The subdued stock price reaction suggests that BTG Hotels (Group) Co., Ltd.'s (SHSE:600258) strong earnings didn't offer any surprises. Our analysis suggests that investors might be missing some promising details.

Examining Cashflow Against BTG Hotels (Group)'s Earnings

In high finance, the key ratio used to measure how well a company converts reported profits into free cash flow (FCF) is the accrual ratio (from cashflow). To get the accrual ratio we first subtract FCF from profit for a period, and then divide that number by the average operating assets for the period. This ratio tells us how much of a company's profit is not backed by free cashflow.

Therefore, it's actually considered a good thing when a company has a negative accrual ratio, but a bad thing if its accrual ratio is positive. While it's not a problem to have a positive accrual ratio, indicating a certain level of non-cash profits, a high accrual ratio is arguably a bad thing, because it indicates paper profits are not matched by cash flow. To quote a 2014 paper by Lewellen and Resutek, "firms with higher accruals tend to be less profitable in the future".

Over the twelve months to September 2024, BTG Hotels (Group) recorded an accrual ratio of -0.18. Therefore, its statutory earnings were very significantly less than its free cashflow. To wit, it produced free cash flow of CN¥2.8b during the period, dwarfing its reported profit of CN¥833.6m. BTG Hotels (Group)'s free cash flow actually declined over the last year, which is disappointing, like non-biodegradable balloons.

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 BTG Hotels (Group)'s Profit Performance

As we discussed above, BTG Hotels (Group)'s accrual ratio indicates strong conversion of profit to free cash flow, which is a positive for the company. Based on this observation, we consider it possible that BTG Hotels (Group)'s statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! Furthermore, it has done a great job growing EPS over the last year. 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'd like to know more about BTG Hotels (Group) as a business, it's important to be aware of any risks it's facing. You'd be interested to know, that we found 1 warning sign for BTG Hotels (Group) and you'll want to know about this.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of BTG Hotels (Group)'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. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks with high insider ownership.

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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.