Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AAPL) Share Price Not Quite Adding Up
NASDAQ:AAPL) as a stock to avoid entirely with its 37.4x P/E ratio. Although, it’s not wise to just take the P/E at face value as there may be an explanation why it’s so lofty.” data-reactid=”28″>When close to half the companies in the United States have price-to-earnings ratios (or “P/E’s”) below 19x, you may consider Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) as a stock to avoid entirely with its 37.4x P/E ratio. Although, it’s not wise to just take the P/E at face value as there may be an explanation why it’s so lofty.
Recent times have been pleasing for Apple as its earnings have risen in spite of the market’s earnings going into reverse. 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.
Check out our latest analysis for Apple ” data-reactid=”30″> Check out our latest analysis for Apple
free report is a great place to start.” data-reactid=”47″>Keen to find out how analysts think Apple’s future stacks up against the industry? In that case, our free report is a great place to start.
Does Growth Match The High P/E?
In order to justify its P/E ratio, Apple would need to produce outstanding growth well in excess of the market.
Taking a look back first, we see that the company managed to grow earnings per share by a handy 12% last year. Pleasingly, EPS has also lifted 50% in aggregate from three years ago, partly thanks to the last 12 months of growth. Therefore, it’s fair to say the earnings growth recently has been superb for the company.
Looking ahead now, EPS is anticipated to climb by 6.1% per annum during the coming three years according to the analysts following the company. With the market predicted to deliver 14% growth per year, the company is positioned for a weaker earnings result.
With this information, we find it concerning that Apple is trading at a P/E higher than the market. It seems most investors are hoping for a turnaround in the company’s business prospects, but the analyst cohort is not so confident this will happen. Only the boldest would assume these prices are sustainable as this level of earnings growth is likely to weigh heavily on the share price eventually.
The Key Takeaway
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 Apple’s analyst forecasts revealed that its inferior earnings outlook isn’t impacting its high P/E anywhere near as much as we would have predicted. Right now we are increasingly uncomfortable with the high P/E as the predicted future earnings aren’t likely to support such positive sentiment for long. This places shareholders’ investments at significant risk and potential investors in danger of paying an excessive premium.
2 warning signs for Apple that you should be aware of.” data-reactid=”56″>There are also other vital risk factors to consider before investing and we’ve discovered 2 warning signs for Apple that you should be aware of.
list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20x (but have proven they can grow earnings).” data-reactid=”57″>You might be able to find a better investment than Apple. If you want a selection of possible candidates, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20x (but have proven they can grow earnings).
Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email [email protected].” data-reactid=”58″>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. 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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