Brikor (JSE:BIK) Posted Healthy Earnings But There Are Some Other Factors To Be Aware Of

Brikor Limited (JSE:BIK) announced strong profits, but the stock was stagnant. We did some digging, and we found some concerning factors in the details.

See our latest analysis for Brikor

In order to understand the potential for per share returns, it is essential to consider how much a company is diluting shareholders. Brikor expanded the number of shares on issue by 31% over the last year. That means its earnings are split among a greater number of shares. Per share metrics like EPS help us understand how much actual shareholders are benefitting from the company's profits, while the net income level gives us a better view of the company's absolute size. You can see a chart of Brikor's EPS by clicking here.

How Is Dilution Impacting Brikor's Earnings Per Share? (EPS)

Unfortunately, we don't have any visibility into its profits three years back, because we lack the data. And even focusing only on the last twelve months, we don't have a meaningful growth rate because it made a loss a year ago, too. But mathematics aside, it is always good to see when a formerly unprofitable business come good (though we accept profit would have been higher if dilution had not been required). Therefore, one can observe that the dilution is having a fairly profound effect on shareholder returns.

In the long term, if Brikor's earnings per share can increase, then the share price should too. However, if its profit increases while its earnings per share stay flat (or even fall) then shareholders might not see much benefit. For the ordinary retail shareholder, EPS is a great measure to check your hypothetical "share" of the company's profit.

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

Our Take On Brikor's Profit Performance

Over the last year Brikor issued new shares and so, there's a noteworthy divergence between EPS and net income growth. Because of this, we think that it may be that Brikor's statutory profits are better than its underlying earnings power. 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 if you'd like to dive deeper into this stock, it's crucial to consider any risks it's facing. For example, we've found that Brikor has 4 warning signs (1 shouldn't be ignored!) that deserve your attention before going any further with your analysis.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of Brikor'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. 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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