The market seemed underwhelmed by the solid earnings posted by Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:DLB) recently. We have done some analysis, and found some encouraging factors that we believe the shareholders should consider.

Check out our latest analysis for Dolby Laboratories

The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

To properly understand Dolby Laboratories' profit results, we need to consider the US$47m expense attributed to unusual items. While deductions due to unusual items are disappointing in the first instance, there is a silver lining. 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. If Dolby Laboratories 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 Dolby Laboratories' Profit Performance

Because unusual items detracted from Dolby Laboratories' earnings over the last year, you could argue that we can expect an improved result in the current quarter. Because of this, we think Dolby Laboratories' earnings potential is at least as good as it seems, and maybe even better! And the EPS is up 14% over the last twelve months. At the end of the day, it's essential to consider more than just the factors above, if you want to understand the company properly. Obviously, we love to consider the historical data to inform our opinion of a company. But it can be really valuable to consider what other analysts are forecasting. Luckily, you can check out what analysts are forecasting by clicking here.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of Dolby Laboratories' 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 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.