Interarch Building Products Limited (NSE:INTERARCH) Could Be Riskier Than It Looks

It's not a stretch to say that Interarch Building Products Limited's (NSE:INTERARCH) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 25.9x right now seems quite "middle-of-the-road" compared to the market in India, where the median P/E ratio is around 26x. While this might not raise any eyebrows, if the P/E ratio is not justified investors could be missing out on a potential opportunity or ignoring looming disappointment.

Earnings have risen firmly for Interarch Building Products recently, which is pleasing to see. One possibility is that the P/E is moderate because investors think this respectable earnings growth might not be enough to outperform the broader market in the near future. If that doesn't eventuate, then existing shareholders probably aren't too pessimistic about the future direction of the share price.

View our latest analysis for Interarch Building Products

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 Interarch Building Products' earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Does Growth Match The P/E?

Interarch Building Products' P/E ratio would be typical for a company that's only expected to deliver moderate growth, and importantly, perform in line with the market.

Taking a look back first, we see that the company managed to grow earnings per share by a handy 13% last year. The latest three year period has also seen an excellent 421% overall rise in EPS, aided somewhat by its short-term performance. Accordingly, shareholders would have probably welcomed those medium-term rates of earnings growth.

This is in contrast to the rest of the market, which is expected to grow by 25% over the next year, materially lower than the company's recent medium-term annualised growth rates.

In light of this, it's curious that Interarch Building Products' P/E sits in line with the majority of other companies. Apparently some shareholders believe the recent performance is at its limits and have been accepting lower selling prices.

The Key Takeaway

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.

We've established that Interarch Building Products currently trades on a lower than expected P/E since its recent three-year growth is higher than the wider market forecast. There could be some unobserved threats to earnings preventing the P/E ratio from matching this positive performance. At least the risk of a price drop looks to be subdued if recent medium-term earnings trends continue, but investors seem to think future earnings could see some volatility.

The company's balance sheet is another key area for risk analysis. Our free balance sheet analysis for Interarch Building Products with six simple checks will allow you to discover any risks that could be an issue.

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

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.