I think the point is people use the measures that you can clearly see easily (like the P/E), and therefore you don't go down to the level of the stock (oh, temp

I think the point is people use the measures that you can clearly see easily (like the P/E), and therefore you don't go down to the level of the stock (oh, temporarily raised earnings, forecast for reduced earnings, and as you point out, negative earnings etc). Note: this is not my argument, but what I understand Burry to be arguing.