We Think European Wax Center's (NASDAQ:EWCZ) Robust Earnings Are Conservative

Investors were underwhelmed by the solid earnings posted by European Wax Center, Inc. (NASDAQ:EWCZ) recently. Our analysis says that investors should be optimistic, as the strong profit is built on solid foundations.

See our latest analysis for European Wax Center

Examining Cashflow Against European Wax Center's Earnings

As finance nerds would already know, the accrual ratio from cashflow is a key measure for assessing how well a company's free cash flow (FCF) matches its profit. 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'.

Therefore, it's actually considered a good thing when a company has a negative accrual ratio, but a bad thing if its accrual ratio is positive. While having an accrual ratio above zero is of little concern, we do think it's worth noting when a company has a relatively high accrual ratio. Notably, there is some academic evidence that suggests that a high accrual ratio is a bad sign for near-term profits, generally speaking.

Over the twelve months to June 2022, European Wax Center recorded an accrual ratio of -0.11. Therefore, its statutory earnings were quite a lot less than its free cashflow. To wit, it produced free cash flow of US$51m during the period, dwarfing its reported profit of US$1.44m. European Wax Center's free cash flow improved over the last year, which is generally good to see.

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 European Wax Center's Profit Performance

European Wax Center's accrual ratio is solid, and indicates strong free cash flow, as we discussed, above. Because of this, we think European Wax Center's earnings potential is at least as good as it seems, and maybe even better! And one can definitely find a positive in the fact that it made a profit this year, despite losing money last year. Of course, we've only just scratched the surface when it comes to analysing its earnings; one could also consider margins, forecast growth, and return on investment, among other factors. 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 European Wax Center you should be aware of.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of European Wax Center's profit. 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. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks that insiders are buying.

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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.