The market for Joincare Pharmaceutical Group Industry Co.,Ltd.'s (SHSE:600380) shares didn't move much after it posted weak earnings recently. We did some digging, and we believe the earnings are stronger than they seem.

Examining Cashflow Against Joincare Pharmaceutical Group IndustryLtd's Earnings

One key financial ratio used to measure how well a company converts its profit to free cash flow (FCF) is the accrual ratio. The accrual ratio subtracts the FCF from the profit for a given period, and divides the result by the average operating assets of the company over that time. This ratio tells us how much of a company's profit is not backed by free cashflow.

As a result, a negative accrual ratio is a positive for the company, and a positive accrual ratio is a negative. That is not intended to imply we should worry about a positive accrual ratio, but it's worth noting where the accrual ratio is rather high. That's because some academic studies have suggested that high accruals ratios tend to lead to lower profit or less profit growth.

For the year to December 2023, Joincare Pharmaceutical Group IndustryLtd had an accrual ratio of -0.11. That indicates that its free cash flow was a fair bit more than its statutory profit. Indeed, in the last twelve months it reported free cash flow of CN¥2.8b, well over the CN¥1.44b it reported in profit. Joincare Pharmaceutical Group IndustryLtd's year-on-year free cash flow was as flat as two-day-old fizzy drink.

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 Joincare Pharmaceutical Group IndustryLtd's Profit Performance

As we discussed above, Joincare Pharmaceutical Group IndustryLtd has perfectly satisfactory free cash flow relative to profit. Because of this, we think Joincare Pharmaceutical Group IndustryLtd's earnings potential is at least as good as it seems, and maybe even better! And on top of that, its earnings per share have grown at 32% per year 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. Ultimately, this article has formed an opinion based on historical data. However, it can also be great to think about what analysts are forecasting for the future. Luckily, you can check out what analysts are forecasting by clicking here.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of Joincare Pharmaceutical Group IndustryLtd'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.