With a price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 24.1x Paisalo Digital Limited (NSE:PAISALO) may be sending very bearish signals at the moment, given that almost half of all companies in India have P/E ratios under 12x and even P/E's lower than 6x are not unusual. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the highly elevated P/E.
For instance, Paisalo Digital's receding earnings in recent times would have to be some food for thought. It might be that many expect the company to still outplay most other companies over the coming period, which has kept the P/E from collapsing. If not, then existing shareholders may be quite nervous about the viability of the share price.
Check out our latest analysis for Paisalo Digital
Does Growth Match The High P/E?
The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/E as steep as Paisalo Digital's is when the company's growth is on track to outshine the market decidedly.
If we review the last year of earnings, dishearteningly the company's profits fell to the tune of 7.8%. At least EPS has managed not to go completely backwards from three years ago in aggregate, thanks to the earlier period of growth. Therefore, it's fair to say that earnings growth has been inconsistent recently for the company.
Comparing that to the market, which is predicted to shrink 2.5% in the next 12 months, the company's positive momentum based on recent medium-term earnings results is a bright spot for the moment.
In light of this, it's understandable that Paisalo Digital's P/E sits above the majority of other companies. Presumably shareholders aren't keen to offload something they believe will continue to outmanoeuvre the bourse. However, its current earnings trajectory will be very difficult to maintain against the headwinds other companies are facing at the moment.
The Bottom Line On Paisalo Digital's P/E
Typically, we'd caution against reading too much into price-to-earnings ratios when settling on investment decisions, though it can reveal plenty about what other market participants think about the company.
As we suspected, our examination of Paisalo Digital revealed its growing earnings over the medium-term are contributing to its high P/E, given the market is set to shrink. At this stage investors feel the potential for a deterioration in earnings isn't great enough to justify a lower P/E ratio. Our only concern is whether its earnings trajectory can keep outperforming under these tough market conditions. Otherwise, it's hard to see the share price falling strongly in the near future if its earnings performance persists.
And what about other risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Paisalo Digital (of which 1 is potentially serious!) you should know about.
You might be able to find a better investment than Paisalo Digital. If you want a selection of possible candidates, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20x (but have proven they can grow earnings).
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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. 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.
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About NSEI:PAISALO
Paisalo Digital
A non-banking financial company, engages in providing loans and financial products in India.
Exceptional growth potential with solid track record.
