We Think You Can Look Beyond Media Prima Berhad's (KLSE:MEDIA) Lackluster Earnings

Soft earnings didn't appear to concern Media Prima Berhad's (KLSE:MEDIA) shareholders over the last week. We think that the softer headline numbers might be getting counterbalanced by some positive underlying factors.

Check out our latest analysis for Media Prima Berhad

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

Importantly, our data indicates that Media Prima Berhad's profit was reduced by RM6.4m, due to unusual items, over the last year. It's never great to see unusual items costing the company profits, but on the upside, things might improve sooner rather than later. When we analysed the vast majority of listed companies worldwide, we found that significant unusual items are often not repeated. And that's hardly a surprise given these line items are considered unusual. Assuming those unusual expenses don't come up again, we'd therefore expect Media Prima Berhad to produce a higher profit next year, all else being equal.

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 Media Prima Berhad's Profit Performance

Because unusual items detracted from Media Prima Berhad's earnings over the last year, you could argue that we can expect an improved result in the current quarter. Based on this observation, we consider it likely that Media Prima Berhad's statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! On the other hand, its EPS actually shrunk in the last twelve months. At the end of the day, it's essential to consider more than just the factors above, if you want to understand the company properly. So while earnings quality is important, it's equally important to consider the risks facing Media Prima Berhad at this point in time. To that end, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Media Prima Berhad (including 1 which shouldn't be ignored).

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

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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.