The stock was sluggish on the back of Sunpower Group Ltd.'s (SGX:5GD) recent earnings report. Our analysis suggests that there are some reasons for hope that investors should be aware of.

The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

For anyone who wants to understand Sunpower Group's profit beyond the statutory numbers, it's important to note that during the last twelve months statutory profit was reduced by CN¥122m 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, after all, that's exactly what the accounting terminology implies. If Sunpower Group 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 Sunpower Group.

Our Take On Sunpower Group's Profit Performance

Because unusual items detracted from Sunpower Group's earnings over the last year, you could argue that we can expect an improved result in the current quarter. Because of this, we think Sunpower Group's earnings potential is at least as good as it seems, and maybe even better! 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 want to do dive deeper into Sunpower Group, you'd also look into what risks it is currently facing. For example, we've found that Sunpower Group has 3 warning signs (1 doesn't sit too well with us!) that deserve your attention before going any further with your analysis.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of Sunpower Group's profit. But there are plenty of other ways to inform your opinion of a company. 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 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.