Don't Sell Bhartiya International Limited (NSE:BIL) Before You Read This

This article is for investors who would like to improve their understanding of price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll show how you can use Bhartiya International Limited's (NSE:BIL) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity. Based on the last twelve months, Bhartiya International's P/E ratio is 10.80. That means that at current prices, buyers pay ₹10.80 for every ₹1 in trailing yearly profits.

Check out our latest analysis for Bhartiya International

How Do You Calculate A P/E Ratio?

The formula for P/E is:

Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS)

Or for Bhartiya International:

P/E of 10.80 = ₹182.50 ÷ ₹16.90 (Based on the year to September 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 Bhartiya International's P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers?

One good way to get a quick read on what market participants expect of a company is to look at its P/E ratio. The image below shows that Bhartiya International has a P/E ratio that is roughly in line with the luxury industry average (10.7).

That indicates that the market expects Bhartiya International will perform roughly in line with other companies in its industry. If the company has better than average prospects, then the market might be underestimating it. Checking factors such as director buying and selling. could help you form your own view on if that will happen.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

Probably the most important factor in determining what P/E a company trades on is the earnings growth. That's because companies that grow earnings per share quickly will rapidly increase the 'E' in the equation. And in that case, the P/E ratio itself will drop rather quickly. So while a stock may look expensive based on past earnings, it could be cheap based on future earnings.

Bhartiya International increased earnings per share by an impressive 10% over the last twelve months. And its annual EPS growth rate over 3 years is 3.2%. So one might expect an above average P/E ratio. In contrast, EPS has decreased by 2.1%, annually, over 5 years.

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. So it won't reflect the advantage of cash, or disadvantage of debt. Theoretically, a business can improve its earnings (and produce a lower P/E in the future) by investing in growth. That means taking on debt (or spending its cash).

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.

How Does Bhartiya International's Debt Impact Its P/E Ratio?

Bhartiya International's net debt is considerable, at 150% of its market cap. This level of debt justifies a relatively low P/E, so remain cognizant of the debt, if you're comparing it to other stocks.

The Bottom Line On Bhartiya International's P/E Ratio

Bhartiya International has a P/E of 10.8. That's below the average in the IN market, which is 13.6. The company may have significant debt, but EPS growth was good last year. If it continues to grow, then the current low P/E may prove to be unjustified.

Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. 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. We don't have analyst forecasts, but you could get a better understanding of its growth by checking out this more detailed historical graph of earnings, revenue and cash flow.

You might be able to find a better buy than Bhartiya International. 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.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.