Today, we’ll introduce the concept of the P/E ratio for those who are learning about investing. To keep it practical, we’ll show how Most Kwai Chung Limited’s (HKG:1716) P/E ratio could help you assess the value on offer. Looking at earnings over the last twelve months, Most Kwai Chung has a P/E ratio of 14.06. In other words, at today’s prices, investors are paying HK$14.06 for every HK$1 in prior year profit.
Check out our latest analysis for Most Kwai Chung
How Do I Calculate A Price To Earnings Ratio?
The formula for price to earnings is:
Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS)
Or for Most Kwai Chung:
P/E of 14.06 = HK$0.81 ÷ HK$0.06 (Based on the year to March 2019.)
Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good?
A higher P/E ratio implies that investors pay a higher price for the earning power of the business. That is not a good or a bad thing per se, but a high P/E does imply buyers are optimistic about the future.
How Does Most Kwai Chung’s P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers?
The P/E ratio indicates whether the market has higher or lower expectations of a company. If you look at the image below, you can see Most Kwai Chung has a lower P/E than the average (22.7) in the media industry classification.
Its relatively low P/E ratio indicates that Most Kwai Chung shareholders think it will struggle to do as well as other companies in its industry classification.
How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios
Generally speaking the rate of earnings growth has a profound impact on a company’s P/E multiple. If earnings are growing quickly, then the ‘E’ in the equation will increase faster than it would otherwise. That means unless the share price increases, the P/E will reduce in a few years. A lower P/E should indicate the stock is cheap relative to others — and that may attract buyers.
In the last year, Most Kwai Chung grew EPS like Taylor Swift grew her fan base back in 2010; the 69% gain was both fast and well deserved. The company could impress by growing EPS, in the future. I would further inform my view by checking insider buying and selling., among other things.
Don’t Forget: The P/E Does Not Account For Debt or Bank Deposits
One drawback of using a P/E ratio is that it considers market capitalization, but not the balance sheet. In other words, it does not consider any debt or cash that the company may have on the balance sheet. The exact same company would hypothetically deserve a higher P/E ratio if it had a strong balance sheet, than if it had a weak one with lots of debt, because a cashed up company can spend on growth.
Such expenditure might be good or bad, in the long term, but the point here is that the balance sheet is not reflected by this ratio.
Most Kwai Chung’s Balance Sheet
Most Kwai Chung has net cash of HK$88m. This is fairly high at 40% of its market capitalization. That might mean balance sheet strength is important to the business, but should also help push the P/E a bit higher than it would otherwise be.
The Verdict On Most Kwai Chung’s P/E Ratio
Most Kwai Chung trades on a P/E ratio of 14.1, which is above its market average of 10.2. Its net cash position is the cherry on top of its superb EPS growth. To us, this is the sort of company that we would expect to carry an above average price tag (relative to earnings).
Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. People often underestimate remarkable growth — so investors can make money when fast growth is not fully appreciated. Although we don’t have analyst forecasts shareholders might want to examine this detailed historical graph of earnings, revenue and cash flow.
You might be able to find a better buy than Most Kwai Chung. If you want a selection of possible winners, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20 (but have proven they can grow earnings).
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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