Some Confidence Is Lacking In Sona Machinery Limited's (NSE:SONAMAC) P/E

It's not a stretch to say that Sona Machinery Limited's (NSE:SONAMAC) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 30.6x right now seems quite "middle-of-the-road" compared to the market in India, where the median P/E ratio is around 30x. Although, it's not wise to simply ignore the P/E without explanation as investors may be disregarding a distinct opportunity or a costly mistake.

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As an illustration, earnings have deteriorated at Sona Machinery over the last year, which is not ideal at all. It might be that many expect the company to put the disappointing earnings performance behind them over the coming period, which has kept the P/E from falling. If not, then existing shareholders may be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.

Check out our latest analysis for Sona Machinery

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 Sona Machinery's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

How Is Sona Machinery's Growth Trending?

Sona Machinery's 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.

If we review the last year of earnings, dishearteningly the company's profits fell to the tune of 72%. As a result, earnings from three years ago have also fallen 14% overall. Therefore, it's fair to say the earnings growth recently has been undesirable for the company.

Weighing that medium-term earnings trajectory against the broader market's one-year forecast for expansion of 24% shows it's an unpleasant look.

In light of this, it's somewhat alarming that Sona Machinery's P/E sits in line with the majority of other companies. Apparently many investors in the company are way less bearish than recent times would indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock right now. 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 the recent negative growth rates.

The Key Takeaway

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.

Our examination of Sona Machinery revealed its shrinking earnings over the medium-term aren't impacting its P/E as much as we would have predicted, given the market is set to grow. Right now we are uncomfortable with the P/E as this earnings performance is unlikely to support a more positive sentiment for long. Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve, it's challenging to accept these prices as being reasonable.

There are also other vital risk factors to consider and we've discovered 4 warning signs for Sona Machinery (1 can't be ignored!) that you should be aware of before investing here.

If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on Sona Machinery, explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there.

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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.