Additional Considerations Required While Assessing 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad's (KLSE:SEM) Strong Earnings

7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad's (KLSE:SEM) robust earnings report didn't manage to move the market for its stock. Our analysis suggests that shareholders have noticed something concerning in the numbers.

View our latest analysis for 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad

Examining Cashflow Against 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad's Earnings

One key financial ratio used to measure how well a company converts its profit to free cash flow (FCF) is the accrual ratio. In plain english, this ratio subtracts FCF from net profit, and divides that number by the company's average operating assets over that period. This ratio tells us how much of a company's profit is not backed by free cashflow.

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 having an accrual ratio above zero is of little concern, we do think it's worth noting when a company has a relatively high accrual ratio. Notably, there is some academic evidence that suggests that a high accrual ratio is a bad sign for near-term profits, generally speaking.

Over the twelve months to December 2024, 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad recorded an accrual ratio of 0.35. We can therefore deduce that its free cash flow fell well short of covering its statutory profit, suggesting we might want to think twice before putting a lot of weight on the latter. Even though it reported a profit of RM41.6m, a look at free cash flow indicates it actually burnt through RM116m in the last year. It's worth noting that 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad generated positive FCF of RM48m a year ago, so at least they've done it in the past. One positive for 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad shareholders is that it's accrual ratio was significantly better last year, providing reason to believe that it may return to stronger cash conversion in the future. Shareholders should look for improved cashflow relative to profit in the current year, if that is indeed the case.

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 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad's Profit Performance

As we discussed above, we think 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad's earnings were not supported by free cash flow, which might concern some investors. For this reason, we think that 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad's statutory profits may be a bad guide to its underlying earnings power, and might give investors an overly positive impression of the company. On the bright side, the company showed enough improvement to book a profit this year, after losing money 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 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad, you'd also look into what risks it is currently facing. For example - 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad has 2 warning signs we think you should be aware of.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad'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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

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.