Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park Development Co., Ltd.'s (SHSE:600895) recent weak earnings report didn't cause a big stock movement. Our analysis suggests that along with soft profit numbers, investors should be aware of some other underlying weaknesses in the numbers.

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

To properly understand Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park Development's profit results, we need to consider the CN¥364m gain attributed to unusual items. While we like to see profit increases, we tend to be a little more cautious when unusual items have made a big contribution. We ran the numbers on most publicly listed companies worldwide, and it's very common for unusual items to be once-off in nature. And, after all, that's exactly what the accounting terminology implies. Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park Development had a rather significant contribution from unusual items relative to its profit to March 2024. As a result, we can surmise that the unusual items are making its statutory profit significantly stronger than it would otherwise be.

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 Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park Development's Profit Performance

As previously mentioned, Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park Development's large boost from unusual items won't be there indefinitely, so its statutory earnings are probably a poor guide to its underlying profitability. For this reason, we think that Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park Development's statutory profits may be a bad guide to its underlying earnings power, and might give investors an overly positive impression of the company. Sadly, its EPS was down over the last twelve months. 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 Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park Development, you'd also look into what risks it is currently facing. For instance, we've identified 4 warning signs for Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park Development (1 shouldn't be ignored) you should be familiar with.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park Development's profit. But there is always more to discover if you are capable of focussing your mind on minutiae. Some people consider a high return on equity to be a good sign of a quality business. 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.