Here's What SinterCast AB (publ)'s (STO:SINT) P/E Is Telling Us

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Today, we'll introduce the concept of the P/E ratio for those who are learning about investing. To keep it practical, we'll show how SinterCast AB (publ)'s (STO:SINT) P/E ratio could help you assess the value on offer. SinterCast has a P/E ratio of 29.49, based on the last twelve months. That corresponds to an earnings yield of approximately 3.4%.

View our latest analysis for SinterCast

How Do I Calculate A Price To Earnings Ratio?

The formula for price to earnings is:

Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS)

Or for SinterCast:

P/E of 29.49 = SEK153.5 ÷ SEK5.2 (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2019.)

Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good?

A higher P/E ratio means that buyers have to pay a higher price for each SEK1 the company has earned over the last year. All else being equal, it's better to pay a low price -- but as Warren Buffett said, 'It's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.'

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

P/E ratios primarily reflect market expectations around earnings growth rates. Earnings growth means that in the future the 'E' will be higher. That means even if the current P/E is high, it will reduce over time if the share price stays flat. A lower P/E should indicate the stock is cheap relative to others -- and that may attract buyers.

SinterCast's 87% EPS improvement over the last year was like bamboo growth after rain; rapid and impressive. The sweetener is that the annual five year growth rate of 33% is also impressive. With that kind of growth rate we would generally expect a high P/E ratio.

How Does SinterCast's P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers?

We can get an indication of market expectations by looking at the P/E ratio. The image below shows that SinterCast has a higher P/E than the average (16.3) P/E for companies in the machinery industry.

Its relatively high P/E ratio indicates that SinterCast shareholders think it will perform better than other companies in its industry classification. The market is optimistic about the future, but that doesn't guarantee future growth. So further research is always essential. I often monitor director buying and selling.

Remember: P/E Ratios Don't Consider The Balance Sheet

One drawback of using a P/E ratio is that it considers market capitalization, but not the balance sheet. In other words, it does not consider any debt or cash that the company may have on the balance sheet. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth.

Spending on growth might be good or bad a few years later, but the point is that the P/E ratio does not account for the option (or lack thereof).

Is Debt Impacting SinterCast's P/E?

Since SinterCast holds net cash of kr40m, it can spend on growth, justifying a higher P/E ratio than otherwise.

The Bottom Line On SinterCast's P/E Ratio

SinterCast has a P/E of 29.5. That's higher than the average in the SE market, which is 16.5. Its net cash position is the cherry on top of its superb EPS growth. So based on this analysis we'd expect SinterCast to have a high P/E ratio.

Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. People often underestimate remarkable growth -- so investors can make money when fast growth is not fully appreciated. So this free report on the analyst consensus forecasts could help you make a master move on this stock.

You might be able to find a better buy than SinterCast. If you want a selection of possible winners, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20 (but have proven they can grow earnings).

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.