Some May Be Optimistic About Lentex's (WSE:LTX) Earnings

Soft earnings didn't appear to concern Lentex S.A.'s (WSE:LTX) shareholders over the last week. We think that the softer headline numbers might be getting counterbalanced by some positive underlying factors.

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The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

For anyone who wants to understand Lentex's profit beyond the statutory numbers, it's important to note that during the last twelve months statutory profit was reduced by zł3.3m due to unusual items. 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, after all, that's exactly what the accounting terminology implies. Assuming those unusual expenses don't come up again, we'd therefore expect Lentex to produce a higher profit next year, all else being equal.

Note: we always recommend investors check balance sheet strength. Click here to be taken to our balance sheet analysis of Lentex.

Our Take On Lentex's Profit Performance

Unusual items (expenses) detracted from Lentex's earnings over the last year, but we might see an improvement next year. Based on this observation, we consider it likely that Lentex's statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! And the EPS is up 27% annually, over the last three years. 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. With this in mind, we wouldn't consider investing in a stock unless we had a thorough understanding of the risks. Be aware that Lentex is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis and 1 of those is a bit concerning...

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of Lentex'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. 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.