China CBM Group Company Limited (HKG:8270) shareholders that were waiting for something to happen have been dealt a blow with a 29% share price drop in the last month.    Looking at the bigger picture, even after this poor month the stock is up 89% in the last year.  

Although its price has dipped substantially, China CBM Group's price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 1.7x might still make it look like a strong buy right now compared to the market in Hong Kong, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios above 10x and even P/E's above 21x are quite common.  Although, it's not wise to just take the P/E at face value as there may be an explanation why it's so limited.  

For example, consider that China CBM Group's financial performance has been pretty ordinary lately as earnings growth is non-existent.   It might be that many expect the uninspiring earnings performance to worsen, which has repressed the P/E.  If not, then existing shareholders may be feeling optimistic about the future direction of the share price.    

See our latest analysis for China CBM Group

SEHK:8270 Price to Earnings Ratio vs Industry June 7th 2023

Want the full picture on earnings, revenue and cash flow for the company? Then our free report on China CBM Group will help you shine a light on its historical performance.  

What Are Growth Metrics Telling Us About The Low P/E?  

There's an inherent assumption that a company should far underperform the market for P/E ratios like China CBM Group's to be considered reasonable.  

If we review the last year of earnings, the company posted a result that saw barely any deviation from a year ago.   Likewise, not much has changed from three years ago as earnings have been stuck during that whole time.  So it seems apparent to us that the company has struggled to grow earnings meaningfully over that time.  

Weighing that recent medium-term earnings trajectory against the broader market's one-year forecast for expansion of 25% shows it's noticeably less attractive on an annualised basis.

In light of this, it's understandable that China CBM Group's P/E sits below the majority of other companies.  It seems most investors are expecting to see the recent limited growth rates continue into the future and are only willing to pay a reduced amount for the stock.  

What We Can Learn From China CBM Group's P/E?

Shares in China CBM Group have plummeted and its P/E is now low enough to touch the ground.      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.

We've established that China CBM Group maintains its low P/E on the weakness of its recent three-year growth being lower than the wider market forecast, as expected.  Right now shareholders are accepting the low P/E as they concede future earnings probably won't provide any pleasant surprises.  Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve, they will continue to form a barrier for the share price around these levels.    

We don't want to rain on the parade too much, but we did also find 4 warning signs for China CBM Group that you need to be mindful of.  

If P/E ratios interest you, you may wish to see this free collection of other companies with strong earnings growth and low P/E ratios.

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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.