Pinning Down PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad's (KLSE:PCHEM) P/E Is Difficult Right Now

With a price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 22.8x PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad (KLSE:PCHEM) may be sending bearish signals at the moment, given that almost half of all companies in Malaysia have P/E ratios under 15x and even P/E's lower than 9x are not unusual. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the elevated P/E.

PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad could be doing better as its earnings have been going backwards lately while most other companies have been seeing positive earnings growth. 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.

View our latest analysis for PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad

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What Are Growth Metrics Telling Us About The High P/E?

There's an inherent assumption that a company should outperform the market for P/E ratios like PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad's to be considered reasonable.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 44% 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 53% in total over the last three years. Accordingly, shareholders would have felt downbeat about the medium-term rates of earnings growth.

Turning to the outlook, the next three years should generate growth of 12% each year as estimated by the analysts watching the company. Meanwhile, the rest of the market is forecast to expand by 14% each year, which is not materially different.

In light of this, it's curious that PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad's P/E sits above the majority of other companies. Apparently many investors in the company are more bullish than analysts indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock right now. These shareholders may be setting themselves up for disappointment if the P/E falls to levels more in line with the growth outlook.

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 PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad currently trades on a higher than expected P/E since its forecast growth is only in line with the wider market. Right now we are uncomfortable with the relatively high share price as the predicted future earnings aren't likely to support such positive sentiment for long. This places shareholders' investments at risk and potential investors in danger of paying an unnecessary premium.

Plus, you should also learn about this 1 warning sign we've spotted with PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad.

If you're unsure about the strength of PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad's business, why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals for some other companies you may have missed.

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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.