Yik Wo International Holdings Limited (HKG:8659) Surges 28% Yet Its Low P/E Is No Reason For Excitement

Yik Wo International Holdings Limited (HKG:8659) shareholders are no doubt pleased to see that the share price has bounced 28% in the last month, although it is still struggling to make up recently lost ground. But the last month did very little to improve the 62% share price decline over the last year.

Even after such a large jump in price, given about half the companies in Hong Kong have price-to-earnings ratios (or "P/E's") above 11x, you may still consider Yik Wo International Holdings as an attractive investment with its 5.1x 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 limited.

Earnings have risen firmly for Yik Wo International Holdings recently, which is pleasing to see. It might be that many expect the respectable earnings performance to degrade substantially, which has repressed the P/E. If that doesn't eventuate, then existing shareholders have reason to be optimistic about the future direction of the share price.

See our latest analysis for Yik Wo International Holdings

How Is Yik Wo International Holdings' Growth Trending?

The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/E as low as Yik Wo International Holdings' is when the company's growth is on track to lag the market.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered an exceptional 21% gain to the company's bottom line. EPS has also lifted 6.5% in aggregate from three years ago, mostly thanks to the last 12 months of growth. Accordingly, shareholders would have probably been satisfied with the medium-term rates of earnings growth.

Comparing that to the market, which is predicted to deliver 21% growth in the next 12 months, the company's momentum is weaker based on recent medium-term annualised earnings results.

In light of this, it's understandable that Yik Wo International Holdings' 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.

The Bottom Line On Yik Wo International Holdings' P/E

The latest share price surge wasn't enough to lift Yik Wo International Holdings' P/E close to the market median. 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 Yik Wo International Holdings revealed its three-year earnings trends are contributing to its low P/E, given they look worse than current market expectations. 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.

Before you take the next step, you should know about the 2 warning signs for Yik Wo International Holdings (1 shouldn't be ignored!) that we have uncovered.

You might be able to find a better investment than Yik Wo International Holdings. If you want a selection of possible candidates, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a low P/E (but have proven they can grow earnings).

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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.