Alcoa's (NYSE:AA) Robust Earnings Are Supported By Other Strong Factors

Even though Alcoa Corporation's (NYSE:AA) recent earnings release was robust, the market didn't seem to notice. We think that investors have missed some encouraging factors underlying the profit figures.

View our latest analysis for Alcoa

The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

For anyone who wants to understand Alcoa's profit beyond the statutory numbers, it's important to note that during the last twelve months statutory profit was reduced by US$943m due to unusual items. While deductions due to unusual items are disappointing in the first instance, there is a silver lining. We looked at thousands of listed companies and found that unusual items are very often one-off in nature. And that's hardly a surprise given these line items are considered unusual. If Alcoa 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 Alcoa's Profit Performance

Unusual items (expenses) detracted from Alcoa's earnings over the last year, but we might see an improvement next year. Based on this observation, we consider it likely that Alcoa's statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! And one can definitely find a positive in the fact that it made a profit this year, despite losing money 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. Keep in mind, when it comes to analysing a stock it's worth noting the risks involved. Be aware that Alcoa is showing 4 warning signs in our investment analysis and 1 of those can't be ignored...

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of Alcoa'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.