Yes. A negative net profit — usually called a net loss — means total costs for the period exceeded total income. It indicates the business did not cover its full cost base out of trading, but on its own it does not tell you whether the business is failing, growing, or simply having an unusual year.
Losses arise for very different reasons. A start-up or a business in an investment phase may show a loss because it is spending ahead of revenue. An established business may show a loss because of a one-off event, a bad debt, a restructuring cost, or a large non-cash charge such as depreciation or an asset write-down. A loss driven by a non-cash item is a different situation from a loss driven by trading below cost.
What matters more is the pattern and the cash position. A single loss-making year alongside positive operating cash flow and a strong balance sheet reads very differently from several consecutive loss-making years with tightening cash. Look at the direction of travel, the reason behind the figure, and whether the business is still generating cash.
If you are applying for finance while showing a loss, it is worth being upfront about the cause. Lenders often assess the underlying trading position rather than the headline figure alone, though outcomes vary by lender and no application can be guaranteed. This is general information about how accounts are read, not accounting advice — speak to your accountant about your own figures.