I-Hwa IndustrialLtd's (TWSE:1456) Solid Earnings May Rest On Weak Foundations

The recent earnings posted by I-Hwa Industrial Co.,Ltd (TWSE:1456) were solid, but the stock didn't move as much as we expected. We believe that shareholders have noticed some concerning factors beyond the statutory profit numbers.

See our latest analysis for I-Hwa IndustrialLtd

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

To properly understand I-Hwa IndustrialLtd's profit results, we need to consider the NT$271m gain attributed to unusual items. We can't deny that higher profits generally leave us optimistic, but we'd prefer it if the profit were to be sustainable. We ran the numbers on most publicly listed companies worldwide, and it's very common for unusual items to be once-off in nature. Which is hardly surprising, given the name. I-Hwa IndustrialLtd had a rather significant contribution from unusual items relative to its profit to December 2024. As a result, we can surmise that the unusual items are making its statutory profit significantly stronger than it would otherwise be.

Note: we always recommend investors check balance sheet strength. Click here to be taken to our balance sheet analysis of I-Hwa IndustrialLtd.

Our Take On I-Hwa IndustrialLtd's Profit Performance

As we discussed above, we think the significant positive unusual item makes I-Hwa IndustrialLtd's earnings a poor guide to its underlying profitability. For this reason, we think that I-Hwa IndustrialLtd's statutory profits may be a bad guide to its underlying earnings power, and might give investors an overly positive impression of the company. But the happy news is that, while acknowledging we have to look beyond the statutory numbers, those numbers are still improving, with EPS growing at a very high rate over the last year. 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. So if you'd like to dive deeper into this stock, it's crucial to consider any risks it's facing. To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with I-Hwa IndustrialLtd (including 1 which is concerning).

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of I-Hwa IndustrialLtd'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. 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.