Some Confidence Is Lacking In Sixxon Tech. Co., Ltd.'s (TWSE:4569) P/E

With a price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 29.1x Sixxon Tech. Co., Ltd. (TWSE:4569) may be sending bearish signals at the moment, given that almost half of all companies in Taiwan have P/E ratios under 21x and even P/E's lower than 14x are not unusual. However, the P/E might be high for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

Recent times have been quite advantageous for Sixxon Tech as its earnings have been rising very briskly. The P/E is probably high because investors think this strong earnings growth will be enough to outperform the broader market in the near future. If not, then existing shareholders might be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.

View our latest analysis for Sixxon Tech

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 Sixxon Tech's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Is There Enough Growth For Sixxon Tech?

Sixxon Tech's P/E ratio would be typical for a company that's expected to deliver solid growth, and importantly, perform better than the market.

Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew earnings per share by an impressive 33% last year. However, this wasn't enough as the latest three year period has seen a very unpleasant 45% drop in EPS in aggregate. Accordingly, shareholders would have felt downbeat about the medium-term rates of earnings growth.

Weighing that medium-term earnings trajectory against the broader market's one-year forecast for expansion of 25% shows it's an unpleasant look.

With this information, we find it concerning that Sixxon Tech is trading at a P/E higher than the market. It seems most investors are ignoring the recent poor growth rate and are hoping for a turnaround in the company's business prospects. There's a very good chance existing shareholders are setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/E falls to levels more in line with the recent negative growth rates.

The Key Takeaway

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.

Our examination of Sixxon Tech revealed its shrinking earnings over the medium-term aren't impacting its high P/E anywhere near as much as we would have predicted, given the market is set to grow. Right now we are increasingly uncomfortable with the high P/E as this earnings performance is highly unlikely to support such positive sentiment for long. If recent medium-term earnings trends continue, it will place shareholders' investments at significant risk and potential investors in danger of paying an excessive premium.

Having said that, be aware Sixxon Tech is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis, and 1 of those makes us a bit uncomfortable.

You might be able to find a better investment than Sixxon Tech. 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.