We Think You Can Look Beyond Tetra Tech's (NASDAQ:TTEK) Lackluster Earnings

Tetra Tech, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:TTEK) recent soft profit numbers didn't appear to worry shareholders, as the stock price showed strength. Our analysis suggests that investors may have noticed some promising signs beyond the statutory profit figures.

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The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

For anyone who wants to understand Tetra Tech's profit beyond the statutory numbers, it's important to note that during the last twelve months statutory profit was reduced by US$215m due to unusual items. While deductions due to unusual items are disappointing in the first instance, there is a silver lining. When we analysed the vast majority of listed companies worldwide, we found that significant unusual items are often not repeated. And, after all, that's exactly what the accounting terminology implies. If Tetra Tech 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 Tetra Tech's Profit Performance

Unusual items (expenses) detracted from Tetra Tech's earnings over the last year, but we might see an improvement next year. Based on this observation, we consider it likely that Tetra Tech's statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! Unfortunately, though, its earnings per share actually fell back over the last year. 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. If you'd like to know more about Tetra Tech as a business, it's important to be aware of any risks it's facing. While conducting our analysis, we found that Tetra Tech has 3 warning signs and it would be unwise to ignore these bad boys.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of Tetra Tech'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.