Is Kimball Electronics Inc's (NASDAQ:KE) PE Ratio A Signal To Sell For Investors?

This article is intended for those of you who are at the beginning of your investing journey and want to start learning about core concepts of fundamental analysis on practical examples from today's market.

Kimball Electronics Inc (NASDAQ:KE) is trading with a trailing P/E of 28.8, which is higher than the industry average of 26.3. Although some investors may see this as unappealing, it is important to understand the assumptions behind the P/E ratio before making judgments. Today, I will deconstruct the P/E ratio and highlight what you need to be careful of when using the P/E ratio.

Check out our latest analysis for Kimball Electronics

Breaking down the Price-Earnings ratio

The P/E ratio is a popular ratio used in relative valuation since earnings power is a key driver of investment value. By comparing a stock’s price per share to its earnings per share, we are able to see how much investors are paying for each dollar of the company’s earnings.

The P/E ratio isn’t a metric you view in isolation and only becomes useful when you compare it against other similar companies. We preferably want to compare the stock’s P/E ratio to the average of companies that have similar features to KE, such as capital structure and profitability. A common peer group is companies that exist in the same industry, which is what I use below. Since it is expected that similar companies have similar P/E ratios, we can come to some conclusions about the stock if the ratios are different.

At 28.8, KE’s P/E is higher than its industry peers (26.3). This implies that investors are overvaluing each dollar of KE’s earnings. This multiple is a median of profitable companies of 25 Electronic companies in US including Electro Scientific Industries, Evans & Sutherland Computer and Surge Components. You could also say that the market is suggesting that KE has a stronger business than the average comparable company.

Assumptions to be aware of

However, it is important to note that our examination of the stock is based on certain assumptions. The first is that our “similar companies” are actually similar to KE. If not, the difference in P/E might be a result of other factors. For example, Kimball Electronics Inc could be growing more quickly than the companies we're comparing it with. In that case it would deserve a higher P/E ratio. Of course, it is possible that the stocks we are comparing with KE are not fairly valued. So while we can reasonably surmise that it is optimistically valued relative to a peer group, it might be fairly valued, if the peer group is undervalued.

What this means for you:

Since you may have already conducted your due diligence on KE, the overvaluation of the stock may mean it is a good time to reduce your current holdings. But at the end of the day, keep in mind that relative valuation relies heavily on critical assumptions I've outlined above. Remember that basing your investment decision off one metric alone is certainly not sufficient. There are many things I have not taken into account in this article and the PE ratio is very one-dimensional. If you have not done so already, I urge you to complete your research by taking a look at the following:

1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for KE’s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for KE’s outlook.
2. Past Track Record: Has KE been consistently performing well irrespective of the ups and downs in the market? Go into more detail in the past performance analysis and take a look at the free visual representations of KE's historicals for more clarity.
3. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here.

To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements.

The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com.

Simply Wall St analyst Simply Wall St and Simply Wall St have no position in any of the companies mentioned. This article 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.