It's not a stretch to say that TD SYNNEX Corporation's (NYSE:SNX) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 15.4x right now seems quite "middle-of-the-road" compared to the market in the United States, where the median P/E ratio is around 16x. Although, it's not wise to simply ignore the P/E without explanation as investors may be disregarding a distinct opportunity or a costly mistake.

The recently shrinking earnings for TD SYNNEX have been in line with the market. The P/E is probably moderate because investors think the company's earnings trend will continue to follow the rest of the market. If you still like the company, you'd want its earnings trajectory to turn around before making any decisions. At the very least, you'd be hoping that earnings don't accelerate downwards if your plan is to pick up some stock while it's not in favour.

How Is TD SYNNEX's Growth Trending?

In order to justify its P/E ratio, TD SYNNEX would need to produce growth that's similar to the market.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 4.0% decrease to the company's bottom line. That put a dampener on the good run it was having over the longer-term as its three-year EPS growth is still a noteworthy 7.4% in total. Accordingly, while they would have preferred to keep the run going, shareholders would be roughly satisfied with the medium-term rates of earnings growth.

Turning to the outlook, the next three years should generate growth of 20% per annum as estimated by the ten analysts watching the company. With the market only predicted to deliver 11% per year, the company is positioned for a stronger earnings result.

In light of this, it's curious that TD SYNNEX's P/E sits in line with the majority of other companies. Apparently some shareholders are skeptical of the forecasts and have been accepting lower selling prices.

What We Can Learn From TD SYNNEX's P/E?

While the price-to-earnings ratio shouldn't be the defining factor in whether you buy a stock or not, it's quite a capable barometer of earnings expectations.

We've established that TD SYNNEX currently trades on a lower than expected P/E since its forecast growth is higher than the wider market. When we see a strong earnings outlook with faster-than-market growth, we assume potential risks are what might be placing pressure on the P/E ratio. At least the risk of a price drop looks to be subdued, but investors seem to think future earnings could see some volatility.

Plus, you should also learn about these 2 warning signs we've spotted with TD SYNNEX.

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.