China Shenshan Orchard Holdings' (SGX:BKV) Weak Earnings May Only Reveal A Part Of The Whole Picture

The market rallied behind China Shenshan Orchard Holdings Co. Ltd.'s (SGX:BKV) stock, leading do a rise in the share price after its recent weak earnings report. While shareholders may be willing to overlook soft profit numbers, we believe that they should also be taking into account some other factors which may be cause for concern.

See our latest analysis for China Shenshan Orchard Holdings

An Unusual Tax Situation

China Shenshan Orchard Holdings reported a tax benefit of CN¥4.9m, which is well worth noting. It's always a bit noteworthy when a company is paid by the tax man, rather than paying the tax man. We're sure the company was pleased with its tax benefit. However, the devil in the detail is that these kind of benefits only impact in the year they are booked, and are often one-off in nature. Assuming the tax benefit is not repeated every year, we could see its profitability drop noticeably, all else being equal. So while we think it's great to receive a tax benefit, it does tend to imply an increased risk that the statutory profit overstates the sustainable earnings power of the business.

Note: we always recommend investors check balance sheet strength. Click here to be taken to our balance sheet analysis of China Shenshan Orchard Holdings.

Our Take On China Shenshan Orchard Holdings' Profit Performance

In its most recent report, China Shenshan Orchard Holdings disclosed a tax benefit, as we discussed above. Given that sort of benefit is not recurring, it's safe to say the statutory profit overstates its underlying profitability quite significantly. For this reason, we think that China Shenshan Orchard Holdings' statutory profits may be a bad guide to its underlying earnings power, and might give investors an overly positive impression of the company. Sadly, its EPS was down over the last twelve months. At the end of the day, it's essential to consider more than just the factors above, if you want to understand the company properly. If you want to do dive deeper into China Shenshan Orchard Holdings, you'd also look into what risks it is currently facing. Be aware that China Shenshan Orchard Holdings is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis and 2 of those can't be ignored...

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of China Shenshan Orchard Holdings' profit. But there are plenty of other ways to inform your opinion of a company. Some people consider a high return on equity to be a good sign of a quality business. 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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

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.