Soft earnings didn't appear to concern CSG Holding Co., Ltd.'s (SZSE:000012) shareholders over the last week. We think that the softer headline numbers might be getting counterbalanced by some positive underlying factors.

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

To properly understand CSG Holding's profit results, we need to consider the CN¥196m expense attributed to unusual items. While deductions due to unusual items are disappointing in the first instance, there is a silver lining. 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. If CSG Holding 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 CSG Holding's Profit Performance

Unusual items (expenses) detracted from CSG Holding's earnings over the last year, but we might see an improvement next year. Because of this, we think CSG Holding's earnings potential is at least as good as it seems, and maybe even better! And on top of that, its earnings per share have grown at 31% per year over the last three years. The goal of this article has been to assess how well we can rely on the statutory earnings to reflect the company's potential, but there is plenty more to consider. Keep in mind, when it comes to analysing a stock it's worth noting the risks involved. At Simply Wall St, we found 1 warning sign for CSG Holding and we think they deserve your attention.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of CSG Holding'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. 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.