Public Joint Stock Company "Ashinskiy metallurgical works" (MCX:AMEZ): Should The Recent Earnings Drop Worry You?

When Public Joint Stock Company "Ashinskiy metallurgical works" (MISX:AMEZ) announced its most recent earnings (31 December 2017), I compared it against two factor: its historical earnings track record, and the performance of its industry peers on average. Being able to interpret how well Ashinskiy metallurgical works has done so far requires weighing its performance against a benchmark, rather than looking at a standalone number at a point in time. In this article, I've summarized the key takeaways on how I see AMEZ has performed. View our latest analysis for Ashinskiy metallurgical works

Was AMEZ's recent earnings decline indicative of a tough track record?

I use the ‘latest twelve-month’ data, which either annualizes the most recent 6-month earnings update, or in some cases, the most recent annual report is already the latest available financial data. This blend allows me to analyze different companies on a similar basis, using the most relevant data points. For Ashinskiy metallurgical works, its most recent bottom-line (trailing twelve month) is RUРУБ790.83M, which, in comparison to the prior year's level, has plunged by a substantial -59.08%. Since these figures are somewhat nearsighted, I’ve computed an annualized five-year value for AMEZ's earnings, which stands at -RUРУБ1.06B This shows that though earnings growth was negative from the prior year, over a longer period of time, Ashinskiy metallurgical works's earnings have been increasing on average.

What's the driver of this growth? Well, let’s take a look at whether it is solely a result of industry tailwinds, or if Ashinskiy metallurgical works has seen some company-specific growth. In the past few years, Ashinskiy metallurgical works grew its bottom line faster than revenue by successfully controlling its costs. This has caused a margin expansion and profitability over time. Scanning growth from a sector-level, the RU metals and mining industry has been enduring some headwinds over the previous twelve months, leading to an average earnings drop of -12.56%. This is a momentous change, given that the industry has constantly been delivering a a notable growth of 15.98% in the previous five years. This suggests that any recent headwind the industry is facing, it’s hitting Ashinskiy metallurgical works harder than its peers.

What does this mean?

While past data is useful, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Companies that are profitable, but have capricious earnings, can have many factors impacting its business. I recommend you continue to research Ashinskiy metallurgical works to get a better picture of the stock by looking at:

1. Financial Health: Is AMEZ’s operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why we’ve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here.
2. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the trailing twelve months from 31 December 2017. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

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Simply Wall St analyst Simply Wall St and Simply Wall St have no position in any of the companies mentioned. This article 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.