YETI Holdings, Inc.'s (NYSE:YETI) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 19.6x might make it look like a sell right now compared to the market in the United States, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios below 17x and even P/E's below 9x are quite common. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the elevated P/E.
With its earnings growth in positive territory compared to the declining earnings of most other companies, YETI Holdings has been doing quite well of late. The P/E is probably high because investors think the company will continue to navigate the broader market headwinds better than most. If not, then existing shareholders might be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.
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There's an inherent assumption that a company should outperform the market for P/E ratios like YETI Holdings' to be considered reasonable.
Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew earnings per share by an impressive 87% last year. The latest three year period has also seen a 11% overall rise in EPS, aided extensively by its short-term performance. Accordingly, shareholders would have probably been satisfied with the medium-term rates of earnings growth.
Shifting to the future, estimates from the analysts covering the company suggest earnings should grow by 11% per year over the next three years. With the market predicted to deliver 11% growth each year, the company is positioned for a comparable earnings result.
With this information, we find it interesting that YETI Holdings is trading at a high P/E compared to the market. It seems most investors are ignoring the fairly average growth expectations and are willing to pay up for exposure to the stock. Although, additional gains will be difficult to achieve as this level of earnings growth is likely to weigh down the share price eventually.
The Bottom Line On YETI Holdings' P/E
Typically, we'd caution against reading too much into price-to-earnings ratios when settling on investment decisions, though it can reveal plenty about what other market participants think about the company.
Our examination of YETI Holdings' analyst forecasts revealed that its market-matching earnings outlook isn't impacting its high P/E as much as we would have predicted. 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. Unless these conditions improve, it's challenging to accept these prices as being reasonable.
The company's balance sheet is another key area for risk analysis. Our free balance sheet analysis for YETI Holdings with six simple checks will allow you to discover any risks that could be an issue.
If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on YETI Holdings, explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there.
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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.
About NYSE:YETI
YETI Holdings
Designs, retails, and distributes products for the outdoor and recreation market under the YETI brand.
Outstanding track record with flawless balance sheet.