Wushang Group Co., Ltd.'s (SZSE:000501) Prospects Need A Boost To Lift Shares

Wushang Group Co., Ltd.'s (SZSE:000501) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 25.7x might make it look like a buy right now compared to the market in China, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios above 30x and even P/E's above 54x 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 limited.

While the market has experienced earnings growth lately, Wushang Group's earnings have gone into reverse gear, which is not great. It seems that many are expecting the dour earnings performance to persist, which has repressed the P/E. If you still like the company, you'd be hoping this isn't the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it's out of favour.

Check out our latest analysis for Wushang Group

Want the full picture on analyst estimates for the company? Then our free report on Wushang Group will help you uncover what's on the horizon.

Is There Any Growth For Wushang Group?

There's an inherent assumption that a company should underperform the market for P/E ratios like Wushang Group's to be considered reasonable.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 16% decrease to the company's bottom line. This means it has also seen a slide in earnings over the longer-term as EPS is down 79% in total over the last three years. So unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that the company has not done a great job of growing earnings over that time.

Looking ahead now, EPS is anticipated to climb by 10% per year during the coming three years according to the dual analysts following the company. That's shaping up to be materially lower than the 25% per annum growth forecast for the broader market.

In light of this, it's understandable that Wushang Group's P/E sits below the majority of other companies. Apparently many shareholders weren't comfortable holding on while the company is potentially eyeing a less prosperous future.

The Final Word

Using the price-to-earnings ratio alone to determine if you should sell your stock isn't sensible, however it can be a practical guide to the company's future prospects.

As we suspected, our examination of Wushang Group's analyst forecasts revealed that its inferior earnings outlook is contributing to its low P/E. At this stage investors feel the potential for an improvement in earnings isn't great enough to justify a higher P/E ratio. Unless these conditions improve, they will continue to form a barrier for the share price around these levels.

Plus, you should also learn about these 3 warning signs we've spotted with Wushang Group (including 1 which is significant).

It's important to make sure you look for a great company, not just the first idea you come across. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a low P/E).

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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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com