Kasen International Holdings Limited (HKG:496) just reported some strong earnings, and the market rewarded them with a positive share price move. We did some analysis and think that investors are missing some details hidden beneath the profit numbers.

See our latest analysis for Kasen International Holdings

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

To properly understand Kasen International Holdings' profit results, we need to consider the CN¥194m gain attributed to unusual items. While it's always nice to have higher profit, a large contribution from unusual items sometimes dampens our enthusiasm. 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. Kasen International Holdings had a rather significant contribution from unusual items relative to its profit to December 2021. All else being equal, this would likely have the effect of making the statutory profit a poor guide to underlying earnings power.

Note: we always recommend investors check balance sheet strength. Click here to be taken to our balance sheet analysis of Kasen International Holdings.

Our Take On Kasen International Holdings' Profit Performance

As we discussed above, we think the significant positive unusual item makes Kasen International Holdings' earnings a poor guide to its underlying profitability. As a result, we think it may well be the case that Kasen International Holdings' underlying earnings power is lower than its statutory profit. But the happy news is that, while acknowledging we have to look beyond the statutory numbers, those numbers are still improving, with EPS growing at a very high rate over the last year. 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. In light of this, if you'd like to do more analysis on the company, it's vital to be informed of the risks involved. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Kasen International Holdings you should be aware of.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of Kasen International Holdings' 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.