Jiangsu Kanion Pharmaceutical Co.,Ltd.'s (SHSE:600557) earnings announcement last week was disappointing for investors, despite the decent profit numbers. We have done some analysis and have found some comforting factors beneath the profit numbers.

Examining Cashflow Against Jiangsu Kanion PharmaceuticalLtd's Earnings

Many investors haven't heard of the accrual ratio from cashflow, but it is actually a useful measure of how well a company's profit is backed up by free cash flow (FCF) during a given period. 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. You could think of the accrual ratio from cashflow as the 'non-FCF profit ratio'.

As a result, a negative accrual ratio is a positive for the company, and a positive accrual ratio is a negative. That is not intended to imply we should worry about a positive accrual ratio, but it's worth noting where the accrual ratio is rather high. Notably, there is some academic evidence that suggests that a high accrual ratio is a bad sign for near-term profits, generally speaking.

Jiangsu Kanion PharmaceuticalLtd has an accrual ratio of -0.12 for the year to March 2024. That indicates that its free cash flow was a fair bit more than its statutory profit. To wit, it produced free cash flow of CN¥924m during the period, dwarfing its reported profit of CN¥543.3m. Jiangsu Kanion PharmaceuticalLtd shareholders are no doubt pleased that free cash flow improved over the last twelve months.

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 Jiangsu Kanion PharmaceuticalLtd's Profit Performance

Jiangsu Kanion PharmaceuticalLtd's accrual ratio is solid, and indicates strong free cash flow, as we discussed, above. Based on this observation, we consider it likely that Jiangsu Kanion PharmaceuticalLtd's statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! And on top of that, its earnings per share have grown at an extremely impressive rate over the last three years. 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. In light of this, if you'd like to do more analysis on the company, it's vital to be informed of the risks involved. You'd be interested to know, that we found 1 warning sign for Jiangsu Kanion PharmaceuticalLtd and you'll want to know about this.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of Jiangsu Kanion PharmaceuticalLtd'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 that insiders are buying 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.