Statistically speaking, it is less risky to invest in profitable companies than in unprofitable ones. However, sometimes companies receive a one-off boost (or reduction) to their profit, and it’s not always clear whether statutory profits are a good guide, going forward. Today we’ll focus on whether this year’s statutory profits are a good guide to understanding NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE).
While NextEra Energy was able to generate revenue of US$18.0b in the last twelve months, we think its profit result of US$2.92b was more important. As you can see in the chart below, its profit has declined over the last three years, even though its revenue has increased.
See our latest analysis for NextEra Energy
Of course, it is only sensible to look beyond the statutory profits and question how well those numbers represent the sustainable earnings power of the business. This article will discuss how unusual items have impacted NextEra Energy’s most recent profit results. 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.
The Impact Of Unusual Items On Profit
To properly understand NextEra Energy’s profit results, we need to consider the US$566m gain attributed to unusual items. We can’t deny that higher profits generally leave us optimistic, but we’d prefer it if the profit were to be sustainable. We ran the numbers on most publicly listed companies worldwide, and it’s very common for unusual items to be once-off in nature. And, after all, that’s exactly what the accounting terminology implies. Assuming those unusual items don’t show up again in the current year, we’d thus expect profit to be weaker next year (in the absence of business growth, that is).
Our Take On NextEra Energy’s Profit Performance
We’d posit that NextEra Energy’s statutory earnings aren’t a clean read on ongoing productivity, due to the large unusual item. Because of this, we think that it may be that NextEra Energy’s statutory profits are better than its underlying earnings power. Sadly, its EPS was down over 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. So if you’d like to dive deeper into this stock, it’s crucial to consider any risks it’s facing. Our analysis shows 3 warning signs for NextEra Energy (1 is a bit unpleasant!) and we strongly recommend you look at them before investing.
This note has only looked at a single factor that sheds light on the nature of NextEra Energy’s 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 that insiders are buying.
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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. 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.
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