This article is written for those who want to get better at using price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We’ll look at CS Communication & Systemes SA’s (EPA:SX) P/E ratio and reflect on what it tells us about the company’s share price. What is CS Communication & Systemes’s P/E ratio? Well, based on the last twelve months it is 24.60. In other words, at today’s prices, investors are paying €24.60 for every €1 in prior year profit.
Check out our latest analysis for CS Communication & Systemes
How Do You Calculate A P/E Ratio?
The formula for P/E is:
Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS)
Or for CS Communication & Systemes:
P/E of 24.60 = €3.800 ÷ €0.154 (Based on the year to December 2019.)
(Note: the above calculation results may not be precise due to rounding.)
Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good?
A higher P/E ratio means that investors are paying a higher price for each €1 of company earnings. All else being equal, it’s better to pay a low price — but as Warren Buffett said, ‘It’s far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price’.
Does CS Communication & Systemes Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry?
One good way to get a quick read on what market participants expect of a company is to look at its P/E ratio. You can see in the image below that the average P/E (14.2) for companies in the it industry is lower than CS Communication & Systemes’s P/E.
ENXTPA:SX Price Estimation Relative to Market May 1st 2020
CS Communication & Systemes’s P/E tells us that market participants think the company will perform better than its industry peers, going forward. Clearly the market expects growth, but it isn’t guaranteed. So investors should always consider the P/E ratio alongside other factors, such as whether company directors have been buying shares.
How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios
Generally speaking the rate of earnings growth has a profound impact on a company’s P/E multiple. When earnings grow, the ‘E’ increases, over time. That means even if the current P/E is high, it will reduce over time if the share price stays flat. So while a stock may look expensive based on past earnings, it could be cheap based on future earnings.
CS Communication & Systemes shrunk earnings per share by 49% over the last year. But over the longer term (5 years) earnings per share have increased by 49%.
Remember: P/E Ratios Don’t Consider The Balance Sheet
Don’t forget that the P/E ratio considers market capitalization. Thus, the metric does not reflect cash or debt held by the company. Theoretically, a business can improve its earnings (and produce a lower P/E in the future) by investing in growth. That means taking on debt (or spending its cash).
While growth expenditure doesn’t always pay off, the point is that it is a good option to have; but one that the P/E ratio ignores.
CS Communication & Systemes’s Balance Sheet
Net debt totals 66% of CS Communication & Systemes’s market cap. This is a reasonably significant level of debt — all else being equal you’d expect a much lower P/E than if it had net cash.
The Verdict On CS Communication & Systemes’s P/E Ratio
CS Communication & Systemes trades on a P/E ratio of 24.6, which is above its market average of 14.4. With meaningful debt and a lack of recent earnings growth, the market has high expectations that the business will earn more in the future.
Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. People often underestimate remarkable growth — so investors can make money when fast growth is not fully appreciated. So this free visual report on analyst forecasts could hold the key to an excellent investment decision.
Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E below 20.
If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.
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