Wah Sun Handbags International Holdings Limited's (HKG:2683) Price Is Right But Growth Is Lacking After Shares Rocket 43%

Wah Sun Handbags International Holdings Limited (HKG:2683) shares have had a really impressive month, gaining 43% after a shaky period beforehand. Looking back a bit further, it's encouraging to see the stock is up 32% in the last year.

In spite of the firm bounce in price, given about half the companies in Hong Kong have price-to-earnings ratios (or "P/E's") above 10x, you may still consider Wah Sun Handbags International Holdings as an attractive investment with its 5.9x P/E ratio. However, the P/E might be low for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

Recent times have been quite advantageous for Wah Sun Handbags International Holdings as its earnings have been rising very briskly. It might be that many expect the strong earnings performance to degrade substantially, which has repressed the P/E. If you 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.

See our latest analysis for Wah Sun Handbags International Holdings

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 Wah Sun Handbags International Holdings' earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What Are Growth Metrics Telling Us About The Low P/E?

The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/E as low as Wah Sun Handbags International Holdings' is when the company's growth is on track to lag the market.

If we review the last year of earnings growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 57%. Pleasingly, EPS has also lifted 52% in aggregate from three years ago, thanks to the last 12 months of growth. So we can start by confirming that the company has done a great job of growing earnings over that time.

Comparing that to the market, which is predicted to deliver 22% growth in the next 12 months, the company's momentum is weaker based on recent medium-term annualised earnings results.

With this information, we can see why Wah Sun Handbags International Holdings is trading at a P/E lower than the market. It seems most investors are expecting to see the recent limited growth rates continue into the future and are only willing to pay a reduced amount for the stock.

The Final Word

Wah Sun Handbags International Holdings' stock might have been given a solid boost, but its P/E certainly hasn't reached any great heights. We'd say the price-to-earnings ratio's power isn't primarily as a valuation instrument but rather to gauge current investor sentiment and future expectations.

As we suspected, our examination of Wah Sun Handbags International Holdings revealed its three-year earnings trends are contributing to its low P/E, given they look worse than current market expectations. Right now shareholders are accepting the low P/E as they concede future earnings probably won't provide any pleasant surprises. If recent medium-term earnings trends continue, it's hard to see the share price rising strongly in the near future under these circumstances.

It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Wah Sun Handbags International Holdings, and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Of course, you might also be able to find a better stock than Wah Sun Handbags International Holdings. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have reasonable P/E ratios and have grown earnings strongly.

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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.