The market seemed underwhelmed by the solid earnings posted by Deluxe Corporation (NYSE:DLX) recently. Our analysis suggests that there are some reasons for hope that investors should be aware of.

See our latest analysis for Deluxe

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

For anyone who wants to understand Deluxe's profit beyond the statutory numbers, it's important to note that during the last twelve months statutory profit was reduced by US$27m due to unusual items. It's never great to see unusual items costing the company profits, but on the upside, things might improve sooner rather than later. When we analysed the vast majority of listed companies worldwide, we found that significant unusual items are often not repeated. And, after all, that's exactly what the accounting terminology implies. If Deluxe doesn't see those unusual expenses repeat, then all else being equal we'd expect its profit to increase over the coming year.

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 Deluxe's Profit Performance

Because unusual items detracted from Deluxe's earnings over the last year, you could argue that we can expect an improved result in the current quarter. Because of this, we think Deluxe's earnings potential is at least as good as it seems, and maybe even better! And on top of that, its earnings per share have grown at an extremely impressive rate over the last year. At the end of the day, it's essential to consider more than just the factors above, if you want to understand the company properly. So while earnings quality is important, it's equally important to consider the risks facing Deluxe at this point in time. Case in point: We've spotted 3 warning signs for Deluxe you should be mindful of and 1 of these is concerning.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of Deluxe's profit. 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. 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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

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.