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Shareholders appeared unconcerned with Westlake Corporation's (NYSE:WLK) lackluster earnings report last week. We think that the softer headline numbers might be getting counterbalanced by some positive underlying factors.
View our latest analysis for Westlake
The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit
Importantly, our data indicates that Westlake's profit was reduced by US$567m, 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, after all, that's exactly what the accounting terminology implies. Westlake took a rather significant hit from unusual items in the year to September 2024. All else being equal, this would likely have the effect of making the statutory profit look worse than its underlying earnings power.
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 Westlake's Profit Performance
As we mentioned previously, the Westlake's profit was hampered by unusual items in the last year. Based on this observation, we consider it possible that Westlake's statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! On the other hand, its EPS actually shrunk in the last twelve months. 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. With this in mind, we wouldn't consider investing in a stock unless we had a thorough understanding of the risks. For example, we've discovered 3 warning signs that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of Westlake.
Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of Westlake's profit. But there are plenty of other ways to inform your opinion of a company. 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 with significant insider holdings 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.