Ningbo Boway Alloy Material Company Limited's (SHSE:601137) earnings announcement last week was disappointing for investors, despite the decent profit numbers. We have done some analysis and have found some comforting factors beneath the profit numbers.

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

For anyone who wants to understand Ningbo Boway Alloy Material's profit beyond the statutory numbers, it's important to note that during the last twelve months statutory profit was reduced by CN¥396m 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. If Ningbo Boway Alloy Material doesn't see those unusual expenses repeat, then all else being equal we'd expect its profit to increase over the coming 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.

Our Take On Ningbo Boway Alloy Material's Profit Performance

Because unusual items detracted from Ningbo Boway Alloy Material's earnings over the last year, you could argue that we can expect an improved result in the current quarter. Based on this observation, we consider it likely that Ningbo Boway Alloy Material's statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! And on top of that, its earnings per share have grown at an extremely impressive rate over the last three years. 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. At Simply Wall St, we found 2 warning signs for Ningbo Boway Alloy Material and we think they deserve your attention.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of Ningbo Boway Alloy Material'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. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks that insiders are buying.

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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.