The subdued market reaction suggests that Inner Mongolia First Machinery Group Co.,Ltd.'s (SHSE:600967) recent earnings didn't contain any surprises. Our analysis suggests that along with soft profit numbers, investors should be aware of some other underlying weaknesses in the numbers.

Examining Cashflow Against Inner Mongolia First Machinery GroupLtd's Earnings

As finance nerds would already know, the accrual ratio from cashflow is a key measure for assessing how well a company's free cash flow (FCF) matches its profit. 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. 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. To quote a 2014 paper by Lewellen and Resutek, "firms with higher accruals tend to be less profitable in the future".

For the year to March 2024, Inner Mongolia First Machinery GroupLtd had an accrual ratio of 0.21. We can therefore deduce that its free cash flow fell well short of covering its statutory profit. Even though it reported a profit of CN¥805.4m, a look at free cash flow indicates it actually burnt through CN¥734m in the last year. Coming off the back of negative free cash flow last year, we imagine some shareholders might wonder if its cash burn of CN¥734m, this year, indicates high risk.

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 Inner Mongolia First Machinery GroupLtd's Profit Performance

Inner Mongolia First Machinery GroupLtd didn't convert much of its profit to free cash flow in the last year, which some investors may consider rather suboptimal. Because of this, we think that it may be that Inner Mongolia First Machinery GroupLtd's statutory profits are better than its underlying earnings power. Nonetheless, it's still worth noting that its earnings per share have grown at 16% 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. So while earnings quality is important, it's equally important to consider the risks facing Inner Mongolia First Machinery GroupLtd at this point in time. When we did our research, we found 2 warning signs for Inner Mongolia First Machinery GroupLtd (1 is a bit concerning!) that we believe deserve your full attention.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of Inner Mongolia First Machinery GroupLtd'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. 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.