The Market Doesn't Like What It Sees From Muthoot Finance Limited's (NSE:MUTHOOTFIN) Earnings Yet

Muthoot Finance Limited's (NSE:MUTHOOTFIN) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 16.3x might make it look like a buy right now compared to the market in India, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios above 32x and even P/E's above 60x are quite common. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the reduced P/E.

Muthoot Finance could be doing better as it's been growing earnings less than most other companies lately. The P/E is probably low because investors think this lacklustre earnings performance isn't going to get any better. If this is the case, then existing shareholders will probably struggle to get excited about the future direction of the share price.

See our latest analysis for Muthoot Finance

If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report on Muthoot Finance.

Does Growth Match The Low P/E?

In order to justify its P/E ratio, Muthoot Finance would need to produce sluggish growth that's trailing the market.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a decent 14% gain to the company's bottom line. The solid recent performance means it was also able to grow EPS by 15% in total over the last three years. So we can start by confirming that the company has actually done a good job of growing earnings over that time.

Turning to the outlook, the next three years should generate growth of 8.9% per annum as estimated by the analysts watching the company. That's shaping up to be materially lower than the 20% per year growth forecast for the broader market.

In light of this, it's understandable that Muthoot Finance's P/E sits below the majority of other companies. Apparently many shareholders weren't comfortable holding on while the company is potentially eyeing a less prosperous future.

The Bottom Line On Muthoot Finance's P/E

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 Muthoot Finance's analyst forecasts revealed that its inferior earnings outlook is contributing to its low P/E. At this stage investors feel the potential for an improvement in earnings isn't great enough to justify a higher P/E ratio. Unless these conditions improve, they will continue to form a barrier for the share price around these levels.

Before you settle on your opinion, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Muthoot Finance (1 shouldn't be ignored!) that you should be aware of.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with a strong growth track record, trading on a low P/E.

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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.