Sinopec Oilfield Equipment Corporation's (SZSE:000852) solid earnings announcement recently didn't do much to the stock price. We did some analysis to find out why and believe that investors might be missing some encouraging factors contained in the earnings.

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

Importantly, our data indicates that Sinopec Oilfield Equipment's profit was reduced by CN¥29m, due to unusual items, over the last year. While deductions due to unusual items are disappointing in the first instance, there is a silver lining. 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. If Sinopec Oilfield Equipment doesn't see those unusual expenses repeat, then all else being equal we'd expect its profit to increase over the coming year.

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 Sinopec Oilfield Equipment's Profit Performance

Because unusual items detracted from Sinopec Oilfield Equipment's earnings over the last year, you could argue that we can expect an improved result in the current quarter. Because of this, we think Sinopec Oilfield Equipment's earnings potential is at least as good as it seems, and maybe even better! Better yet, its EPS are growing strongly, which is nice to see. 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 want to do dive deeper into Sinopec Oilfield Equipment, you'd also look into what risks it is currently facing. At Simply Wall St, we found 1 warning sign for Sinopec Oilfield Equipment and we think they deserve your attention.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of Sinopec Oilfield Equipment's 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. 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.