Sahaj Fashions Limited (NSE:SAHAJ) Stock Rockets 26% As Investors Are Less Pessimistic Than Expected

Sahaj Fashions Limited (NSE:SAHAJ) shareholders would be excited to see that the share price has had a great month, posting a 26% gain and recovering from prior weakness. Longer-term shareholders would be thankful for the recovery in the share price since it's now virtually flat for the year after the recent bounce.

In spite of the firm bounce in price, it's still not a stretch to say that Sahaj Fashions' price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 31.9x right now seems quite "middle-of-the-road" compared to the market in India, where the median P/E ratio is around 34x. However, investors might be overlooking a clear opportunity or potential setback if there is no rational basis for the P/E.

For instance, Sahaj Fashions' receding earnings in recent times would have to be some food for thought. One possibility is that the P/E is moderate because investors think the company might still do enough to be in line with the broader market in the near future. If you like the company, you'd at least be hoping this is the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it's not quite in favour.

See our latest analysis for Sahaj Fashions

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 Sahaj Fashions' earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What Are Growth Metrics Telling Us About The P/E?

There's an inherent assumption that a company should be matching the market for P/E ratios like Sahaj Fashions' to be considered reasonable.

If we review the last year of earnings, dishearteningly the company's profits fell to the tune of 73%. Even so, admirably EPS has lifted 67% in aggregate from three years ago, notwithstanding the last 12 months. 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.

Weighing that recent medium-term earnings trajectory against the broader market's one-year forecast for expansion of 25% shows it's noticeably less attractive on an annualised basis.

With this information, we find it interesting that Sahaj Fashions is trading at a fairly similar P/E to the market. It seems most investors are ignoring the fairly limited recent growth rates and are willing to pay up for exposure to the stock. Maintaining these prices will be difficult to achieve as a continuation of recent earnings trends is likely to weigh down the shares eventually.

The Bottom Line On Sahaj Fashions' P/E

Sahaj Fashions' stock has a lot of momentum behind it lately, which has brought its P/E level with the market. 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.

We've established that Sahaj Fashions currently trades on a higher than expected P/E since its recent three-year growth is lower than the wider market forecast. When we see weak earnings with slower than market growth, we suspect the share price is at risk of declining, sending the moderate P/E lower. Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve, it's challenging to accept these prices as being reasonable.

And what about other risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 4 warning signs for Sahaj Fashions (of which 3 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about.

You might be able to find a better investment than Sahaj Fashions. If you want a selection of possible candidates, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a low P/E (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.

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