The market wasn't impressed with the soft earnings from Dayu Irrigation Group Co.,Ltd (SZSE:300021) recently. We did some further digging and think they have a few more reasons to be concerned beyond the statutory profit.

The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

Importantly, our data indicates that Dayu Irrigation GroupLtd's profit received a boost of CN¥31m in unusual items, over the last year. We can't deny that higher profits generally leave us optimistic, but we'd prefer it if the profit were to be sustainable. 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. And, after all, that's exactly what the accounting terminology implies. If Dayu Irrigation GroupLtd doesn't see that contribution repeat, then all else being equal we'd expect its profit to drop over the current year.

Note: we always recommend investors check balance sheet strength. Click here to be taken to our balance sheet analysis of Dayu Irrigation GroupLtd.

Our Take On Dayu Irrigation GroupLtd's Profit Performance

We'd posit that Dayu Irrigation GroupLtd's statutory earnings aren't a clean read on ongoing productivity, due to the large unusual item. Because of this, we think that it may be that Dayu Irrigation GroupLtd's statutory profits are better than its underlying earnings power. 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. So if you'd like to dive deeper into this stock, it's crucial to consider any risks it's facing. For instance, we've identified 5 warning signs for Dayu Irrigation GroupLtd (2 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 Dayu Irrigation GroupLtd'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 with significant insider holdings 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.