HASEKO Corporation (TSE:1808) Not Lagging Market On Growth Or Pricing

When close to half the companies in Japan have price-to-earnings ratios (or "P/E's") below 13x, you may consider HASEKO Corporation (TSE:1808) as a stock to potentially avoid with its 17.6x P/E ratio. 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.

This technology could replace computers: discover the 20 stocks are working to make quantum computing a reality.

HASEKO hasn't been tracking well recently as its declining earnings compare poorly to other companies, which have seen some growth on average. One possibility is that the P/E is high because investors think this poor earnings performance will turn the corner. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.

Check out our latest analysis for HASEKO

Want the full picture on analyst estimates for the company? Then our free report on HASEKO will help you uncover what's on the horizon.

Does Growth Match The High P/E?

The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/E as high as HASEKO's is when the company's growth is on track to outshine the market.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 39% decrease to the company's bottom line. This means it has also seen a slide in earnings over the longer-term as EPS is down 36% in total over the last three years. So unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that the company has not done a great job of growing earnings over that time.

Looking ahead now, EPS is anticipated to climb by 27% per year during the coming three years according to the eight analysts following the company. Meanwhile, the rest of the market is forecast to only expand by 8.9% each year, which is noticeably less attractive.

With this information, we can see why HASEKO is trading at such a high P/E compared to the market. Apparently shareholders aren't keen to offload something that is potentially eyeing a more prosperous future.

The Final Word

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.

We've established that HASEKO maintains its high P/E on the strength of its forecast growth being higher than the wider market, as expected. Right now shareholders are comfortable with the P/E as they are quite confident future earnings aren't under threat. It's hard to see the share price falling strongly in the near future under these circumstances.

Before you take the next step, you should know about the 3 warning signs for HASEKO that we have uncovered.

You might be able to find a better investment than HASEKO. 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).

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

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.