Hang Xiao Steel Structure Co.,Ltd (SHSE:600477) just released a solid earnings report, and the stock displayed some strength. While the profit numbers were good, our analysis has found some concerning factors that shareholders should be aware of.

Examining Cashflow Against Hang Xiao Steel StructureLtd's Earnings

One key financial ratio used to measure how well a company converts its profit to free cash flow (FCF) is the accrual ratio. In plain english, this ratio subtracts FCF from net profit, and divides that number by the company's average operating assets over that period. The ratio shows us how much a company's profit exceeds its FCF.

That means a negative accrual ratio is a good thing, because it shows that the company is bringing in more free cash flow than its profit would suggest. 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. To quote a 2014 paper by Lewellen and Resutek, "firms with higher accruals tend to be less profitable in the future".

Hang Xiao Steel StructureLtd has an accrual ratio of 0.24 for the year to December 2023. Unfortunately, that means its free cash flow fell significantly short of its reported profits. Over the last year it actually had negative free cash flow of CN¥1.9b, in contrast to the aforementioned profit of CN¥293.6m. We also note that Hang Xiao Steel StructureLtd's free cash flow was actually negative last year as well, so we could understand if shareholders were bothered by its outflow of CN¥1.9b.

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 Hang Xiao Steel StructureLtd's Profit Performance

Hang Xiao Steel StructureLtd's accrual ratio for the last twelve months signifies cash conversion is less than ideal, which is a negative when it comes to our view of its earnings. Because of this, we think that it may be that Hang Xiao Steel StructureLtd's statutory profits are better than its underlying earnings power. The good news is that its earnings per share increased slightly in the last year. At the end of the day, it's essential to consider more than just the factors above, if you want to understand the company properly. If you'd like to know more about Hang Xiao Steel StructureLtd as a business, it's important to be aware of any risks it's facing. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Hang Xiao Steel StructureLtd (of which 2 are a bit unpleasant!) you should know about.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of Hang Xiao Steel StructureLtd's profit. 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. 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.