Solomon Systech (International) Limited (HKG:2878) shareholders have had their patience rewarded with a 32% share price jump in the last month. Not all shareholders will be feeling jubilant, since the share price is still down a very disappointing 21% in the last twelve months.
Although its price has surged higher, given about half the companies in Hong Kong have price-to-earnings ratios (or "P/E's") above 10x, you may still consider Solomon Systech (International) as an attractive investment with its 6.2x P/E ratio. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/E at face value as there may be an explanation why it's limited.
For instance, Solomon Systech (International)'s receding earnings in recent times would have to be some food for thought. It might be that many expect the disappointing earnings performance to continue or accelerate, which has repressed the P/E. However, if this doesn't eventuate then existing shareholders may be feeling optimistic about the future direction of the share price.
View our latest analysis for Solomon Systech (International)
Is There Any Growth For Solomon Systech (International)?
In order to justify its P/E ratio, Solomon Systech (International) would need to produce sluggish growth that's trailing the market.
If we review the last year of earnings, dishearteningly the company's profits fell to the tune of 30%. Even so, admirably EPS has lifted 65% in aggregate from three years ago, notwithstanding the last 12 months. Although it's been a bumpy ride, it's still fair to say the earnings growth recently has been more than adequate for the company.
This is in contrast to the rest of the market, which is expected to grow by 21% over the next year, materially higher than the company's recent medium-term annualised growth rates.
In light of this, it's understandable that Solomon Systech (International)'s P/E sits below the majority of other companies. Apparently many shareholders weren't comfortable holding on to something they believe will continue to trail the bourse.
The Key Takeaway
Solomon Systech (International)'s stock might have been given a solid boost, but its P/E certainly hasn't reached any great heights. Generally, our preference is to limit the use of the price-to-earnings ratio to establishing what the market thinks about the overall health of a company.
As we suspected, our examination of Solomon Systech (International) revealed its three-year earnings trends are contributing to its low P/E, given they look worse than current market expectations. Right now shareholders are accepting the low P/E as they concede future earnings probably won't provide any pleasant surprises. Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve, they will continue to form a barrier for the share price around these levels.
A lot of potential risks can sit within a company's balance sheet. You can assess many of the main risks through our free balance sheet analysis for Solomon Systech (International) with six simple checks.
Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with a strong growth track record, trading on a low P/E.
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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.