Investors were underwhelmed by the solid earnings posted by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE:SMG) recently. We have done some analysis and have found some comforting factors beneath the profit numbers.

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

For anyone who wants to understand Scotts Miracle-Gro's profit beyond the statutory numbers, it's important to note that during the last twelve months statutory profit was reduced by US$55m due to unusual items. While deductions due to unusual items are disappointing in the first instance, there is a silver lining. When we analysed the vast majority of listed companies worldwide, we found that significant unusual items are often not repeated. 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 Scotts Miracle-Gro 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 Scotts Miracle-Gro's Profit Performance

Unusual items (expenses) detracted from Scotts Miracle-Gro's earnings over the last year, but we might see an improvement next year. Based on this observation, we consider it likely that Scotts Miracle-Gro's statutory profit actually understates its earnings potential! And on top of that, its earnings per share have grown at an extremely impressive rate over the last year. 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. If you'd like to know more about Scotts Miracle-Gro as a business, it's important to be aware of any risks it's facing.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of Scotts Miracle-Gro'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 with high insider ownership.

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.