United Homes Group, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:UHG) robust recent earnings didn't do much to move the stock. We think this is due to investors looking beyond the statutory profits and being concerned with what they see.

Check out our latest analysis for United Homes Group

A Closer Look At United Homes Group'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. In plain english, this ratio subtracts FCF from net profit, and divides that number by the company's average operating assets over that period. This ratio tells us how much of a company's profit is not backed by free cashflow.

Therefore, it's actually considered a good thing when a company has a negative accrual ratio, but a bad thing if its accrual ratio is positive. While having an accrual ratio above zero is of little concern, we do think it's worth noting when a company has a relatively high accrual ratio. That's because some academic studies have suggested that high accruals ratios tend to lead to lower profit or less profit growth.

For the year to December 2022, United Homes Group had an accrual ratio of 0.25. Unfortunately, that means its free cash flow fell significantly short of its reported profits. Indeed, in the last twelve months it reported free cash flow of US$34m, which is significantly less than its profit of US$69.5m. United Homes Group shareholders will no doubt be hoping that its free cash flow bounces back next year, since it was down over the last twelve months. Notably, the company has issued new shares, thus diluting existing shareholders and reducing their share of future earnings.

Note: we always recommend investors check balance sheet strength. Click here to be taken to our balance sheet analysis of United Homes Group.

To understand the value of a company's earnings growth, it is imperative to consider any dilution of shareholders' interests. As it happens, United Homes Group issued 10% more new shares over the last year. Therefore, each share now receives a smaller portion of profit. To talk about net income, without noticing earnings per share, is to be distracted by the big numbers while ignoring the smaller numbers that talk to per share value. You can see a chart of United Homes Group's EPS by clicking here.

A Look At The Impact Of United Homes Group's Dilution On Its Earnings Per Share (EPS)

As you can see above, United Homes Group has been growing its net income over the last few years, with an annualized gain of 146% over three years. And over the last 12 months, the company grew its profit by 11%. On the other hand, earnings per share are only up 11% in that time. So you can see that the dilution has had a bit of an impact on shareholders.

In the long term, earnings per share growth should beget share price growth. So United Homes Group shareholders will want to see that EPS figure continue to increase. However, if its profit increases while its earnings per share stay flat (or even fall) then shareholders might not see much benefit. For the ordinary retail shareholder, EPS is a great measure to check your hypothetical "share" of the company's profit.

Our Take On United Homes Group's Profit Performance

In conclusion, United Homes Group has weak cashflow relative to earnings, which indicates lower quality earnings, and the dilution means its earnings per share growth is weaker than its profit growth. For the reasons mentioned above, we think that a perfunctory glance at United Homes Group's statutory profits might make it look better than it really is on an underlying level. 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 found that United Homes Group has 4 warning signs (2 don't sit too well with us!) that deserve your attention before going any further with your analysis.

Our examination of United Homes Group has focussed on certain factors that can make its earnings look better than they are. And, on that basis, we are somewhat skeptical. 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. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks that insiders are buying.

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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.