TradeDoubler (STO:TRAD) Posted Healthy Earnings But There Are Some Other Factors To Be Aware Of

Despite posting some strong earnings, the market for TradeDoubler AB (publ)'s (STO:TRAD) stock hasn't moved much. Our analysis suggests that shareholders have noticed something concerning in the numbers.

Check out our latest analysis for TradeDoubler

A Closer Look At TradeDoubler's Earnings

Many investors haven't heard of the accrual ratio from cashflow, but it is actually a useful measure of how well a company's profit is backed up by free cash flow (FCF) during a given period. To get the accrual ratio we first subtract FCF from profit for a period, and then divide that number by the average operating assets for the period. You could think of the accrual ratio from cashflow as the 'non-FCF profit ratio'.

As a result, a negative accrual ratio is a positive for the company, and a positive accrual ratio is a negative. That is not intended to imply we should worry about a positive accrual ratio, but it's worth noting where the accrual ratio is rather high. To quote a 2014 paper by Lewellen and Resutek, "firms with higher accruals tend to be less profitable in the future".

Over the twelve months to March 2021, TradeDoubler recorded an accrual ratio of -0.12. That implies it has good cash conversion, and implies that its free cash flow solidly exceeded its profit last year. Indeed, in the last twelve months it reported free cash flow of kr52m, well over the kr12.4m it reported in profit. Notably, TradeDoubler had negative free cash flow last year, so the kr52m it produced this year was a welcome improvement. Having said that, there is more to the story. We can see that unusual items have impacted its statutory profit, and therefore the accrual ratio.

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

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

While the accrual ratio might bode well, we also note that TradeDoubler's profit was boosted by unusual items worth kr4.0m in the last twelve months. We can't deny that higher profits generally leave us optimistic, but we'd prefer it if the profit were to be sustainable. When we crunched the numbers on thousands of publicly listed companies, we found that a boost from unusual items in a given year is often not repeated the next year. And, after all, that's exactly what the accounting terminology implies. Assuming those unusual items don't show up again in the current year, we'd thus expect profit to be weaker next year (in the absence of business growth, that is).

Our Take On TradeDoubler's Profit Performance

In conclusion, TradeDoubler's accrual ratio suggests its statutory earnings are of good quality, but on the other hand the profits were boosted by unusual items. Given the contrasting considerations, we don't have a strong view as to whether TradeDoubler's profits are an apt reflection of its underlying potential for profit. So while earnings quality is important, it's equally important to consider the risks facing TradeDoubler at this point in time. For example - TradeDoubler has 3 warning signs we think you should be aware of.

Our examination of TradeDoubler has focussed on certain factors that can make its earnings look better than they are. 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 that insiders are buying to be useful.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. 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.
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