The market for The Hershey Company's (NYSE:HSY) shares didn't move much after it posted weak earnings recently. We did some digging, and we believe the earnings are stronger than they seem.

The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

To properly understand Hershey's profit results, we need to consider the US$281m expense attributed to unusual items. It's never great to see unusual items costing the company profits, but on the upside, things might improve sooner rather than later. When we analysed the vast majority of listed companies worldwide, we found that significant unusual items are often not repeated. And that's hardly a surprise given these line items are considered unusual. If Hershey 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 Hershey's Profit Performance

Because unusual items detracted from Hershey'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 Hershey's earnings potential is at least as good as it seems, and maybe even better! And the EPS is up 26% annually, 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. If you'd like to know more about Hershey as a business, it's important to be aware of any risks it's facing. For example - Hershey has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of Hershey'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 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.