Shenzhen JT Automation Equipment Co.,Ltd's (SZSE:300400) 27% Share Price Plunge Could Signal Some Risk

Shenzhen JT Automation Equipment Co.,Ltd (SZSE:300400) shareholders won't be pleased to see that the share price has had a very rough month, dropping 27% and undoing the prior period's positive performance. The drop over the last 30 days has capped off a tough year for shareholders, with the share price down 42% in that time.

Although its price has dipped substantially, Shenzhen JT Automation EquipmentLtd's price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 42x might still make it look like a sell right now compared to the market in China, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios below 29x and even P/E's below 18x are quite common. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the elevated P/E.

Shenzhen JT Automation EquipmentLtd certainly has been doing a great job lately as it's been growing earnings at a really rapid pace. 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. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.

View our latest analysis for Shenzhen JT Automation EquipmentLtd

Want the full picture on earnings, revenue and cash flow for the company? Then our free report on Shenzhen JT Automation EquipmentLtd will help you shine a light on its historical performance.

How Is Shenzhen JT Automation EquipmentLtd's Growth Trending?

Shenzhen JT Automation EquipmentLtd's P/E ratio would be typical for a company that's expected to deliver solid growth, and importantly, perform better than the market.

If we review the last year of earnings growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 30%. Still, incredibly EPS has fallen 53% in total from three years ago, which is quite disappointing. So unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that the company has not done a great job of growing earnings over that time.

In contrast to the company, the rest of the market is expected to grow by 36% over the next year, which really puts the company's recent medium-term earnings decline into perspective.

In light of this, it's alarming that Shenzhen JT Automation EquipmentLtd's P/E sits above the majority of other companies. It seems most investors are ignoring the recent poor growth rate and are hoping for a turnaround in the company's business prospects. Only the boldest would assume these prices are sustainable as a continuation of recent earnings trends is likely to weigh heavily on the share price eventually.

The Bottom Line On Shenzhen JT Automation EquipmentLtd's P/E

Despite the recent share price weakness, Shenzhen JT Automation EquipmentLtd's P/E remains higher than most other companies. 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.

Our examination of Shenzhen JT Automation EquipmentLtd revealed its shrinking earnings over the medium-term aren't impacting its high P/E anywhere near as much as we would have predicted, given the market is set to grow. When we see earnings heading backwards and underperforming the market forecasts, we suspect the share price is at risk of declining, sending the high P/E lower. Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve markedly, it's very challenging to accept these prices as being reasonable.

You always need to take note of risks, for example - Shenzhen JT Automation EquipmentLtd has 2 warning signs we think you should be aware of.

You might be able to find a better investment than Shenzhen JT Automation EquipmentLtd. If you want a selection of possible candidates, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a low P/E (but have proven they can grow earnings).

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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.