With a price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 72.3x Jiangsu Hengshun Vinegar-Industry Co.,Ltd (SHSE:600305) may be sending very bearish signals at the moment, given that almost half of all companies in China have P/E ratios under 30x and even P/E's lower than 18x are not unusual. However, the P/E might be quite high for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

Jiangsu Hengshun Vinegar-IndustryLtd could be doing better as its earnings have been going backwards lately while most other companies have been seeing positive earnings growth. One possibility is that the P/E is high because investors think this poor earnings performance will turn the corner. If not, then existing shareholders may be extremely nervous about the viability of the share price.

Keen to find out how analysts think Jiangsu Hengshun Vinegar-IndustryLtd's future stacks up against the industry? In that case, our free report is a great place to start.

Is There Enough Growth For Jiangsu Hengshun Vinegar-IndustryLtd?

Jiangsu Hengshun Vinegar-IndustryLtd's 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.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 16% decrease to the company's bottom line. This means it has also seen a slide in earnings over the longer-term as EPS is down 63% in total over the last three years. Accordingly, shareholders would have felt downbeat about the medium-term rates of earnings growth.

Turning to the outlook, the next year should generate growth of 70% as estimated by the eleven analysts watching the company. With the market only predicted to deliver 39%, the company is positioned for a stronger earnings result.

In light of this, it's understandable that Jiangsu Hengshun Vinegar-IndustryLtd's P/E sits above the majority of other companies. Apparently shareholders aren't keen to offload something that is potentially eyeing a more prosperous future.

The Key Takeaway

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 Jiangsu Hengshun Vinegar-IndustryLtd's analyst forecasts revealed that its superior earnings outlook is contributing to its high P/E. At this stage investors feel the potential for a deterioration in earnings isn't great enough to justify a lower P/E ratio. Unless these conditions change, they will continue to provide strong support to the share price.

It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Jiangsu Hengshun Vinegar-IndustryLtd (at least 1 which is a bit concerning), and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

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 a strong growth track record, trading on a low P/E.

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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.