d1000 Varejo Farma Participações S.A.'s (BVMF:DMVF3) Share Price Matching Investor Opinion

d1000 Varejo Farma Participações S.A.'s (BVMF:DMVF3) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 13x might make it look like a sell right now compared to the market in Brazil, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios below 9x and even P/E's below 6x are quite common. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/E at face value as there may be an explanation why it's as high as it is.

With earnings growth that's exceedingly strong of late, d1000 Varejo Farma Participações has been doing very well. The P/E is probably high because investors think this strong earnings growth will be enough to outperform the broader market in the near future. If not, then existing shareholders might be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.

View our latest analysis for d1000 Varejo Farma Participações

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Does Growth Match The High P/E?

There's an inherent assumption that a company should outperform the market for P/E ratios like d1000 Varejo Farma Participações' to be considered reasonable.

If we review the last year of earnings growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 114%. The latest three year period has also seen an excellent 235% overall rise in EPS, aided by its short-term performance. Accordingly, shareholders would have probably welcomed those medium-term rates of earnings growth.

Weighing that recent medium-term earnings trajectory against the broader market's one-year forecast for expansion of 19% shows it's noticeably more attractive on an annualised basis.

With this information, we can see why d1000 Varejo Farma Participações is trading at such a high P/E compared to the market. It seems most investors are expecting this strong growth to continue and are willing to pay more for the stock.

The Final Word

While the price-to-earnings ratio shouldn't be the defining factor in whether you buy a stock or not, it's quite a capable barometer of earnings expectations.

We've established that d1000 Varejo Farma Participações maintains its high P/E on the strength of its recent three-year growth being higher than the wider market forecast, as expected. Right now shareholders are comfortable with the P/E as they are quite confident earnings aren't under threat. If recent medium-term earnings trends continue, it's hard to see the share price falling strongly in the near future under these circumstances.

It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with d1000 Varejo Farma Participações, and understanding should be part of your investment process.

If you're unsure about the strength of d1000 Varejo Farma Participações' 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.