The Dynasty Fine Wines Group Limited (HKG:828) share price has softened a substantial 27% over the previous 30 days, handing back much of the gains the stock has made lately. Looking back over the past twelve months the stock has been a solid performer regardless, with a gain of 25%.
Even after such a large drop in price, Dynasty Fine Wines Group's price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 19.3x might still make it look like a strong sell right now compared to the market in Hong Kong, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios below 10x and even P/E's below 5x are quite common. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/E at face value as there may be an explanation why it's so lofty.
Recent times have been quite advantageous for Dynasty Fine Wines Group as its earnings have been rising very briskly. The P/E is probably high because investors think this strong earnings growth will be enough to outperform the broader market in the near future. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.
View our latest analysis for Dynasty Fine Wines Group
Is There Enough Growth For Dynasty Fine Wines Group?
There's an inherent assumption that a company should far outperform the market for P/E ratios like Dynasty Fine Wines Group's to be considered reasonable.
If we review the last year of earnings growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 60%. Although, its longer-term performance hasn't been as strong with three-year EPS growth being relatively non-existent overall. So it appears to us that the company has had a mixed result in terms of growing earnings over that time.
Comparing that to the market, which is predicted to deliver 21% growth in the next 12 months, the company's momentum is weaker based on recent medium-term annualised earnings results.
In light of this, it's alarming that Dynasty Fine Wines Group's P/E sits above the majority of other companies. Apparently many investors in the company are way more bullish than recent times would indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock at any price. There's a good chance existing shareholders are setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/E falls to levels more in line with recent growth rates.
The Final Word
Dynasty Fine Wines Group's shares may have retreated, but its P/E is still flying high. It's argued the price-to-earnings ratio is an inferior measure of value within certain industries, but it can be a powerful business sentiment indicator.
Our examination of Dynasty Fine Wines Group revealed its three-year earnings trends aren't impacting its high P/E anywhere near as much as we would have predicted, given they look worse than current market expectations. Right now we are increasingly uncomfortable with the high P/E as this earnings performance isn't likely to support such positive sentiment for long. Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve markedly, it's very challenging to accept these prices as being reasonable.
Plus, you should also learn about these 3 warning signs we've spotted with Dynasty Fine Wines Group (including 1 which can't be ignored).
If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on Dynasty Fine Wines Group, explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there.
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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.