When close to half the companies in Finland have price-to-earnings ratios (or "P/E's") below 20x, you may consider Fiskars Oyj Abp (HEL:FSKRS) as a stock to avoid entirely with its 71.1x P/E ratio. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the highly elevated P/E.
Recent times haven't been advantageous for Fiskars Oyj Abp as its earnings have been falling quicker than most other companies. One possibility is that the P/E is high because investors think the company will turn things around completely and accelerate past most others in the market. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.
Check out our latest analysis for Fiskars Oyj Abp
How Is Fiskars Oyj Abp's Growth Trending?
Fiskars Oyj Abp's P/E ratio would be typical for a company that's expected to deliver very strong growth, and importantly, perform much better than the market.
If we review the last year of earnings, dishearteningly the company's profits fell to the tune of 54%. As a result, earnings from three years ago have also fallen 86% overall. Therefore, it's fair to say the earnings growth recently has been undesirable for the company.
Looking ahead now, EPS is anticipated to climb by 80% per year during the coming three years according to the four analysts following the company. With the market only predicted to deliver 15% each year, the company is positioned for a stronger earnings result.
In light of this, it's understandable that Fiskars Oyj Abp's P/E sits above the majority of other companies. Apparently shareholders aren't keen to offload something that is potentially eyeing a more prosperous future.
The Key Takeaway
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 Fiskars Oyj Abp's analyst forecasts revealed that its superior earnings outlook is contributing to its high P/E. Right now shareholders are comfortable with the P/E as they are quite confident future earnings aren't under threat. Unless these conditions change, they will continue to provide strong support to the share price.
It is also worth noting that we have found 3 warning signs for Fiskars Oyj Abp (2 don't sit too well with us!) that you need to take into consideration.
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).
Valuation is complex, but we're here to simplify it.
Discover if Fiskars Oyj Abp might be undervalued or overvalued with our detailed analysis, featuring fair value estimates, potential risks, dividends, insider trades, and its financial condition.
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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.