Investors in Haitian International Holdings Limited (HKG:1882) had a good week, as its shares rose 7.0% to close at HK$21.40 following the release of its yearly results. It was a credible result overall, with revenues of CN¥13b and statutory earnings per share of CN¥1.56 both in line with analyst estimates, showing that Haitian International Holdings is executing in line with expectations. The analysts typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. We've gathered the most recent statutory forecasts to see whether the analysts have changed their earnings models, following these results.

Taking into account the latest results, the consensus forecast from Haitian International Holdings' nine analysts is for revenues of CN¥14.8b in 2024. This reflects a decent 13% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are predicted to climb 15% to CN¥1.80. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of CN¥14.6b and earnings per share (EPS) of CN¥1.76 in 2024. So the consensus seems to have become somewhat more optimistic on Haitian International Holdings' earnings potential following these results.

The analysts have been lifting their price targets on the back of the earnings upgrade, with the consensus price target rising 6.7% to HK$24.06. Fixating on a single price target can be unwise though, since the consensus target is effectively the average of analyst price targets. As a result, some investors like to look at the range of estimates to see if there are any diverging opinions on the company's valuation. There are some variant perceptions on Haitian International Holdings, with the most bullish analyst valuing it at HK$27.79 and the most bearish at HK$19.13 per share. This shows there is still a bit of diversity in estimates, but analysts don't appear to be totally split on the stock as though it might be a success or failure situation.

Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the bigger picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. It's clear from the latest estimates that Haitian International Holdings' rate of growth is expected to accelerate meaningfully, with the forecast 13% annualised revenue growth to the end of 2024 noticeably faster than its historical growth of 6.3% p.a. over the past five years. Compare this with other companies in the same industry, which are forecast to grow their revenue 11% annually. Haitian International Holdings is expected to grow at about the same rate as its industry, so it's not clear that we can draw any conclusions from its growth relative to competitors.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing here is that the analysts upgraded their earnings per share estimates, suggesting that there has been a clear increase in optimism towards Haitian International Holdings following these results. They also reconfirmed their revenue estimates, with the company predicted to grow at about the same rate as the wider industry. We note an upgrade to the price target, suggesting that the analysts believes the intrinsic value of the business is likely to improve over time.

With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. We have forecasts for Haitian International Holdings going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here.

Another thing to consider is whether management and directors have been buying or selling stock recently. We provide an overview of all open market stock trades for the last twelve months on our platform, here.

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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.