Investors Can Find Comfort In United Parcel Service's (NYSE:UPS) Earnings Quality

The market for United Parcel Service, Inc.'s (NYSE:UPS) shares didn't move much after it posted weak earnings recently. We think that the softer headline numbers might be getting counterbalanced by some positive underlying factors.

Check out our latest analysis for United Parcel Service

The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

For anyone who wants to understand United Parcel Service's profit beyond the statutory numbers, it's important to note that during the last twelve months statutory profit was reduced by US$896m 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. Assuming those unusual expenses don't come up again, we'd therefore expect United Parcel Service to produce a higher profit next year, all else being equal.

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 United Parcel Service's Profit Performance

Unusual items (expenses) detracted from United Parcel Service's earnings over the last year, but we might see an improvement next year. Based on this observation, we consider it likely that United Parcel Service's statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! On the other hand, its EPS actually shrunk in the last twelve months. The goal of this article has been to assess how well we can rely on the statutory earnings to reflect the company's potential, but there is plenty more to consider. Keep in mind, when it comes to analysing a stock it's worth noting the risks involved. Our analysis shows 3 warning signs for United Parcel Service (1 doesn't sit too well with us!) and we strongly recommend you look at these before investing.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of United Parcel Service's 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. 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 with significant insider holdings to be useful.

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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.