Shun Ho Property Investments Limited (HKG:219) just reported healthy earnings but the stock price didn't move much. Our analysis suggests that investors might be missing some promising details.

View our latest analysis for Shun Ho Property Investments

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

For anyone who wants to understand Shun Ho Property Investments' profit beyond the statutory numbers, it's important to note that during the last twelve months statutory profit was reduced by HK$24m 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. 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. Assuming those unusual expenses don't come up again, we'd therefore expect Shun Ho Property Investments 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 Shun Ho Property Investments.

Our Take On Shun Ho Property Investments' Profit Performance

Because unusual items detracted from Shun Ho Property Investments' 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 Shun Ho Property Investments' statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! And it's also positive that the company showed enough improvement to book a profit this year, after losing money 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. If you want to do dive deeper into Shun Ho Property Investments, you'd also look into what risks it is currently facing. For example, Shun Ho Property Investments has 2 warning signs (and 1 which can't be ignored) we think you should know about.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of Shun Ho Property Investments' 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. 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.