Huafa Property Services Group Company Limited (HKG:982) shares have continued their recent momentum with a 61% gain in the last month alone. The last month tops off a massive increase of 139% in the last year.
In spite of the firm bounce in price, there still wouldn't be many who think Huafa Property Services Group's price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 10.1x is worth a mention when the median P/E in Hong Kong is similar at about 10x. Although, it's not wise to simply ignore the P/E without explanation as investors may be disregarding a distinct opportunity or a costly mistake.
The earnings growth achieved at Huafa Property Services Group over the last year would be more than acceptable for most companies. It might be that many expect the respectable earnings performance to wane, which has kept the P/E from rising. If you like the company, you'd be hoping this isn't the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it's not quite in favour.
Check out our latest analysis for Huafa Property Services Group
Does Growth Match The P/E?
Huafa Property Services Group's P/E ratio would be typical for a company that's only expected to deliver moderate growth, and importantly, perform in line with the market.
Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew earnings per share by an impressive 29% last year. The strong recent performance means it was also able to grow EPS by 174% in total over the last three years. Accordingly, shareholders would have probably welcomed those medium-term rates of earnings growth.
Weighing that recent medium-term earnings trajectory against the broader market's one-year forecast for expansion of 21% shows it's noticeably more attractive on an annualised basis.
In light of this, it's curious that Huafa Property Services Group's P/E sits in line with the majority of other companies. It may be that most investors are not convinced the company can maintain its recent growth rates.
The Final Word
Its shares have lifted substantially and now Huafa Property Services Group's P/E is also back up to the market median. 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.
We've established that Huafa Property Services Group currently trades on a lower than expected P/E since its recent three-year growth is higher than the wider market forecast. 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.
The company's balance sheet is another key area for risk analysis. Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis for Huafa Property Services Group with six simple checks on some of these key factors.
Of course, you might also be able to find a better stock than Huafa Property Services Group. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have reasonable P/E ratios and have grown earnings strongly.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
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.