Weak Statutory Earnings May Not Tell The Whole Story For EVN (VIE:EVN)

A lackluster earnings announcement from EVN AG (VIE:EVN) last week didn't sink the stock price. However, we believe that investors should be aware of some underlying factors which may be of concern.

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Operating Revenue Or Not?

Most companies divide classify their revenue as either 'operating revenue', which comes from normal operations, and other revenue, which could include government grants, for example. Oftentimes, non-operating revenue spikes are not repeated, so it makes sense to be cautious where non-operating revenue has made a very large contribution to total profit. However, we note that when non-operating revenue increases suddenly, it will sometimes generate an unsustainable boost to profit. It's worth noting that EVN saw a big increase in non-operating revenue over the last year. In fact, our data indicates that non-operating revenue increased from €38.1m to €214.1m. The high levels of non-operating revenue are problematic because if (and when) they do not repeat, then overall revenue (and profitability) of the firm will fall. Sometimes, you can get a better idea of the underlying earnings potential of a company by excluding unusual boosts to non-operating revenue.

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.

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

Alongside that spike in non-operating revenue, it's also important to note that EVN'sprofit suffered from unusual items, which reduced profit by €58m in the last twelve months. 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, after all, that's exactly what the accounting terminology implies. Assuming those unusual expenses don't come up again, we'd therefore expect EVN to produce a higher profit next year, all else being equal.

Our Take On EVN's Profit Performance

In the last year EVN's non-operating revenue really gave it a boost, but not in a way that is necessarily going to be sustained. But on the other hand, it also saw an unusual item depress its profit, suggesting the statutory profit number will actually improve next year, if the unusual expenses are not repeated, and all else stays equal. Based on these factors, we think it's very unlikely that EVN's statutory profits make it seem much weaker than it is. 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. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of EVN.

In this article we've looked at a number of factors that can impair the utility of profit numbers, as a guide to a business. But there is always more to discover if you are capable of focussing your mind on minutiae. 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 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.