What Jayaswal Neco Industries Limited's (NSE:JAYNECOIND) 42% Share Price Gain Is Not Telling You

Jayaswal Neco Industries Limited (NSE:JAYNECOIND) shares have had a really impressive month, gaining 42% after a shaky period beforehand. Not all shareholders will be feeling jubilant, since the share price is still down a very disappointing 26% in the last twelve months.

After such a large jump in price, Jayaswal Neco Industries' price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 36.5x 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 26x and even P/E's below 15x are quite common. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/E at face value as there may be an explanation why it's as high as it is.

We've discovered 3 warning signs about Jayaswal Neco Industries. View them for free.

For instance, Jayaswal Neco Industries' receding earnings in recent times would have to be some food for thought. One possibility is that the P/E is high because investors think the company will still do enough to outperform the broader market in the near future. If not, then existing shareholders may be quite nervous about the viability of the share price.

Check out our latest analysis for Jayaswal Neco Industries

Want the full picture on earnings, revenue and cash flow for the company? Then our free report on Jayaswal Neco Industries will help you shine a light on its historical performance.

Is There Enough Growth For Jayaswal Neco Industries?

Jayaswal Neco Industries' P/E ratio would be typical for a company that's expected to deliver solid growth, and importantly, perform better than the market.

Taking a look back first, the company's earnings per share growth last year wasn't something to get excited about as it posted a disappointing decline of 46%. The last three years don't look nice either as the company has shrunk EPS by 96% in aggregate. So unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that the company has not done a great job of growing earnings over that time.

Weighing that medium-term earnings trajectory against the broader market's one-year forecast for expansion of 25% shows it's an unpleasant look.

In light of this, it's alarming that Jayaswal Neco Industries' P/E sits above the majority of other companies. It seems most investors are ignoring the recent poor growth rate and are hoping for a turnaround in the company's business prospects. There's a very 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 Bottom Line On Jayaswal Neco Industries' P/E

Jayaswal Neco Industries shares have received a push in the right direction, but its P/E is elevated too. Typically, we'd caution against reading too much into price-to-earnings ratios when settling on investment decisions, though it can reveal plenty about what other market participants think about the company.

Our examination of Jayaswal Neco Industries revealed its shrinking earnings over the medium-term aren't impacting its high P/E anywhere near as much as we would have predicted, given the market is set to grow. When we see earnings heading backwards and underperforming the market forecasts, we suspect the share price is at risk of declining, sending the high P/E lower. Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve markedly, it's very challenging to accept these prices as being reasonable.

You should always think about risks. Case in point, we've spotted 3 warning signs for Jayaswal Neco Industries you should be aware of, and 2 of them are potentially serious.

If P/E ratios interest you, you may wish to see this free collection of other companies with strong earnings growth and low P/E ratios.

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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.