Some May Be Optimistic About Aker BP's (OB:AKRBP) Earnings

Investors were disappointed with the weak earnings posted by Aker BP ASA (OB:AKRBP ). Despite the soft profit numbers, our analysis has optimistic about the overall quality of the income statement.

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The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

To properly understand Aker BP's profit results, we need to consider the US$1.2b expense attributed to unusual items. While deductions due to unusual items are disappointing in the first instance, there is a silver lining. 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 Aker BP doesn't see those unusual expenses repeat, then all else being equal we'd expect its profit to increase over the coming year.

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 Aker BP's Profit Performance

Because unusual items detracted from Aker BP's earnings over the last year, you could argue that we can expect an improved result in the current quarter. Because of this, we think Aker BP's earnings potential is at least as good as it seems, and maybe even better! On the other hand, its EPS actually shrunk in the last twelve months. 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 want to do dive deeper into Aker BP, you'd also look into what risks it is currently facing. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Aker BP you should be mindful of and 1 of these is a bit concerning.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of Aker BP's profit. But there is always more to discover if you are capable of focussing your mind on minutiae. 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. 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.