Getinge's (STO:GETI B) Performance Is Even Better Than Its Earnings Suggest

The subdued stock price reaction suggests that Getinge AB (publ)'s (STO:GETI B) strong earnings didn't offer any surprises. Investors are probably missing some underlying factors which are encouraging for the future of the company.

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The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

To properly understand Getinge's profit results, we need to consider the kr508m expense attributed to unusual items. While deductions due to unusual items are disappointing in the first instance, there is a silver lining. We looked at thousands of listed companies and found that unusual items are very often one-off in nature. And that's hardly a surprise given these line items are considered unusual. If Getinge 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 Getinge's Profit Performance

Because unusual items detracted from Getinge'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 Getinge's statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! And the EPS is up 21% over 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. With this in mind, we wouldn't consider investing in a stock unless we had a thorough understanding of the risks. Case in point: We've spotted 1 warning sign for Getinge you should be aware of.

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