We Think Kirkland's' (NASDAQ:KIRK) Robust Earnings Are Conservative

The subdued stock price reaction suggests that Kirkland's, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:KIRK) strong earnings didn't offer any surprises. We think that investors have missed some encouraging factors underlying the profit figures.

See our latest analysis for Kirkland's

A Closer Look At Kirkland's' Earnings

In high finance, the key ratio used to measure how well a company converts reported profits into free cash flow (FCF) is the accrual ratio (from cashflow). In plain english, this ratio subtracts FCF from net profit, and divides that number by the company's average operating assets over that period. This ratio tells us how much of a company's profit is not backed by free cashflow.

That means a negative accrual ratio is a good thing, because it shows that the company is bringing in more free cash flow than its profit would suggest. That is not intended to imply we should worry about a positive accrual ratio, but it's worth noting where the accrual ratio is rather high. That's because some academic studies have suggested that high accruals ratios tend to lead to lower profit or less profit growth.

For the year to May 2021, Kirkland's had an accrual ratio of -1.13. Therefore, its statutory earnings were very significantly less than its free cashflow. In fact, it had free cash flow of US$83m in the last year, which was a lot more than its statutory profit of US$25.8m. Given that Kirkland's had negative free cash flow in the prior corresponding period, the trailing twelve month resul of US$83m would seem to be a step in the right direction. Having said that, there is more to the story. We can see that unusual items have impacted its statutory profit, and therefore the accrual ratio.

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.

The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

Kirkland's' profit was reduced by unusual items worth US$6.5m in the last twelve months, and this helped it produce high cash conversion, as reflected by its unusual items. In a scenario where those unusual items included non-cash charges, we'd expect to see a strong accrual ratio, which is exactly what has happened in this case. 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, after all, that's exactly what the accounting terminology implies. If Kirkland's doesn't see those unusual expenses repeat, then all else being equal we'd expect its profit to increase over the coming year.

Our Take On Kirkland's' Profit Performance

In conclusion, both Kirkland's' accrual ratio and its unusual items suggest that its statutory earnings are probably reasonably conservative. Based on these factors, we think Kirkland's' underlying earnings potential is as good as, or probably even better, than the statutory profit makes it seem! Keep in mind, when it comes to analysing a stock it's worth noting the risks involved. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Kirkland's you should know about.

After our examination into the nature of Kirkland's' profit, we've come away optimistic for the company. 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. While it might take a little research on your behalf, you may find this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks that insiders are buying to be useful.

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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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