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The subdued stock price reaction suggests that King Wan Corporation Limited's (SGX:554) strong earnings didn't offer any surprises. Our analysis suggests that investors might be missing some promising details.
See our latest analysis for King Wan
The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit
Importantly, our data indicates that King Wan's profit was reduced by S$7.9m, due to unusual items, over the last year. 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. In the twelve months to September 2024, King Wan had a big unusual items expense. All else being equal, this would likely have the effect of making the statutory profit look worse than its underlying earnings power.
Note: we always recommend investors check balance sheet strength. Click here to be taken to our balance sheet analysis of King Wan.
Our Take On King Wan's Profit Performance
As we discussed above, we think the significant unusual expense will make King Wan's statutory profit lower than it would otherwise have been. Because of this, we think King Wan's underlying earnings potential is as good as, or possibly even better, than the statutory profit makes it seem! And on top of that, its earnings per share have grown at an extremely impressive rate over the 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. With this in mind, we wouldn't consider investing in a stock unless we had a thorough understanding of the risks. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for King Wan you should know about.
This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of King Wan's profit. But there is always more to discover if you are capable of focussing your mind on minutiae. 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.