Investors in Xinyi Glass Holdings Limited (HKG:868) had a good week, as its shares rose 9.2% to close at HK$8.04 following the release of its yearly results. Xinyi Glass Holdings beat revenue expectations by 2.9%, at HK$27b. Statutory earnings per share (EPS) came in at HK$1.29, some 2.7% short of analyst estimates. The analysts typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. Readers will be glad to know we've aggregated the latest statutory forecasts to see whether the analysts have changed their mind on Xinyi Glass Holdings after the latest results.

Following last week's earnings report, Xinyi Glass Holdings' eleven analysts are forecasting 2024 revenues to be HK$27.1b, approximately in line with the last 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to increase 5.6% to HK$1.34. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of HK$28.1b and earnings per share (EPS) of HK$1.56 in 2024. From this we can that sentiment has definitely become more bearish after the latest results, leading to lower revenue forecasts and a real cut to earnings per share estimates.

It'll come as no surprise then, to learn that the analysts have cut their price target 13% to HK$11.80. Fixating on a single price target can be unwise though, since the consensus target is effectively the average of analyst price targets. As a result, some investors like to look at the range of estimates to see if there are any diverging opinions on the company's valuation. Currently, the most bullish analyst values Xinyi Glass Holdings at HK$18.60 per share, while the most bearish prices it at HK$6.00. We would probably assign less value to the analyst forecasts in this situation, because such a wide range of estimates could imply that the future of this business is difficult to value accurately. As a result it might not be a great idea to make decisions based on the consensus price target, which is after all just an average of this wide range of estimates.

Of course, another way to look at these forecasts is to place them into context against the industry itself. It's pretty clear that there is an expectation that Xinyi Glass Holdings' revenue growth will slow down substantially, with revenues to the end of 2024 expected to display 1.2% growth on an annualised basis. This is compared to a historical growth rate of 13% over the past five years. By way of comparison, the other companies in this industry with analyst coverage are forecast to grow their revenue at 8.9% per year. Factoring in the forecast slowdown in growth, it seems obvious that Xinyi Glass Holdings is also expected to grow slower than other industry participants.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that the analysts downgraded their earnings per share estimates, showing that there has been a clear decline in sentiment following these results. Unfortunately, they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and our data indicates underperformance compared to the wider industry. Even so, earnings per share are more important to the intrinsic value of the business. The consensus price target fell measurably, with the analysts seemingly not reassured by the latest results, leading to a lower estimate of Xinyi Glass Holdings' future valuation.

With that in mind, we wouldn't be too quick to come to a conclusion on Xinyi Glass Holdings. Long-term earnings power is much more important than next year's profits. At Simply Wall St, we have a full range of analyst estimates for Xinyi Glass Holdings going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here..

Don't forget that there may still be risks. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Xinyi Glass Holdings that you should be aware of.

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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.