A Sliding Share Price Has Us Looking At G5 Entertainment AB (publ)'s (STO:G5EN) P/E Ratio

To the annoyance of some shareholders, G5 Entertainment (STO:G5EN) shares are down a considerable 31% in the last month. That drop has capped off a tough year for shareholders, with the share price down 41% in that time.

All else being equal, a share price drop should make a stock more attractive to potential investors. While the market sentiment towards a stock is very changeable, in the long run, the share price will tend to move in the same direction as earnings per share. So, on certain occasions, long term focussed investors try to take advantage of pessimistic expectations to buy shares at a better price. Perhaps the simplest way to get a read on investors' expectations of a business is to look at its Price to Earnings Ratio (PE Ratio). Investors have optimistic expectations of companies with higher P/E ratios, compared to companies with lower P/E ratios.

See our latest analysis for G5 Entertainment

Does G5 Entertainment Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry?

We can tell from its P/E ratio of 12.32 that sentiment around G5 Entertainment isn't particularly high. If you look at the image below, you can see G5 Entertainment has a lower P/E than the average (26.1) in the entertainment industry classification.

Its relatively low P/E ratio indicates that G5 Entertainment shareholders think it will struggle to do as well as other companies in its industry classification. Since the market seems unimpressed with G5 Entertainment, it's quite possible it could surprise on the upside. If you consider the stock interesting, further research is recommended. For example, I often monitor director buying and selling.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

P/E ratios primarily reflect market expectations around earnings growth rates. Earnings growth means that in the future the 'E' will be higher. That means unless the share price increases, the P/E will reduce in a few years. So while a stock may look expensive based on past earnings, it could be cheap based on future earnings.

G5 Entertainment shrunk earnings per share by 48% over the last year. But EPS is up 23% over the last 3 years.

A Limitation: P/E Ratios Ignore Debt and Cash In The Bank

It's important to note that the P/E ratio considers the market capitalization, not the enterprise value. Thus, the metric does not reflect cash or debt held by the company. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth.

While growth expenditure doesn't always pay off, the point is that it is a good option to have; but one that the P/E ratio ignores.

Is Debt Impacting G5 Entertainment's P/E?

With net cash of kr128m, G5 Entertainment has a very strong balance sheet, which may be important for its business. Having said that, at 16% of its market capitalization the cash hoard would contribute towards a higher P/E ratio.

The Verdict On G5 Entertainment's P/E Ratio

G5 Entertainment has a P/E of 12.3. That's below the average in the SE market, which is 18.5. The recent drop in earnings per share would make investors cautious, the relatively strong balance sheet will allow the company time to invest in growth. If it achieves that, then there's real potential that the low P/E could eventually indicate undervaluation. Given G5 Entertainment's P/E ratio has declined from 17.9 to 12.3 in the last month, we know for sure that the market is significantly less confident about the business today, than it was back then. For those who prefer to invest with the flow of momentum, that might be a bad sign, but for a contrarian, it may signal opportunity.

When the market is wrong about a stock, it gives savvy investors an opportunity. As value investor Benjamin Graham famously said, 'In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine. So this free report on the analyst consensus forecasts could help you make a master move on this stock.

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 modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E below 20.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.

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