers on most publicly listed companies worldwide, and it's very common for unusual items to be once-off in nature. Which is hardly surprising, given the name. We can see that KCC's positive unusual items were quite significant relative to its profit in the year to June 2025. As a result, we can surmise that the unusual items are making its statutory profit significantly stronger than it would otherwise be.

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 KCC's Profit Performance

As we discussed above, we think the significant positive unusual item makes KCC's earnings a poor guide to its underlying profitability. As a result, we think it may well be the case that KCC's underlying earnings power is lower than its statutory profit. But at least holders can take some solace from the 43% EPS growth 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. In light of this, if you'd like to do more analysis on the company, it's vital to be informed of the risks involved. Our analysis shows 3 warning signs for KCC (2 make us uncomfortable!) and we strongly recommend you look at them before investing.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of KCC's profit. But there are plenty of other ways to inform your opinion of a company. For example, many people consider a high return on equity as an indication of favorable business economics, while others like to 'follow the money' and search out stocks that insiders are buying. 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.