Talk:Pokemon EV Training, IV Training and Pokemon Natures/@comment-34394349-20180121112009/@comment-25128761-20180719043713

its just an indicator of the pokemon's highest IV

https://www.serebii.net/games/characteristics.shtml

so if sum1 says the pokemon has perfect IVs, the characteristic "takes plenty of siestas" will almost always be the characteristic unless it has specific IVs for a type of Hidden Power Move.