Solid Earnings Reflect Pfizer's (NYSE:PFE) Strength As A Business

Pfizer Inc.'s (NYSE:PFE) strong earnings report was rewarded with a positive stock price move. Our analysis found some more factors that we think are good for shareholders.

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The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

For anyone who wants to understand Pfizer's profit beyond the statutory numbers, it's important to note that during the last twelve months statutory profit was reduced by US$5.2b due to unusual items. It's never great to see unusual items costing the company profits, but on the upside, things might improve sooner rather than later. 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 Pfizer 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 Pfizer's Profit Performance

Because unusual items detracted from Pfizer's earnings over the last year, you could argue that we can expect an improved result in the current quarter. Based on this observation, we consider it likely that Pfizer's statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! And it's also positive that the company showed enough improvement to book a profit this year, after 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. So if you'd like to dive deeper into this stock, it's crucial to consider any risks it's facing. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Pfizer you should be aware of.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of Pfizer's profit. But there are plenty of other ways to inform your opinion of a company. 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.