Sunlight (1977) Holdings Limited (HKG:8451) shareholders would be excited to see that the share price has had a great month, posting a 30% gain and recovering from prior weakness. Looking back a bit further, it's encouraging to see the stock is up 39% in the last year.
Although its price has surged higher, there still wouldn't be many who think Sunlight (1977) Holdings' price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 11.8x is worth a mention when the median P/E in Hong Kong is similar at about 10x. However, investors might be overlooking a clear opportunity or potential setback if there is no rational basis for the P/E.
With earnings growth that's exceedingly strong of late, Sunlight (1977) Holdings has been doing very well. It might be that many expect the strong earnings performance to wane, which has kept the P/E from rising. If that doesn't eventuate, then existing shareholders have reason to be feeling optimistic about the future direction of the share price.
Check out our latest analysis for Sunlight (1977) Holdings
Is There Some Growth For Sunlight (1977) Holdings?
The only time you'd be comfortable seeing a P/E like Sunlight (1977) Holdings' is when the company's growth is tracking the market closely.
If we review the last year of earnings growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 90%. Pleasingly, EPS has also lifted 356% in aggregate from three years ago, thanks to the last 12 months of growth. So we can start by confirming that the company has done a great job of growing earnings over that time.
Comparing that to the market, which is only predicted to deliver 21% growth in the next 12 months, the company's momentum is stronger based on recent medium-term annualised earnings results.
With this information, we find it interesting that Sunlight (1977) Holdings is trading at a fairly similar P/E to the market. Apparently some shareholders believe the recent performance is at its limits and have been accepting lower selling prices.
The Bottom Line On Sunlight (1977) Holdings' P/E
Sunlight (1977) Holdings appears to be back in favour with a solid price jump getting its P/E back in line with most other companies. While the price-to-earnings ratio shouldn't be the defining factor in whether you buy a stock or not, it's quite a capable barometer of earnings expectations.
Our examination of Sunlight (1977) Holdings revealed its three-year earnings trends aren't contributing to its P/E as much as we would have predicted, given they look better than current market expectations. There could be some unobserved threats to earnings preventing the P/E ratio from matching this positive performance. It appears some are indeed anticipating earnings instability, because the persistence of these recent medium-term conditions would normally provide a boost to the share price.
You should always think about risks. Case in point, we've spotted 2 warning signs for Sunlight (1977) Holdings you should be aware of, and 1 of them is a bit concerning.
If P/E ratios interest you, you may wish to see this free collection of other companies with strong earnings growth and low P/E ratios.
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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.