There wouldn't be many who think CIMC Enric Holdings Limited's (HKG:3899) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 10.9x is worth a mention when the median P/E in Hong Kong is similar at about 11x. Although, it's not wise to simply ignore the P/E without explanation as investors may be disregarding a distinct opportunity or a costly mistake.
Our free stock report includes 1 warning sign investors should be aware of before investing in CIMC Enric Holdings. Read for free now.CIMC Enric Holdings hasn't been tracking well recently as its declining earnings compare poorly to other companies, which have seen some growth on average. It might be that many expect the dour earnings performance to strengthen positively, which has kept the P/E from falling. If not, then existing shareholders may be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.
View our latest analysis for CIMC Enric Holdings
How Is CIMC Enric Holdings' Growth Trending?
In order to justify its P/E ratio, CIMC Enric Holdings would need to produce growth that's similar to the market.
Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 2.3% decrease to the company's bottom line. That put a dampener on the good run it was having over the longer-term as its three-year EPS growth is still a noteworthy 21% in total. Accordingly, while they would have preferred to keep the run going, shareholders would be roughly satisfied with the medium-term rates of earnings growth.
Shifting to the future, estimates from the ten analysts covering the company suggest earnings should grow by 18% each year over the next three years. Meanwhile, the rest of the market is forecast to only expand by 15% each year, which is noticeably less attractive.
In light of this, it's curious that CIMC Enric Holdings' P/E sits in line with the majority of other companies. Apparently some shareholders are skeptical of the forecasts and have been accepting lower selling prices.
The Final Word
While the price-to-earnings ratio shouldn't be the defining factor in whether you buy a stock or not, it's quite a capable barometer of earnings expectations.
Our examination of CIMC Enric Holdings' analyst forecasts revealed that its superior earnings outlook isn't contributing to its P/E as much as we would have predicted. When we see a strong earnings outlook with faster-than-market growth, we assume potential risks are what might be placing pressure on the P/E ratio. It appears some are indeed anticipating earnings instability, because these conditions should normally provide a boost to the share price.
Having said that, be aware CIMC Enric Holdings is showing 1 warning sign in our investment analysis, you should know about.
If you're unsure about the strength of CIMC Enric Holdings' 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.