There wouldn't be many who think Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric Co., Ltd.'s (HKG:3898) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 11.2x 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.
Recent times have been advantageous for Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric as its earnings have been rising faster than most other companies. One possibility is that the P/E is moderate because investors think this strong earnings performance might be about to tail off. 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.
View our latest analysis for Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric
How Is Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric's Growth Trending?
Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric'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 17% last year. The strong recent performance means it was also able to grow EPS by 38% in total over the last three years. So we can start by confirming that the company has done a great job of growing earnings over that time.
Turning to the outlook, the next year should generate growth of 13% as estimated by the analysts watching the company. Meanwhile, the rest of the market is forecast to expand by 21%, which is noticeably more attractive.
In light of this, it's curious that Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric's P/E sits in line with the majority of other companies. It seems most investors are ignoring the fairly limited growth expectations and are willing to pay up for exposure to the stock. These shareholders may be setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/E falls to levels more in line with the growth outlook.
The Bottom Line On Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric's P/E
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 Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric's analyst forecasts revealed that its inferior earnings outlook isn't impacting its P/E as much as we would have predicted. Right now we are uncomfortable with the P/E as the predicted future earnings aren't likely to support a more positive sentiment for long. Unless these conditions improve, it's challenging to accept these prices as being reasonable.
The company's balance sheet is another key area for risk analysis. You can assess many of the main risks through our free balance sheet analysis for Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric with six simple checks.
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.