Yuanda China Holdings Limited's (HKG:2789) recent soft profit numbers didn't appear to worry shareholders, as the stock price showed strength. However, we think the company is showing some signs that things are more promising than they seem.

The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

For anyone who wants to understand Yuanda China Holdings' profit beyond the statutory numbers, it's important to note that during the last twelve months statutory profit was reduced by CN¥31m due to unusual items. While deductions due to unusual items are disappointing in the first instance, there is a silver lining. We looked at thousands of listed companies and found that unusual items are very often one-off in nature. And that's hardly a surprise given these line items are considered unusual. If Yuanda China Holdings doesn't see those unusual expenses repeat, then all else being equal we'd expect its profit to increase over the coming year.

Note: we always recommend investors check balance sheet strength. Click here to be taken to our balance sheet analysis of Yuanda China Holdings.

Our Take On Yuanda China Holdings' Profit Performance

Because unusual items detracted from Yuanda China Holdings' earnings over the last year, you could argue that we can expect an improved result in the current quarter. Because of this, we think Yuanda China Holdings' earnings potential is at least as good as it seems, and maybe even better! On the other hand, its EPS actually shrunk in the last twelve months. 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. So if you'd like to dive deeper into this stock, it's crucial to consider any risks it's facing. For example, Yuanda China Holdings has 5 warning signs (and 1 which makes us a bit uncomfortable) we think you should know about.

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