Solid profit numbers didn't seem to be enough to please Guangdong Cellwise Microelectronics Co., Ltd.'s (SHSE:688325) shareholders. Our analysis suggests they may be concerned about some underlying details.

The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

Importantly, our data indicates that Guangdong Cellwise Microelectronics' profit received a boost of CN¥5.8m in unusual items, over the last year. While it's always nice to have higher profit, a large contribution from unusual items sometimes dampens our enthusiasm. When we crunched the numbers on thousands of publicly listed companies, we found that a boost from unusual items in a given year is often not repeated the next year. Which is hardly surprising, given the name. We can see that Guangdong Cellwise Microelectronics' positive unusual items were quite significant relative to its profit in the year to December 2023. 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 Guangdong Cellwise Microelectronics.

An Unusual Tax Situation

Just as we noted the unusual items, we must inform you that Guangdong Cellwise Microelectronics received a tax benefit which contributed CN¥4.7m to the bottom line. This is meaningful because companies usually pay tax rather than receive tax benefits. We're sure the company was pleased with its tax benefit. However, the devil in the detail is that these kind of benefits only impact in the year they are booked, and are often one-off in nature. Assuming the tax benefit is not repeated every year, we could see its profitability drop noticeably, all else being equal. While we think it's good that the company has booked a tax benefit, it does mean that there's every chance the statutory profit will come in a lot higher than it would be if the income was adjusted for one-off factors.

Our Take On Guangdong Cellwise Microelectronics' Profit Performance

In the last year Guangdong Cellwise Microelectronics received a tax benefit, which boosted its profit in a way that might not be much more sustainable than turning prime farmland into gas fields. Furthermore, it also benefitted from a positive unusual item, which boosted the profit result even higher. For the reasons mentioned above, we think that a perfunctory glance at Guangdong Cellwise Microelectronics' statutory profits might make it look better than it really is on an underlying level. So while earnings quality is important, it's equally important to consider the risks facing Guangdong Cellwise Microelectronics at this point in time. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Guangdong Cellwise Microelectronics (1 can't be ignored) you should be familiar with.

In this article we've looked at a number of factors that can impair the utility of profit numbers, and we've come away cautious. 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.