3D Systems' (NYSE:DDD) Robust Earnings Are Supported By Other Strong Factors

Despite posting some strong earnings, the market for 3D Systems Corporation's (NYSE:DDD) stock hasn't moved much. Our analysis suggests that this might be because shareholders have noticed some concerning underlying factors.

See our latest analysis for 3D Systems

Examining Cashflow Against 3D Systems' 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. In plain english, this ratio subtracts FCF from net profit, and divides that number by the company's average operating assets over that period. You could think of the accrual ratio from cashflow as the 'non-FCF profit ratio'.

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. While it's not a problem to have a positive accrual ratio, indicating a certain level of non-cash profits, a high accrual ratio is arguably a bad thing, because it indicates paper profits are not matched by cash flow. Notably, there is some academic evidence that suggests that a high accrual ratio is a bad sign for near-term profits, generally speaking.

For the year to September 2021, 3D Systems had an accrual ratio of 0.81. That means it didn't generate anywhere near enough free cash flow to match its profit. Statistically speaking, that's a real negative for future earnings. To wit, it produced free cash flow of US$58m during the period, falling well short of its reported profit of US$308.4m. Notably, 3D Systems had negative free cash flow last year, so the US$58m it produced this year was a welcome improvement. 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. One positive for 3D Systems shareholders is that it's accrual ratio was significantly better last year, providing reason to believe that it may return to stronger cash conversion in the future. As a result, some shareholders may be looking for stronger cash conversion in the current 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.

The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

3D Systems' profit suffered from unusual items, which reduced profit by US$18m in the last twelve months. In the case where this was a non-cash charge it would have made it easier to have high cash conversion, so it's surprising that the accrual ratio tells a different story. It's never great to see unusual items costing the company profits, but on the upside, things might improve sooner rather than later. 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. 3D Systems took a rather significant hit from unusual items in the year to September 2021. As a result, we can surmise that the unusual items made its statutory profit significantly weaker than it would otherwise be.

Our Take On 3D Systems' Profit Performance

3D Systems saw unusual items weigh on its profit, which should have made it easier to show high cash conversion, which it did not do, according to its accrual ratio. Given the contrasting considerations, we don't have a strong view as to whether 3D Systems's profits are an apt reflection of its underlying potential for profit. With this in mind, we wouldn't consider investing in a stock unless we had a thorough understanding of the risks. For example, we've found that 3D Systems has 4 warning signs (2 can't be ignored!) that deserve your attention before going any further with your analysis.

In this article we've looked at a number of factors that can impair the utility of profit numbers, as a guide to a business. 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.

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.

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