Even though AstroNova, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:ALOT) recent earnings release was robust, the market didn't seem to notice. Our analysis suggests that investors might be missing some promising details.

The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit

For anyone who wants to understand AstroNova's profit beyond the statutory numbers, it's important to note that during the last twelve months statutory profit was reduced by US$2.6m due to unusual items. 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 AstroNova to produce a higher profit next year, all else being equal.

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

Our Take On AstroNova's Profit Performance

Because unusual items detracted from AstroNova'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 AstroNova's earnings potential is at least as good as it seems, and maybe even better! Better yet, its EPS are growing strongly, which is nice to see. 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. With this in mind, we wouldn't consider investing in a stock unless we had a thorough understanding of the risks. For example, AstroNova has 4 warning signs (and 1 which shouldn't be ignored) we think you should know about.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of AstroNova'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.