http://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-to-keep-from-being-tricked-by-companies-funny-numbers-2016-05-10Ghost of Igloi wrote:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/earnings-season-is-an-unrelenting-misery-it-doesnt-have-to-be-2016-05-13
"To be sure, GAAP numbers are useful, especially because they provide a uniform way to look at companies’ financial results. It’s about comparing apples to apples.
But some investors think little of the GAAP results, since they are backward-looking, while some non-GAAP numbers, such as user or subscriber growth, more clearly point the way to rising revenue and, potentially, profits. Moreover, non-GAAP numbers can fill in gaps missed by the required reporting rules."