Tear Corporation's (TSE:2485) Subdued P/E Might Signal An Opportunity

With a median price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of close to 13x in Japan, you could be forgiven for feeling indifferent about Tear Corporation's (TSE:2485) P/E ratio of 12.1x. However, investors might be overlooking a clear opportunity or potential setback if there is no rational basis for the P/E.

Tear certainly has been doing a great job lately as it's been growing earnings at a really rapid pace. The P/E is probably moderate because investors think this strong earnings growth might not be enough to outperform the broader market in the near future. If you like the company, you'd be hoping this isn't the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it's not quite in favour.

View our latest analysis for Tear

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 Tear's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

How Is Tear's Growth Trending?

In order to justify its P/E ratio, Tear would need to produce growth that's similar to the market.

Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew earnings per share by an impressive 45% last year. Pleasingly, EPS has also lifted 130% in aggregate from three years ago, thanks to the last 12 months of growth. Accordingly, shareholders would have probably welcomed those medium-term rates of earnings growth.

Weighing that recent medium-term earnings trajectory against the broader market's one-year forecast for expansion of 9.8% shows it's noticeably more attractive on an annualised basis.

In light of this, it's curious that Tear's P/E sits in line with the majority of other companies. It may be that most investors are not convinced the company can maintain its recent growth rates.

The Final Word

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.

We've established that Tear currently trades on a lower than expected P/E since its recent three-year growth is higher than the wider market forecast. There could be some unobserved threats to earnings preventing the P/E ratio from matching this positive performance. It appears some are indeed anticipating earnings instability, because the persistence of these recent medium-term conditions would normally provide a boost to the share price.

There are also other vital risk factors to consider and we've discovered 4 warning signs for Tear (2 are potentially serious!) that you should be aware of before investing here.

You might be able to find a better investment than Tear. 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