UCAP Cloud Information Technology Co.,Ltd. (SHSE:688228) Shares May Have Slumped 28% But Getting In Cheap Is Still Unlikely

The UCAP Cloud Information Technology Co.,Ltd. (SHSE:688228) share price has softened a substantial 28% over the previous 30 days, handing back much of the gains the stock has made lately. Instead of being rewarded, shareholders who have already held through the last twelve months are now sitting on a 30% share price drop.

In spite of the heavy fall in price, UCAP Cloud Information TechnologyLtd's price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 67.7x might still make it look like a strong sell right now compared to the market in China, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios below 33x and even P/E's below 19x are quite common. However, the P/E might be quite high for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

For example, consider that UCAP Cloud Information TechnologyLtd's financial performance has been poor lately as its earnings have been in decline. It might be that many expect the company to still outplay most other companies over the coming period, which has kept the P/E from collapsing. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.

Check out our latest analysis for UCAP Cloud Information TechnologyLtd

We don't have analyst forecasts, but you can see how recent trends are setting up the company for the future by checking out our free report on UCAP Cloud Information TechnologyLtd's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Does Growth Match The High P/E?

In order to justify its P/E ratio, UCAP Cloud Information TechnologyLtd would need to produce outstanding growth well in excess of the market.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 42% decrease to the company's bottom line. The last three years don't look nice either as the company has shrunk EPS by 29% in aggregate. Therefore, it's fair to say the earnings growth recently has been undesirable for the company.

Weighing that medium-term earnings trajectory against the broader market's one-year forecast for expansion of 38% shows it's an unpleasant look.

With this information, we find it concerning that UCAP Cloud Information TechnologyLtd is trading at a P/E higher than the market. Apparently many investors in the company are way more bullish than recent times would indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock at any price. There's a very good chance existing shareholders are setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/E falls to levels more in line with the recent negative growth rates.

The Final Word

Even after such a strong price drop, UCAP Cloud Information TechnologyLtd's P/E still exceeds the rest of the market significantly. Generally, our preference is to limit the use of the price-to-earnings ratio to establishing what the market thinks about the overall health of a company.

Our examination of UCAP Cloud Information TechnologyLtd 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.

Before you settle on your opinion, we've discovered 3 warning signs for UCAP Cloud Information TechnologyLtd (1 is concerning!) that you should be aware of.

If you're unsure about the strength of UCAP Cloud Information TechnologyLtd'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.