Solvay SA's (EBR:SOLB) Business And Shares Still Trailing The Market

Solvay SA's (EBR:SOLB) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 2.3x might make it look like a strong buy right now compared to the market in Belgium, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios above 14x and even P/E's above 25x are quite common. However, the P/E might be quite low for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

With earnings that are retreating more than the market's of late, Solvay has been very sluggish. The P/E is probably low because investors think this poor earnings performance isn't going to improve at all. If you still like the company, you'd want its earnings trajectory to turn around before making any decisions. If not, then existing shareholders will probably struggle to get excited about the future direction of the share price.

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Does Growth Match The Low P/E?

In order to justify its P/E ratio, Solvay would need to produce anemic growth that's substantially trailing the market.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 42% decrease to the company's bottom line. This has erased any of its gains during the last three years, with practically no change in EPS being achieved in total. Therefore, it's fair to say that earnings growth has been inconsistent recently for the company.

Looking ahead now, EPS is anticipated to slump, contracting by 25% per annum during the coming three years according to the ten analysts following the company. Meanwhile, the broader market is forecast to expand by 15% per annum, which paints a poor picture.

In light of this, it's understandable that Solvay's P/E would sit below the majority of other companies. Nonetheless, there's no guarantee the P/E has reached a floor yet with earnings going in reverse. Even just maintaining these prices could be difficult to achieve as the weak outlook is weighing down the shares.

The Final Word

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.

We've established that Solvay maintains its low P/E on the weakness of its forecast for sliding earnings, as expected. Right now shareholders are accepting the low P/E as they concede future earnings probably won't provide any pleasant surprises. Unless these conditions improve, they will continue to form a barrier for the share price around these levels.

It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 5 warning signs with Solvay (at least 2 which don't sit too well with us), and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

If you're unsure about the strength of Solvay's business, why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals for some other companies you may have missed.

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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.