TSE:SVM) may be sending very bearish signals at the moment, given that almost half of all companies in Canada have P/E ratios under 16x and even P/E’s lower than 7x are not unusual. 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″>With a price-to-earnings (or “P/E”) ratio of 37.6x Silvercorp Metals Inc. (TSE:SVM) may be sending very bearish signals at the moment, given that almost half of all companies in Canada have P/E ratios under 16x and even P/E’s lower than 7x are not unusual. 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.
While the market has experienced earnings growth lately, Silvercorp Metals’ earnings have gone into reverse gear, which is not great. One possibility is that the P/E is high because investors think this poor earnings performance will turn the corner. You’d really hope so, otherwise you’re paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.
View our latest analysis for Silvercorp Metals ” data-reactid=”30″>View our latest analysis for Silvercorp Metals
free report is a great place to start.” data-reactid=”47″>Keen to find out how analysts think Silvercorp Metals’ future stacks up against the industry? In that case, our free report is a great place to start.
What Are Growth Metrics Telling Us About The High P/E?
Silvercorp Metals’ P/E ratio would be typical for a company that’s expected to deliver very strong growth, and importantly, perform much better than the market.
Taking a look back first, the company’s earnings per share growth last year wasn’t something to get excited about as it posted a disappointing decline of 12%. The last three years don’t look nice either as the company has shrunk EPS by 28% in aggregate. Accordingly, shareholders would have felt downbeat about the medium-term rates of earnings growth.
Turning to the outlook, the next three years should generate growth of 8.5% per annum as estimated by the five analysts watching the company. Meanwhile, the rest of the market is forecast to expand by 27% per annum, which is noticeably more attractive.
With this information, we find it concerning that Silvercorp Metals 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. There’s a good chance these shareholders are setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/E falls to levels more in line with the growth outlook.
What We Can Learn From Silvercorp Metals’ P/E?
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.
We’ve established that Silvercorp Metals currently trades on a much higher than expected P/E since its forecast growth is lower than the wider market. When we see a weak earnings outlook with slower than market growth, we suspect the share price is at risk of declining, sending the high P/E lower. Unless these conditions improve markedly, it’s very challenging to accept these prices as being reasonable.
4 warning signs for Silvercorp Metals (1 is significant) you should be aware of.” data-reactid=”56″>Don’t forget that there may be other risks. For instance, we’ve identified 4 warning signs for Silvercorp Metals (1 is significant) you should be aware of.
collection of other companies that sit on P/E’s below 20x and have grown earnings strongly.” data-reactid=”57″>Of course, you might also be able to find a better stock than Silvercorp Metals. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that sit on P/E’s below 20x and have grown earnings strongly.
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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