Investors were underwhelmed by the solid earnings posted by Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:GDYN) recently. We have done some analysis and have found some comforting factors beneath the profit numbers.

See our latest analysis for Grid Dynamics Holdings

To understand the value of a company's earnings growth, it is imperative to consider any dilution of shareholders' interests. As it happens, Grid Dynamics Holdings issued 10% more new shares over the last year. Therefore, each share now receives a smaller portion of profit. Per share metrics like EPS help us understand how much actual shareholders are benefitting from the company's profits, while the net income level gives us a better view of the company's absolute size. You can see a chart of Grid Dynamics Holdings' EPS by clicking here.

How Is Dilution Impacting Grid Dynamics Holdings' Earnings Per Share (EPS)?

Grid Dynamics Holdings was losing money three years ago. And even focusing only on the last twelve months, we don't have a meaningful growth rate because it made a loss a year ago, too. But mathematics aside, it is always good to see when a formerly unprofitable business come good (though we accept profit would have been higher if dilution had not been required). And so, you can see quite clearly that dilution is influencing shareholder earnings.

If Grid Dynamics Holdings' EPS can grow over time then that drastically improves the chances of the share price moving in the same direction. But on the other hand, we'd be far less excited to learn profit (but not EPS) was improving. For that reason, you could say that EPS is more important that net income in the long run, assuming the goal is to assess whether a company's share price might grow.

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.

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

On top of the dilution, we should also consider the US$1.4m impact of unusual items in the last year, which had the effect of suppressing profit. 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. Grid Dynamics Holdings took a rather significant hit from unusual items in the year to December 2024. All else being equal, this would likely have the effect of making the statutory profit look worse than its underlying earnings power.

Our Take On Grid Dynamics Holdings' Profit Performance

Grid Dynamics Holdings suffered from unusual items which depressed its profit in its last report; if that is not repeated then profit should be higher, all else being equal. But unfortunately the dilution means that shareholders now own a smaller proportion of the company (assuming they maintained the same number of shares). That will weigh on earnings per share, even if it is not reflected in net income. Based on these factors, we think that Grid Dynamics Holdings' profits are a reasonably conservative guide to its underlying profitability. In light of this, if you'd like to do more analysis on the company, it's vital to be informed of the risks involved. You'd be interested to know, that we found 1 warning sign for Grid Dynamics Holdings and you'll want to know about this.

Our examination of Grid Dynamics Holdings has focussed on certain factors that can make its earnings look better than they are. 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 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.