Kyung Dong Pharmaceutical's (KOSDAQ:011040) Promising Earnings May Rest On Soft Foundations

Kyung Dong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (KOSDAQ:011040) announced strong profits, but the stock was stagnant. Our analysis suggests that shareholders have noticed something concerning in the numbers.

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How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

To properly understand Kyung Dong Pharmaceutical's profit results, we need to consider the ₩1.4b gain attributed to unusual items. We can't deny that higher profits generally leave us optimistic, but we'd prefer it if the profit were to be sustainable. 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. If Kyung Dong Pharmaceutical 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 Kyung Dong Pharmaceutical.

Our Take On Kyung Dong Pharmaceutical's Profit Performance

Arguably, Kyung Dong Pharmaceutical's statutory earnings have been distorted by unusual items boosting profit. Because of this, we think that it may be that Kyung Dong Pharmaceutical's statutory profits are better than its underlying earnings power. On the bright side, the company showed enough improvement to book a profit this year, after losing money 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. If you'd like to know more about Kyung Dong Pharmaceutical as a business, it's important to be aware of any risks it's facing. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 2 warning signs with Kyung Dong Pharmaceutical, 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 Kyung Dong Pharmaceutical'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.