We Think You Should Be Aware Of Some Concerning Factors In Trecora Resources' (NYSE:TREC) Earnings

The recent earnings posted by Trecora Resources (NYSE:TREC) were solid, but the stock didn't move as much as we expected. However the statutory profit number doesn't tell the whole story, and we have found some factors which might be of concern to shareholders.

Check out our latest analysis for Trecora Resources

An Unusual Tax Situation

Trecora Resources reported a tax benefit of US$4.0m, which is well worth noting. This is meaningful because companies usually pay tax rather than receive tax benefits. We're sure the company was pleased with its tax benefit. And since it previously lost money, it may well simply indicate the realisation of past tax losses. 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. In the likely event the tax benefit is not repeated, we'd expect to see its statutory profit levels drop, at least in the absence of strong growth.

Note: we always recommend investors check balance sheet strength. Click here to be taken to our balance sheet analysis of Trecora Resources.

Our Take On Trecora Resources' Profit Performance

In its most recent report, Trecora Resources 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 Trecora Resources' statutory profits may be a bad guide to its underlying earnings power, and might give investors an overly positive impression of the company. On the bright side, the company showed enough improvement to book a profit this year, after 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. So while earnings quality is important, it's equally important to consider the risks facing Trecora Resources at this point in time. While conducting our analysis, we found that Trecora Resources has 1 warning sign and it would be unwise to ignore it.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of Trecora Resources' profit. But there are plenty of other ways to inform your opinion of a company. 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. 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.
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