Investors were underwhelmed by the solid earnings posted by Sichuan Dowell Science and Technology Inc. (SZSE:300535) recently. We did some digging and actually think they are being unnecessarily pessimistic.

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

Importantly, our data indicates that Sichuan Dowell Science and Technology's profit was reduced by CN¥32m, due to unusual items, over the last year. 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. Sichuan Dowell Science and Technology took a rather significant hit from unusual items in the year to September 2024. As a result, we can surmise that the unusual items made its statutory profit significantly weaker than it would otherwise be.

Note: we always recommend investors check balance sheet strength. Click here to be taken to our balance sheet analysis of Sichuan Dowell Science and Technology.

Our Take On Sichuan Dowell Science and Technology's Profit Performance

As we mentioned previously, the Sichuan Dowell Science and Technology's profit was hampered by unusual items in the last year. Based on this observation, we consider it possible that Sichuan Dowell Science and Technology's statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! And the EPS is up 18% over 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. Keep in mind, when it comes to analysing a stock it's worth noting the risks involved. For example, Sichuan Dowell Science and Technology has 2 warning signs (and 1 which is potentially serious) we think you should know about.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of Sichuan Dowell Science and Technology'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 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.