Putprop Limited's (JSE:PPR) Shares Climb 30% But Its Business Is Yet to Catch Up

Putprop Limited (JSE:PPR) shareholders have had their patience rewarded with a 30% share price jump in the last month. Looking further back, the 15% rise over the last twelve months isn't too bad notwithstanding the strength over the last 30 days.

In spite of the firm bounce in price, it's still not a stretch to say that Putprop's price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 13.8x right now seems quite "middle-of-the-road" compared to the market in South Africa, where the median P/E ratio is around 12x. However, investors might be overlooking a clear opportunity or potential setback if there is no rational basis for the P/E.

For instance, Putprop's receding earnings in recent times would have to be some food for thought. It might be that many expect the company to put the disappointing earnings performance behind them over the coming period, which has kept the P/E from falling. If not, then existing shareholders may be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.

See our latest analysis for Putprop

Although there are no analyst estimates available for Putprop, take a look at this free data-rich visualisation to see how the company stacks up on earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Does Growth Match The P/E?

There's an inherent assumption that a company should be matching the market for P/E ratios like Putprop's to be considered reasonable.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 71% 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 56% in total over the last three years. Therefore, it's fair to say the earnings growth recently has been undesirable for the company.

Weighing that medium-term earnings trajectory against the broader market's one-year forecast for expansion of 31% shows it's an unpleasant look.

With this information, we find it concerning that Putprop is trading at a fairly similar P/E to the market. Apparently many investors in the company are way less bearish than recent times would indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock right now. Only the boldest would assume these prices are sustainable as a continuation of recent earnings trends is likely to weigh on the share price eventually.

The Final Word

Putprop's stock has a lot of momentum behind it lately, which has brought its P/E level with the market. Generally, our preference is to limit the use of the price-to-earnings ratio to establishing what the market thinks about the overall health of a company.

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

Plus, you should also learn about these 5 warning signs we've spotted with Putprop (including 1 which is potentially serious).

If you're unsure about the strength of Putprop'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.
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