Hundsun Technologies Inc. (SHSE:600570) shares have had a really impressive month, gaining 34% after a shaky period beforehand. Unfortunately, the gains of the last month did little to right the losses of the last year with the stock still down 36% over that time.
Since its price has surged higher, Hundsun Technologies may be sending bearish signals at the moment with its price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 39.1x, since almost half of all companies in China have P/E ratios under 28x and even P/E's lower than 17x are not unusual. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the elevated P/E.
Hundsun Technologies has been struggling lately as its earnings have declined faster than most other companies. It might be that many expect the dismal earnings performance to recover substantially, which has kept the P/E from collapsing. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.
See our latest analysis for Hundsun Technologies
Want the full picture on analyst estimates for the company? Then our free report on Hundsun Technologies will help you uncover what's on the horizon.Hundsun Technologies' P/E ratio would be typical for a company that's expected to deliver solid growth, and importantly, perform better than the market.
If we review the last year of earnings, dishearteningly the company's profits fell to the tune of 39%. This means it has also seen a slide in earnings over the longer-term as EPS is down 40% in total over the last three years. Accordingly, shareholders would have felt downbeat about the medium-term rates of earnings growth.
Shifting to the future, estimates from the analysts covering the company suggest earnings should grow by 34% per year over the next three years. With the market only predicted to deliver 19% per annum, the company is positioned for a stronger earnings result.
With this information, we can see why Hundsun Technologies is trading at such a high P/E compared to the market. Apparently shareholders aren't keen to offload something that is potentially eyeing a more prosperous future.
Hundsun Technologies' P/E is getting right up there since its shares have risen strongly. 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.
As we suspected, our examination of Hundsun Technologies' analyst forecasts revealed that its superior earnings outlook is contributing to its high P/E. Right now shareholders are comfortable with the P/E as they are quite confident future earnings aren't under threat. Unless these conditions change, they will continue to provide strong support to the share price.
And what about other risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Hundsun Technologies you should know about.
If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on Hundsun Technologies, 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.