Stock Analysis

Inkeverse Group Limited's (HKG:3700) Price Is Right But Growth Is Lacking After Shares Rocket 32%

SEHK:3700
Source: Shutterstock

Despite an already strong run, Inkeverse Group Limited (HKG:3700) shares have been powering on, with a gain of 32% in the last thirty days. The last 30 days bring the annual gain to a very sharp 37%.

In spite of the firm bounce in price, Inkeverse Group may still be sending bullish signals at the moment with its price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 5.8x, since almost half of all companies in Hong Kong have P/E ratios greater than 10x and even P/E's higher than 20x are not unusual. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the reduced P/E.

Inkeverse Group certainly has been doing a great job lately as it's been growing earnings at a really rapid pace. It might be that many expect the strong earnings performance to degrade substantially, which has repressed the P/E. If that doesn't eventuate, then existing shareholders have reason to be quite optimistic about the future direction of the share price.

Check out our latest analysis for Inkeverse Group

pe-multiple-vs-industry
SEHK:3700 Price to Earnings Ratio vs Industry October 2nd 2024
Want the full picture on earnings, revenue and cash flow for the company? Then our free report on Inkeverse Group will help you shine a light on its historical performance.

Is There Any Growth For Inkeverse Group?

Inkeverse Group's P/E ratio would be typical for a company that's only expected to deliver limited growth, and importantly, perform worse than the market.

If we review the last year of earnings growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 134%. As a result, it also grew EPS by 26% in total over the last three years. Therefore, it's fair to say the earnings growth recently has been respectable for the company.

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.

In light of this, it's understandable that Inkeverse Group's P/E sits below the majority of other companies. 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

Despite Inkeverse Group's shares building up a head of steam, its P/E still lags most other companies. It's argued the price-to-earnings ratio is an inferior measure of value within certain industries, but it can be a powerful business sentiment indicator.

We've established that Inkeverse Group maintains its low P/E on the weakness of its recent three-year growth being lower than the wider market forecast, as expected. Right now shareholders are accepting the low P/E as they concede future earnings probably won't provide any pleasant surprises. Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve, they will continue to form a barrier for the share price around these levels.

Having said that, be aware Inkeverse Group is showing 1 warning sign in our investment analysis, you should know about.

If you're unsure about the strength of Inkeverse Group's business, why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals for some other companies you may have missed.

New: AI Stock Screener & Alerts

Our new AI Stock Screener scans the market every day to uncover opportunities.

• Dividend Powerhouses (3%+ Yield)
• Undervalued Small Caps with Insider Buying
• High growth Tech and AI Companies

Or build your own from over 50 metrics.

Explore Now for Free

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

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.