The market was pleased with the recent earnings report from BCE Inc. (TSE:BCE), despite the profit numbers being soft. We think that investors might be looking at some positive factors beyond the earnings numbers.

Our free stock report includes 4 warning signs investors should be aware of before investing in BCE. Read for free now.

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

Importantly, our data indicates that BCE's profit was reduced by CA$2.4b, 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 that's hardly a surprise given these line items are considered unusual. BCE took a rather significant hit from unusual items in the year to March 2025. As a result, we can surmise that the unusual items made its statutory profit significantly weaker than it would otherwise be.

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 BCE's Profit Performance

As we discussed above, we think the significant unusual expense will make BCE's statutory profit lower than it would otherwise have been. Because of this, we think BCE's underlying earnings potential is as good as, or possibly even better, than the statutory profit makes it seem! On the other hand, its EPS actually shrunk in the last twelve months. 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 BCE has 4 warning signs (1 is significant!) 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 BCE's profit. But there is always more to discover if you are capable of focussing your mind on minutiae. Some people consider a high return on equity to be a good sign of a quality business. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks with high insider ownership.

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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.