Unfortunately for some shareholders, the Bobst Group (VTX:BOBNN) share price has dived 31% in the last thirty days. That drop has capped off a tough year for shareholders, with the share price down 46% in that time.
All else being equal, a share price drop should make a stock more attractive to potential investors. While the market sentiment towards a stock is very changeable, in the long run, the share price will tend to move in the same direction as earnings per share. The implication here is that long term investors have an opportunity when expectations of a company are too low. Perhaps the simplest way to get a read on investors’ expectations of a business is to look at its Price to Earnings Ratio (PE Ratio). A high P/E ratio means that investors have a high expectation about future growth, while a low P/E ratio means they have low expectations about future growth.
View our latest analysis for Bobst Group
How Does Bobst Group’s P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers?
Bobst Group has a P/E ratio of 17.6. As you can see below Bobst Group has a P/E ratio that is fairly close for the average for the machinery industry, which is 18.8.
Bobst Group’s P/E tells us that market participants think its prospects are roughly in line with its industry.
How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios
Companies that shrink earnings per share quickly will rapidly decrease the ‘E’ in the equation. That means unless the share price falls, the P/E will increase in a few years. A higher P/E should indicate the stock is expensive relative to others — and that may encourage shareholders to sell.
Bobst Group’s earnings per share fell by 60% in the last twelve months. But over the longer term (5 years) earnings per share have increased by 1.9%. And it has shrunk its earnings per share by 8.8% per year over the last three years. This might lead to low expectations.
Remember: P/E Ratios Don’t Consider The Balance Sheet
It’s important to note that the P/E ratio considers the market capitalization, not the enterprise value. 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.
Spending on growth might be good or bad a few years later, but the point is that the P/E ratio does not account for the option (or lack thereof).
So What Does Bobst Group’s Balance Sheet Tell Us?
Net debt totals 14% of Bobst Group’s market cap. That’s enough debt to impact the P/E ratio a little; so keep it in mind if you’re comparing it to companies without debt.
The Verdict On Bobst Group’s P/E Ratio
Bobst Group trades on a P/E ratio of 17.6, which is fairly close to the CH market average of 18.3. With modest debt, and a lack of recent growth, it would seem the market is expecting improvement in earnings. What can be absolutely certain is that the market has become significantly less optimistic about Bobst Group over the last month, with the P/E ratio falling from 25.5 back then to 17.6 today. For those who don’t like to trade against momentum, that could be a warning sign, but a contrarian investor might want to take a closer look.
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.’ So this free visualization of the analyst consensus on future earnings could help you make the right decision about whether to buy, sell, or hold.
Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E below 20.
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.
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. Thank you for reading.