Even though Asia Enterprises Holding Limited's (SGX:A55) recent earnings release was robust, the market didn't seem to notice. We think that investors have missed some encouraging factors underlying the profit figures.

See our latest analysis for Asia Enterprises Holding

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

For anyone who wants to understand Asia Enterprises Holding's profit beyond the statutory numbers, it's important to note that during the last twelve months statutory profit was reduced by S$820k 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. We looked at thousands of listed companies and found that unusual items are very often one-off in nature. And, after all, that's exactly what the accounting terminology implies. Assuming those unusual expenses don't come up again, we'd therefore expect Asia Enterprises Holding to produce a higher profit next year, all else being equal.

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

Our Take On Asia Enterprises Holding's Profit Performance

Because unusual items detracted from Asia Enterprises Holding'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 Asia Enterprises Holding's statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! Better yet, its EPS are growing strongly, which is nice to see. 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. Be aware that Asia Enterprises Holding is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis and 1 of those is a bit concerning...

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of Asia Enterprises Holding'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 that insiders are buying 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.