Not Many Are Piling Into Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. (BIT:MAIRE) Just Yet

It's not a stretch to say that Maire Tecnimont S.p.A.'s (BIT:MAIRE) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 14.2x right now seems quite "middle-of-the-road" compared to the market in Italy, where the median P/E ratio is around 14x. However, investors might be overlooking a clear opportunity or potential setback if there is no rational basis for the P/E.

With earnings growth that's superior to most other companies of late, Maire Tecnimont has been doing relatively well. It might be that many expect the strong earnings performance to wane, which has kept the P/E from rising. If not, then existing shareholders have reason to be feeling optimistic about the future direction of the share price.

Check out our latest analysis for Maire Tecnimont

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

Is There Some Growth For Maire Tecnimont?

The only time you'd be comfortable seeing a P/E like Maire Tecnimont's is when the company's growth is tracking the market closely.

Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew earnings per share by an impressive 32% last year. The strong recent performance means it was also able to grow EPS by 65% in total over the last three years. Accordingly, shareholders would have probably welcomed those medium-term rates of earnings growth.

Turning to the outlook, the next three years should generate growth of 26% per year as estimated by the six analysts watching the company. That's shaping up to be materially higher than the 12% per year growth forecast for the broader market.

With this information, we find it interesting that Maire Tecnimont is trading at a fairly similar P/E to the market. Apparently some shareholders are skeptical of the forecasts and have been accepting lower selling prices.

The Bottom Line On Maire Tecnimont's P/E

While the price-to-earnings ratio shouldn't be the defining factor in whether you buy a stock or not, it's quite a capable barometer of earnings expectations.

Our examination of Maire Tecnimont's analyst forecasts revealed that its superior earnings outlook isn't contributing to its P/E as much as we would have predicted. When we see a strong earnings outlook with faster-than-market growth, we assume potential risks are what might be placing pressure on the P/E ratio. At least the risk of a price drop looks to be subdued, but investors seem to think future earnings could see some volatility.

Before you settle on your opinion, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Maire Tecnimont that you should be aware of.

You might be able to find a better investment than Maire Tecnimont. 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.