The Price Is Right For Tongdao Liepin Group (HKG:6100)

Tongdao Liepin Group's (HKG:6100) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 76.2x might make it look like a strong sell right now compared to the market in Hong Kong, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios below 10x and even P/E's below 5x are quite common. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/E at face value as there may be an explanation why it's so lofty.

Tongdao Liepin Group could be doing better as its earnings have been going backwards lately while most other companies have been seeing positive earnings growth. It might be that many expect the dour earnings performance to recover substantially, which has kept the P/E from collapsing. If not, then existing shareholders may be extremely nervous about the viability of the share price.

See our latest analysis for Tongdao Liepin Group

Keen to find out how analysts think Tongdao Liepin Group's future stacks up against the industry? In that case, our free report is a great place to start.

How Is Tongdao Liepin Group's Growth Trending?

The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/E as steep as Tongdao Liepin Group's is when the company's growth is on track to outshine the market decidedly.

If we review the last year of earnings, dishearteningly the company's profits fell to the tune of 15%. However, a few very strong years before that means that it was still able to grow EPS by an impressive 177% in total over the last three years. Although it's been a bumpy ride, it's still fair to say the earnings growth recently has been more than adequate for the company.

Shifting to the future, estimates from the five analysts covering the company suggest earnings should grow by 76% per annum over the next three years. That's shaping up to be materially higher than the 17% per annum growth forecast for the broader market.

With this information, we can see why Tongdao Liepin Group is trading at such a high P/E compared to the market. Apparently shareholders aren't keen to offload something that is potentially eyeing a more prosperous future.

The Final Word

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 Tongdao Liepin Group'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. It's hard to see the share price falling strongly in the near future under these circumstances.

Before you take the next step, you should know about the 2 warning signs for Tongdao Liepin Group that we have uncovered.

You might be able to find a better investment than Tongdao Liepin Group. If you want a selection of possible candidates, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20x (but have proven they can grow earnings).

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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.
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