There's Reason For Concern Over Lloyds Enterprises Limited's (NSE:LLOYDSENT) Price

Lloyds Enterprises Limited's (NSE:LLOYDSENT) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 37.7x might make it look like a sell right now compared to the market in India, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios below 27x and even P/E's below 15x are quite common. However, the P/E might be high for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

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With earnings growth that's exceedingly strong of late, Lloyds Enterprises has been doing very well. It seems that many are expecting the strong earnings performance to beat most other companies over the coming period, which has increased investors’ willingness to pay up for the stock. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.

See our latest analysis for Lloyds Enterprises

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 Lloyds Enterprises' earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Is There Enough Growth For Lloyds Enterprises?

In order to justify its P/E ratio, Lloyds Enterprises would need to produce impressive growth in excess of the market.

If we review the last year of earnings growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 174%. The latest three year period has also seen an excellent 54% overall rise in EPS, aided by its short-term performance. Therefore, it's fair to say the earnings growth recently has been superb for the company.

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

With this information, we find it concerning that Lloyds Enterprises is trading at a P/E higher than the market. Apparently many investors in the company are way more bullish than recent times would indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock at any price. There's a good chance existing shareholders are setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/E falls to levels more in line with recent growth rates.

The Final Word

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.

Our examination of Lloyds Enterprises revealed its three-year earnings trends aren't impacting its high P/E anywhere near as much as we would have predicted, given they look worse than current market expectations. Right now we are increasingly uncomfortable with the high P/E as this earnings performance isn't likely to support such positive sentiment for long. Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve markedly, it's very challenging to accept these prices as being reasonable.

It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Lloyds Enterprises, and understanding should be part of your investment process.

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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.