Soft earnings didn't appear to concern Shenzhen Maxonic Automation Control Co., Ltd.'s (SZSE:300112) shareholders over the last week. Our analysis suggests that while the profits are soft, the foundations of the business are strong.

The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

To properly understand Shenzhen Maxonic Automation Control's profit results, we need to consider the CN¥67m expense attributed 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. We looked at thousands of listed companies and found that unusual items are very often one-off in nature. And, after all, that's exactly what the accounting terminology implies. In the twelve months to March 2024, Shenzhen Maxonic Automation Control had a big unusual items expense. All else being equal, this would likely have the effect of making the statutory profit look worse than its underlying earnings power.

Note: we always recommend investors check balance sheet strength. Click here to be taken to our balance sheet analysis of Shenzhen Maxonic Automation Control.

Our Take On Shenzhen Maxonic Automation Control's Profit Performance

As we discussed above, we think the significant unusual expense will make Shenzhen Maxonic Automation Control's statutory profit lower than it would otherwise have been. Based on this observation, we consider it possible that Shenzhen Maxonic Automation Control's statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! On the other hand, its EPS actually shrunk in the last twelve months. At the end of the day, it's essential to consider more than just the factors above, if you want to understand the company properly. If you'd like to know more about Shenzhen Maxonic Automation Control as a business, it's important to be aware of any risks it's facing. To that end, you should learn about the 5 warning signs we've spotted with Shenzhen Maxonic Automation Control (including 1 which is potentially serious).

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of Shenzhen Maxonic Automation Control's profit. But there are plenty of other ways to inform your opinion of a company. Some people consider a high return on equity to be a good sign of a quality business. 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.