Kimball Electronics, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:KE) earnings announcement last week didn't impress shareholders. However, our analysis suggests that the soft headline numbers are getting counterbalanced by some positive underlying factors.

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

Importantly, our data indicates that Kimball Electronics' profit was reduced by US$24m, due to unusual items, over the last year. 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 that's hardly a surprise given these line items are considered unusual. Assuming those unusual expenses don't come up again, we'd therefore expect Kimball Electronics to produce a higher profit next year, all else being equal.

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 Kimball Electronics' Profit Performance

Unusual items (expenses) detracted from Kimball Electronics' earnings over the last year, but we might see an improvement next year. Because of this, we think Kimball Electronics' earnings potential is at least as good as it seems, and maybe even better! Unfortunately, though, its earnings per share actually fell back over the last year. The goal of this article has been to assess how well we can rely on the statutory earnings to reflect the company's potential, but there is plenty more to consider. So while earnings quality is important, it's equally important to consider the risks facing Kimball Electronics at this point in time. While conducting our analysis, we found that Kimball Electronics has 3 warning signs and it would be unwise to ignore them.

This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of Kimball Electronics' profit. 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 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.